Person Page - 2863

     Sarah Warner married Lawrence Townley, son of Lawrence Towneley of Stone Edge and Jennet Halstead.^1,2

Sarah Warner died circa 1690 at Virginia, USA.¹
     Reference: Genealogics cites:

     George Steptoe was born in 1748.¹

     Hon. James Steptoe married Frances Calloway, daughter of Col. James Calloway and (?) Tate.²
Hon. James Steptoe was born in 1750 at Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA.³
Hon. James Steptoe died in 1826 at Bedford Co., Virginia, USA.²

     Thomas Steptoe was born in 1752.¹

     William Steptoe was born in 1753.¹

      ; per Hardy [1911:50]: "progenitor of the Virginia family."¹ Hon. Joseph Blackwell was a mentioned with (?) Blackwell; per Hardy [1911:49]: "There were the traditional three brothers. which emigrated to the colonies from England in the early 17th century, and these brothers were men of high standing and education, being graduates of Oxford."²

     Hon. William Downing was born circa 1651 at Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA.² He married Mary Nicholls circa 1671 at Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA,
;
Her 1st husband.^3,2
Hon. William Downing died on 20 June 1683 at Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA.²
     Reference:
From "Earley Colonial Settlers...":
     "1670-1672 Deed-Will Book Northumberland Co Va; Antient Press: Pg 166
KNOW ALL MEN by these pr.sents yt; I WM, DOWNING of ye Parish of FAIREFEILD in ye County of Northumberld.. Planter, as well out of ye naturall affecon I bear unto my Son, JOHN DOWNING, as alsoe for diverse good & valuable consideracons. have given unto my said Sonne, JOHN DOWNING, one yearling mare Colt being black & inked. wth, an hole in ye right eare; To have & to hold ye sd. Mare Colt wth all her future increase unto him ye sd. JNO DOWNING his Exrs. forever; In Wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale this 15th day of Aprill 1671
Sealed & delivered in the prsence of
TAM GAYLARD, WM. DOWNING
JNO. ROBERTS
     "Virginia Colonial Abstracts - Series 2, Vol 1, Northumberland County, Virginia 1678-1713; page 6: Court Oct. 6, 1678
Com. of Adm. to Sarah Lee the Widdow of John Lee, dec'd, on her husband's Estate. Mr. William Downing, Senior, Mr. William Downing, Junior, John Robinson and John Hudnall to App. Estate of John Lee, decd.
     "1683-1686 Order Book Northumberland Co Va; Antient Press: Pg 183
Northumberland County Court 20th of June 1683
- WILL: DOWNING's Will proved
On the Petition of MARY, Executrix of WILLIAM DOWNING, deceased, a Probate is granted her of the Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM DOWNING theWill being proved by the Oathes of WILLIAM SOUTHING and JOHN ATKINS, witnesses to the said Will
     "1683-1686 Order Book Northumberland Co Va; Antient Press: Pg 197
Northumberland County Court 12th of September 1683
- MARY DOWNING Comm. of Admon with Will of WM: DOWNING A Commission of Administration with a Will annexed is granted to MARY DOWNING of the Estate of her deceased Husband, WILLIAM DOWNING, she giveing caution according to Law
- Securitie MARY DOWNING, JOHN HUGHLETT and DENNIS EYES doe bind themselves in the sum of thirty thousand pounds of tobacco that MARY shall administer of the Estate of her deceased Husband and exhibite an Inventory thereof according to Law
- Appraysers JOHN HUGHLETT, THOMAS WEBB, JOHN WORNAM and JOHN ATTKINS are appoynted this day to apprayse the Estate of WILLIAM DOWNING deced, being first sworne before a Justice of the Peace
     "1683-1686 Order Book Northumberland Co Va; Antient Press: Pg 214
Northumberland County Court 17th of January 1683/4
- BONOWAY agt DOWNING
Whereas it appeares to this Court that JOHN HUGHLETT, JUNR. who marryed MARY, the Relict of WILLIAM DOWNING, JUNR., is indebted unto WILLIAM BONOWAY six hundred forty five pounds of tobacco and cask by Account to which he hath made Oath, Judgment is granted the said BONOWAY against the said HUGHLETT for the said sume with costs als Execution
     "1687-1699 Order Book Part 2 - Northumberland Co Va; Hamrick: Pg 432
Northumberland County Court June 20, 1688
THOMAS DOWNING orphan of Mr. WILLIAM DOWNING deceased has this day in Court made choice of JOHN DOWNING to be his guardian.
PATIENCE DOWNING Sister to the abovesaid THOMAS has made choice of JOHN HUGHLETT Jr. and MARGRETT DOWNING her sister of JOHN HUGHLETT Sr. to be their guardian.
     "1687-1699 Order Book Part 2 - Northumberland Co Va; Hamrick: Pg 693
Northumberland County Court May 15, 1695
CHARLES DOWNINGE son of Mr. WILLIAM DOWNINGE late of this County deceased has this day in Court made choice of Mr. JOHN DOWNINGE to be his guardian.
     "
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=661&last=&g_p=P6&co llection=LO Patent
Title Robinson, Richard.
Publication 26 September 1678.
Gen. note (see Book No. 7, pa. 112).
Other Format Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Patents 1-42, reels 1-41.
Related See also the following surname(s): Robbinson, Robertson, Robison.
Note Location: Middlesex County.
Description: 200 acres adjoining to the run of the Great Swamp on two sides and in the woods, adjoining the land of Wm. Daniell, John Smith decd.. and David Allison and Wm. Downing.
Source: Land Office Patents No. 6, 1666-1679 (pt.1 & 2 p.1-692), p. 661 (Reel 6).
     "http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=112&last=&g_p=P7&co llection=LO Patent
Title Conway, Edwin.
Publication 28 September 1681.
Gen. note (Formerly granted to Richard Robinson, dated Septr. 26. 1678. See Book No. 6, pa. 661.)
Other Format Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Patents 1-42, reels 1-41.
Related See also the following surname(s): Conaway.
Note Location: Middlesex County.
Description: 200 acres adjoining to the run of the great swamp on two sides and into the woods adjoining to the land of William Daniell, John Smith, decd. David Allison and Wm.Downing.
Source: Land Office Patents No. 7, 1679-1689 (v.1 & 2 p.1-719), p. 112 (Reel 7).
     "http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=36&last=&g_p=P9&col lection=LO Patent
Title Wormeley, Ralph.
Publication 29 October 1696.
Other Format Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Patents 1-42, reels 1-41.
Related See also the following surname(s): Wormley.
Note Location: Middlesex County.
Description: 200 acres lying and adjoining to the run of the great swamp on two sides and into the woods, adjoining the land of William Daniell, John Smith, decd., David Allison, and William Downing. Formerly gtd. Richard Robinson Septr. 26. 1678. Afterwards granted to Edwin Conway, Septr. 28, 1681.
Source: Land Office Patents No. 9, 1697-1706 (v.1 & 2 p.1-742), p. 36 (Reel 9)."²

