Ambrose Blackburn INFO

C-4-7 Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. (9). Anne Blackburn (C-2-2) was the daughter of Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. and his wife, probably Hannah Ashley.13,111 They had the following children.111 Sources: Ref 13, p398.



1. Newman Blackburn 1737 - 1772

2. Augustine Blackburn 1745 - 1797

3. Ambrose Blackburn, Jr. 1748 - 1820

4. *Anne Blackburn 4/28/1750 - 2/16/1827



They probably lived in VA before moving to Johnston, Rowan, and later Surry Co, NC.111



1. Newman was possibly born in Caroline Co, VA.111 He was married to Elizabeth according to his Surry Co, NC, will. His brothers Augustine and Ambrose, Jr. were witnesses to his will.111 [b111, d111]



2. Augustine was probably born in VA sometime between 1745 and 1748.111,161 His wife’s name was Elizabeth as documented by a land transaction. She was probably Elizabeth Watson, daughter of Benjamin Watson and Sarah Ashley.111,161

In 1772 and 1782, he was listed on the Surry Co, NC, tax list.111,159 He was a witness to a land deed on 1/18/1772 (Surry Co DB A, p13-15).168 On 10/13/1783, he received a grant (#484) for 600 acres near both forks of Great Neatmans Creek (Surry Co DB B, p308-9).111,168 The 1784 Surry Co census for Capt. Gordon's District lists him with one male child, four girls, a wife, and an older female.111 The 1787 Wilkes Co census for Capt. Gordon’s District includes Auston Blackbour with one male (21-60), one male (under 21 and over 60), six females, and two blacks (12-50).272

The 1787 Wilkes Co tax list for Capt. N. Gordon's Dist. includes Austin Blackburn with two polls and 1350 acres of land.158 In 1788, Augustin Blackburn was in the same district with two polls and 1250 acres.158 The 1789 listing is identical to that of 1788 except that his name was recorded as Auguston Blackburn.158

In 1787, Augustine received a grant (#948) for 600 acres located on the waters of Blews Creek.111 Revolutionary War records show that Augustine was paid 26 pounds, 1 shilling on December 1787 for his service.145 On 12/21/1789, Benjamin Watson sold 600 acres to Augustine Blackburn. They were both living in Wilkes Co at the time. (Surry Co DB D).161

In 1789, Augustine received a grant (#1143) for 234½ acres in Surry Co.111 At about that time, he made a trip to the Pendleton District of SC with his brother Ambrose Jr. where Augustine bought a tract of land on the Saluda River.111 After returning to NC, he and his wife Elizabeth of Wilkes Co, NC, sold 100 acres on Oldfield Creek in Stokes Co, NC, to Thomas Morris for £30 10s on 4/6/1790. The transaction was witnessed by William Johnson and Sam Johnson.111

By 1791, Augustine was living in SC where he received two land grants in the Pendleton District.111 There, in 1791, he filed a suit against George Clark for debt on 100 gallons of rum. The damage was set at £60 on 6/29/1792.11 Augustine was also in court against Oliver Charles in the Pendleton District in January 1792.111 After leaving NC, he lost his land in Stokes Co, NC, according to a deed on 6/12/1793 describing it as 235½ acres adjoining Ambrose Blackburn (brother) and Younger Blackburn (nephew). The land had been sold to James Matthews on 5/7/1792.111

He later moved on to Jackson Co, GA, where his estate was appraised on 11/9/1796.128 On 1/1/1798, an account of the sale of the estate of Augustain Blackburn, late deceased, was given in Jackson Co. I am not sure whether he left a will.128,161 [b111,161, d111,128,161]



3. Ambrose, Jr. was probably born in VA sometime between 1748 and 1750.111,161 He married Frances Halbert in 1772.111,145,160 On 9/10/1778, he received a grant of 200 acres near Mill Creek (Surry Co, NC DB A, p244-5).168 On 10/31/1778, he sold 100 acres to Mack Ship for £60, land located near Townfork Creek, crossing Oldfield Creek (Surry Co DB A, p259-60).168 Deeds dated 7/21/1785 and 10/16/1785 show Ambrose sellling 100 and 450 acres (Surry Co DB C, p287, DB D, p103-4).168

He was in SC by 1787 and was a Justice of the Peace in Greenville Co.111 Ambrose was a witness to a deed for 200 acres sold by Reuben Stringer and his wife Elizabeth on 7/16/1787 in Greenville Co, SC.144

He was a Captain of a Company of Rangers in NC during the Revolutionary War, and later moved to Greenville, SC, with Gen. Samuel Blackburn and his family.111,145 He moved to Maury Co, TN, about 1803 where he died.111,160

The family homestead is in Lewis Co, TN. Upon the death of Ambrose Jr, his son John Blackburn inherited it. In the 1840s the house served as the Lewis Co Courthouse. "The Circuit Court needed its own space, so it got the corncrib. Today the Blackburn farm is a museum, and the corncrib is still standing."111 [b111, d111,160]


