[A letter written by a Kate (aged 77) to her nephew Jack in  and says shes a granddaughter of Will-you-be Blackard. The only Kate that I have is a daughter of Tobias Blackard (Thomas,Will-you-be) making her a great-granddaughter??? -Andy ]


Dear Minnie:
    I just ran across the letter that Aunt Kate sent me back in 1960.

HER LETTER:

Dear Jack,

    I received you letter and was glad to hear from you and that you had not been harmed by the storm-Donna hit Norfolk and nearby places pretty hard.  Jack I am very nearly blind so please excuse my bad writing.   I am now too blind to cook food for myself and so being the case I sold my home at a sacrifice and came down here and am staying with Barta and husband who kindly offered us a home with them here.  Let me say that Barta's husband Joel Hayes Hogg is the great great son of the Joel Hayes of Rev Pimes [?] aquaintance maker for the army. I believe it was at that time Barta is teaching in the Glouster Highschool-  Hayes has out a big crop commercial soybeans and corn.  I am about helpless so - well and will be 77 years old in Oct. so long and good luck.  Write me again some time with love and best wishes always.
                                            your aunt Kate.
THE INFO THAT SHE SENT:

Charlie Blackard was said to be a Scot Highland lad, came down into Wales and met and fell in love with a Welch girl.  They were married and had two children, then decided to come to America - I know nothing further until Willoughby Blackard, said to be their son, at the age of sixteen joined the Virginia Militia according to the information I found in the Archives at Richmond Va.  More may be found about his services, today you might write there and ask about the service of one Willoughby Blackard II - a revolutionary soldier.

I read an article sometime back to Willoughby was a Welch surname in common use in Wales - so I have read (not confirmed) another family story is that he was given a homestead in the highlands of Va. for his services.  My father told me that it was 60 acres and was in Carroll county out or near Floyd County.  Willoughby Blackard married a Susan Owen of Kentucky said to be a planter's daughter and aristocrat.  He came out of the army as a pricefighter met her on one of his trips and married her and brought her to the highlands of Virginia (I laughingly say starved her to death) one more family story and I will have to stop and lay down (excuse me please) it was said that he among others was taken prisoner by the English that they were made to kneel and bow their heads to be shot then an officer went down the line and looked down at them when he looked around grandfather Willoughby he saw 2 crowns, double crowns and ask him who he was and grandfather answered him in Scottish that he was of Scotish ancestry and said who he was and the officer was to have ordered him released.  Jack these are stories that came down in the family. Now I must stop here. Much love, Aunt Kate.