.¹

     Armistead Churchill Sr. married Hannah Harrison, daughter of Col. Nathaniel Harrison and Mary Cary.^1,3
Armistead Churchill Sr. was born on 25 July 1704 at Rosegill, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.³
Armistead Churchill Sr. died between 22 August 1758 and 1 August 1763 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.⁴

His estate was probated in August 1763 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA.⁴

     Armistead Churchill Sr. is mentioned in the will of Elizabeth Armistead on 9 November 1716; from Churchill Family in Genealogies of VA Families: "....It names son-in-law Mann Page, grandson Ralph Page, son to Mann Page; son John Wormely, son Armistead Churchill, dau. Priscilla Churchill, dau. Elizabeth Churchill, gr. child. Elizabeth and Ralph, children of John Wormely, cousins Judith and Catherine Robinson..."⁵

Armistead Churchill Sr. left a will on 21 August 1758; from Churchill Family in Genealogies of VA Families: "In the name of God, Amen.
     I, Armestead Churchill, of the county of Middlesex, in the Colony of Virginia, being in perfect mind and understanding, do make this my last will and testament.
     In the first place, I desire all my just debts may be paid by my executors hereafter named, that is my beloved sons, William churchill, John Churchill, Henry Churchill and Armestead Churchill, and if my debts be paid without selling my tract of land in Prince William county, my will and desire is that it should [be] divided as follows: My son John Churchill to have 2000 acres, my son Armestead Churchill 2000 acres, my son Benj. 2000 acres, my son Henry 400 acres, if he should choose to live there, and the remainder of the tract to be equally divided between my daughters, that is to say, Hannah, Lucy, Priscilla, Judith and Betty. In testimony hereof I have sett my hand and afixed my seal this twenty-first day of August, 1758. (Proved August, 1763.)⁴"