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Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. was born about 1720. He had died by 11/11/1777 in Surry Co, NC, when a court order appointed his son Ambrose, Jr. the administer of his estate.111,145 The Surry Co will books include the sale of the inventory of his estate on 5/19/1779. Items were sold to Mary Blackburn (possibly granddaughter), Younger Blackburn (grandson), and Ambrose Blackburn, Jr.111



On 7/21/1761, Ambrose Blackburn received a Lord Granville grant of 570 acres in Johnston Co, NC. The land was on both sides of Little River, near Great Buffalo Swamp, adjoining John Richardson. James Downey and William Norris were witnesses.111



On 11/9/1761, Ambrose Blackborn bought 389 acres in Rowan Co, NC, from Enock Lewis of Orange Co, NC, for £30. The land was located on both sides of Town Fork, adjacent to Nathaniel Guest and James Hampton.111



On 8/2/1762, Jesse Watson received a Lord Granville grant of 273 acres in Johnston Co. The land was on the northeast side of Little River, adjoining Ambrose Blackburn. John Watson and Jacob Watson were the witnesses.111



On 1/1/1763, James Downing received a Lord Granville grant of 374 acres in Johnston Co. The land was on both sides of Little River and on the south side of great Buffalo Swamp, joining William Nairn and Ambrose Blackburn.111



Ambros Blackburn of Rowan Co, NC, Gent. sold land to John Stevens of Johnston Co, NC, Gent. (unknown county, unknown date, DB B1, p308).161



On 7/14/1764, Ambrose Blackburn was appointed constable to "warn in leveys" (i.e. collect taxes) in the Town Fork District of Rowan Co. (Rowan Co Minutes of CP&QS, Bk II, p535).111,168



On 4/11/1765, Ambrose Blackbourn was listed as an overseer near the Dan River and Bethabara. (Rowan Co Minutes of CP&QS, Bk II, p581).168



On 10/10/1765, Ambrose Blackborne was among those presenting claims for “woolfs, panthers, and cats”. (Rowan Co Minutes of CP&QS, Bk II, p614-7).168



On 7/16/1767, Ambrose Blackburn was appointed constable to "warn in taxables" (i.e. collect taxes) in the Town Fork and Muddy Creek District of Rowan Co. (Rowan Co Minutes of CP&QS, Bk II, p716-7).111,168



The 1768 Taxables for Rowan Co, Upper Dan (now Surry or Stokes Co) includes Ambrose Blackburn, Sr., who is taxed for himself, son Ambrose, Jr., son Augustine, and his four slaves: Franck, Jude, Esther, and Kalchu.111,169



On 8/9/1769, Ambrose Blackborn was one of several appointed to lay out a road from Town Fork to Old Can Creek Rd, leading to Cross Creek. (Rowan Co Minutes of CP&QS, Bk 3, p125).168



On 8/16/1770, Ambrose Blackborn was one of several appointed to lay out a road from Thomas Creek to Old Moravian Rd, to Cross Creek. (Rowan Co Minutes of CP&QS, Bk 3, p211).168



In 1770, Ambrose Blackburn was called to lay out a road from Cap Fear Rd. near the new Garden Meeting house to Daniel Dillon's mill, so to join the Town Ford Rd. near David Linville's.111



In 1771, Ambrose Blackburn was listed on the Surry Co, NC, tax list.111



In 1771, Ambrose Blackburn, Sr, deeded a gift of one negro boy named Landman to someone. The deed was registered in Surry Co on 4/6/1772.128



On 7/13/1771, Ambrous Blackburn sold 150 acres to his son Newman Blackburn for £60. The land was located on Town Fork Creek, adjacent to Justes and James Hampton. (Surry Co DB A, p3).111,159,168



On 12/31/1771, Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. gave a deed of gift to "his son Augustine Blackburn" including half of his land on the south side of Town Fork, one feather bed and furniture, and one saddle. It was witnessed by William Hill and John Halbert. (Surry Co DB A, p13).111,161,168



Also on 12/31/1771 in Surry Co, Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. gave a deed of gift to Ambrouse Blackburn, Jr. including half of his land on the south side of Town Fork, negro boy Cain, negro girl Amy, and one sorrel mare. The witnesses were William Hill and John Halbert. (Surry Co DB A, p12).111,161,168



Many sources including The Blackburn Genealogy by Vinneta Wells Ranke, 1939, suggest that Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. supposedly married Elizabeth Jones. However, no proof of this relationship has been provided.



Ambrose may be related to the early Blackburns of Old Rappahannock, Essex, Caroline, and Richmond Co, VA. The earliest Blackburn is thought to be Christopher Blackburn who was married to Katherine in 1664 according to a land transaction in Old Rappahannock Co.111 Possibly the same Christopher was married to Abigail when he wrote his will on 11/7/1693 in Essex Co. The will was proven on 5/10/1694 and he named children Elias and Mary.111 In the early 1700s, there were at least two Elias Blackburns and two Ambrose Blackburns in the Essex Co area. It is believed that my Ambrose Blackburn, Sr. is a descendant of these Blackburns.