     Hannah Harrison married Armistead Churchill Sr., son of William Churchill and Elizabeth Armistead.^1,2
Hannah Harrison was born in 1706; from Churchill Family in Genealogies of VA Families: "...The Virginia Gazette for Sept. 21, 1776, has a notice of the dath of "Mrs. Hannah Churchill, of Bushy Park in Middlesex county, relict of Armistead Churchill, Esq., in the 70th year of her age."³

Her estate was probated on 23 May 1774.⁴

Hannah Harrison died in September 1776; from Churchill Family in Genealogies of VA Families: "...The Virginia Gazette for Sept. 21, 1776, has a notice of the dath of "Mrs. Hannah Churchill, of Bushy Park in Middlesex county, relict of Armistead Churchill, Esq., in the 70th year of her age."³

     Col. Nathaniel Harrison married Mary Cary.¹


His estate was probated on 24 February 1727 at Surry Co., Virginia, USA.²

      ; See Hardy [1911] Armistead lineage.¹

     Mary Cary married Col. Nathaniel Harrison.¹

     Armistead Churchill Jr. was born on 25 November 1733 at Middlesex Co., Virginia, USA; Ancestry record says: "born...November 25, 1733 (his monument says 1732)..."^3,2 He married Elizabeth Blackwell, daughter of Hon. Samuel Blackwell Jr. and Elizabeth Steptoe, on 14 February 1761.^1,3

     Elizabeth Blackwell was born on 25 March 1741 at Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA.^1,3 She married Armistead Churchill Jr., son of Armistead Churchill Sr. and Hannah Harrison, on 14 February 1761.^1,3

Elizabeth Blackwell died on 28 May 1831 at Jefferson Co., Kentucky, USA, at age 90.^1,3,4
Elizabeth Blackwell was buried after 28 May 1831 at Belnheim Plantation Family Graveyard, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky, USA;
From Find A Grave:
     BIRTH     25 Mar 1741, Northumberland County, Virginia, USA
     DEATH     28 May 1831 (aged 90), Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA
     Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel Blackwell and Elizabeth (Steptoe) Blackwell of "Walnut Lodge" where she was born in Northumberland County, Virginia. On the 14th of February in 1761 she married Armistead Churchill in Northumberland County. Armistead Churchill was born on the 25th of November, 1733 in Middlesex County, Virginia and was the son of Armistead & Hannah (Harrison) Churchill of "Bushby Park."
     Armistead & Elizabeth Churchill are said to have "removed with Elizabeth's uncles, William & Joseph Blackwell, to Fauquier County, and later about '1785', removed with some members of the Blackwell family to Kentucky and settled just south of the present city limits of Louisville, on a plantation which he called "Blenheim," where he, his wife and many of his children lie buried. They had ten children and in recording them in his family Bible he changes the spelling of his surname with the record of the birth of his sixth child. His children were:
      1. Elizabeth Churchill, b. 20 April 1762;
      2. Armistead Churchill, b. 22 April 1763;
      3. William Churchill, b. 10 June 1765;
      4. John Churchill, b. 26 January 1767;
      5. Henry Churchill, b. 10 December 1768;
      (to be continued)
     References:
      1. Source Records of the Blackwell Family of Kentucky & Virginia who Descend from Capt. Samuel Blackwell, Sr. of "Walnut Lodge," Northumberland County, Virginia by Mrs. Doris Ratliff Blackwell of Shreveport, Louisiana (private compilation/collection). She was kind enough to lend me (MES) copies of this voluminous work, of which I made a copy, in the mid 1980's. Her sources are primarily straight from the courthouse records & primary sources mainly from Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisiana. She travelled the distance to the various courthouses and recorded & copied documents personally before the days of the internet. An excellent compilation of primary sources by a very diligent & highly competent genealogist.
      2. The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 9, No. 4 (Apr.,1901), pp. 246-249.
      3. Colonial Families of the Southern States of America by Stella Pickett Hardy, 2nd Edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981 (orig. 1911), pgs. 49-52 (includes many corrections & additions).
     BURIAL     Blenheim Plantation Family Graveyard, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA
     Created by: M. E. Shotwell
     Added: 22 Feb 2015
     Find A Grave Memorial 142955425.⁴

     Ann Blackwell was born on 2 February 1743.^2,3 She married John Blackwell, son of Col. William Blackwell and Elizabeth Crump, circa 1769 at Virginia, USA,
; HIs 2nd wife (his cousin)
Ancestry.com - Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800
     Name:     John Blackwell
     Marriage Date:     Abt 1769
     Spouse Name:     Ann Blackwell
     Marriage Location:     Virginia, United States
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
     Original data: Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.^4,5

     John Blackwell was born in 1735.² He married Ann Blackwell, daughter of Hon. Samuel Blackwell Jr. and Elizabeth Steptoe, circa 1769 at Virginia, USA,
; HIs 2nd wife (his cousin)
Ancestry.com - Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800
     Name:     John Blackwell
     Marriage Date:     Abt 1769
     Spouse Name:     Ann Blackwell
     Marriage Location:     Virginia, United States
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
     Original data: Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.^3,4 John Blackwell married Judith Churchill, daughter of Armistead Churchill Sr. and Hannah Harrison, in 1777
; His 2nd wife; her 2nd husband.^2,5
      .¹ John Blackwell was also known as John Blackburn.⁵

     Col. William Blackwell was born on 25 April 1713 at St. Stephens Parish, Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA.^2,3,4 He married Elizabeth Crump circa 1734 at Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA,
; Ancestry.com - Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800
     Name:     Elizabeth Crump
     Marriage Date:     Abt 1734
     Spouse Name:     William Blackwell
     Marriage Location:     Virginia, United States
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
     Original data: Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.^5,3
Col. William Blackwell died in 1772 at Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA.²

His estate was probated on 20 September 1772 at Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA.²

      ;
Who was the correct William BLACKWELL and what was his Ancestry?
     I am convinced that two or more William Blackwells have been confused in the various online family trees that I have found. I am concerned to find the father of the David BACKWELL (c 1759-1841) who married Sarah HARRIS (c1765-bef 1806).
     "William-A": The William BLACKWELL whose will was dated 23 Nov 1774 had it witnessed by a Dabney HARRIS, who was the 1st cousin of Sarah HARRIS. Unfortunately, the will only lists two sons (naming William and Armistead as Executors) and simply says he leaves everything to his living children, without naming any other children. So this William has some link to the HARRIS family and is a possibility to be the father of Sarah's husband, David BLACKWELL. The will was probated in Albemarle Co., VA in March 1775. William-A names his wife as Sarah in his will.
     "William-B": Most of the online family trees (Ancestry.com, RootsWeb) who identify a William as the father of Sarah's husband, David, say that that William died 10 Aug 1772. The William who wrote the 1774 will obviously didn't die in 1772. Most of these family trees share the same date of death (10 Aug 1772), but some say William-B died in Albemarle Co., VA (where William-A probably died two or three years later), while others say he died in Fauquier Co., VA. Further records (including several Sons of the American Revolution) show that this William-B was married to an Elizabeth CRUMP, so not only did he die too early and in the wrong place to have been William-A, but he had the wrong wife.
     Thus, we have pretty clear evidence that two or more different Williams have been mixed. However, in spite of the number of different family trees that link David to this William-B - apparently ignoring or discounting the conflict in death dates (1772 versus 1774/5) and death locations (Albemarle vs Fauquier Co.), I haven't found any this William-B actually had a son named David, just as I haven't yet found proof that William-A had a son named David (even though he has a links to David's wife's family). He was a mentioned with (?) Blackwell; per Hardy [1911:49]: "There were the traditional three brothers. which emigrated to the colonies from England in the early 17th century, and these brothers were men of high standing and education, being graduates of Oxford."⁶

     Elizabeth Crump was born on 19 October 1717 at Virginia, USA.¹ She married Col. William Blackwell, son of Hon. Samuel Blackwell Sr. and Margery Downing, circa 1734 at Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA,
; Ancestry.com - Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800
     Name:     Elizabeth Crump
     Marriage Date:     Abt 1734
     Spouse Name:     William Blackwell
     Marriage Location:     Virginia, United States
     Source Information: Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
     Original data: Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.^2,3
Elizabeth Crump died in 1801.¹

Her estate was probated on 25 April 1801.¹

     Elizabeth Crump left a will on 19 June 1795.¹

     Nancy Blackwell married John Blackwell, son of Hon. Samuel Blackwell Jr. and Elizabeth Steptoe.¹

     John Blackwell married Nancy Blackwell, daughter of Col. William Blackwell and Elizabeth Crump.¹
John Blackwell married Hannah (?)³
John Blackwell was born on 18 February 1732.⁴
     In Hon. Samuel Blackwell Jr.'s will dated 16 October 1761 at Northumberland Co., Virginia, USA, John Blackwell was named as executor; Text of Will seen on Ancestry: "His will written 16 October, 1761 and probated 8 February, 1762. It Reads:Blackwell, Samuel, of St, Stephens Parrish W. W. 16 October 1761---W. p. 8 February 1762
     "Son Samuel Blackwell-plantation he now lives on during the life of his mother, and the land leased of John Gill and all the negroes that I gave him which came of negro woman Nan.
     "Son John Blackwell-my forrest land I bought of Billy Claiborn after the death of his mother, and all the negroes I have given him after death of his mother. After his mothers death he is to have two good negroes, also fifty pounds of current money for to take care of my books and to settle my account with Mr. Galloway.
     "Son Joseph Blackwell-250 acres of land in Hacks Neck which I bought of William Taite lying on the Southside of the Main Road, likewise 100 acres on the northside of the road purchased of Tunstall Hack. After death of his mother, negro man Robin and negro woman Bettie, and all stock of cattle, sheep and hoggs on that plantation, except half dozen of each kind for the use of my own plantation, and 3 good Beeves, four hogs and six sheep to be chose by my son John. I also give him the crop of corn made on that plantation this year, and two thousand weight of tobacco in two casks of said crop, and three thousand pounds of tobacco to be paid him the said Joseph on Christmas comes twelve months, to help build his house.
     "Daughter Elizabeth Churchill-negro woman Molly and her three children Joshua, Lucye, and Bettie, and one feather bed and furniture.Son William Blackwell Waterman-three hundred pounds of current money of Virginia as soon as my executors find it convenient to pay him.
     "Son James Blackwell-plantation whereon my son Samuel Blackwell now lives, also land leased of John Gill after death of his mother.
     "Wife-one hundred pounds current money, to give to whom she pleases at her death.
     "Four sons James, George, Thomas, and David Blackwell, and two daughters Anne, and Judith Blackwell-all the rest of negroes and moveable estate.
     "I give my son Samuel Blackwell only two negroes and my silver plate after the death of his mother.
     "Wife Elizabeth Blackwell-all the land whereon I now live and my water mills at home and mill I bought of John Hobson during her widowhood, also an uninterrupted privilege in my estate given to my six youngest children.
     "Wife to be guardian of six youngest children till they come of age, and if she should die before they come of age, two sons Samuel and John Blackwell to be their guardians.Executors to sell any part of the negroes that I have given to six youngest children as they think proper.
     "Wife and son John Blackwell, executors.If son John Blackwell should die, son Samuel Blackwell to be executor.
     "Witness: James Daughity, Robert Belvard, William Blundon, and Spencer Oldham."^1,2

     Thomas Simpson married Hannah Blackwell, daughter of Col. William Blackwell and Elizabeth Crump, on 17 September 1799.¹

     Joseph Blackwell was born in 1715.¹
     He was a mentioned with (?) Blackwell; per Hardy [1911:49]: "There were the traditional three brothers. which emigrated to the colonies from England in the early 17th century, and these brothers were men of high standing and education, being graduates of Oxford."²

     Hannah Blackwell was born in 1747.¹ She married Thomas Simpson on 17 September 1799.¹

     Samuel Blackwell was born in 1736.²

     Capt. William Blackwell married Unknown (?)
; Her 2nd husband. per Hardy [1911:52] "He m. the widow foote, who married after his death a Dr. Graham."¹
Capt. William Blackwell died in 1782.¹
      .¹