Biography of Willoughby Blackard (1758-1838)

"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."
(source: Letter from Kate Blackard (1883-1962) to her nephew HD Blackard )

Willoughby was born on August 12, 1758 in old Granville County, NC.

On his war service record his birthplace is named as Bute County, NC however Bute did not exist when he was born and was still in old Granville County.

Old Bute County, North Carolina is shown here. This is a portion of old Granville County that was first formed into Bute County and later became Warren and Franklin Counties.

1775-1781 Revolutionary War Service

1775 Virginia Militia Service

In 1775 Willoughby apparently enlisted in the Virginia Militia just as Kate Blackard said. This stands to reason because he fought in the Battle of Great Bridge near Norfolk, Virginia on December 1775 "where Fordyce was defeated", Willoughby refers to this as as "Long Bridge" in his revolutionary war service testament in 1832. This battle occurred in 1775, the year before his enlistment in the Colonial Army suggesting that he served in the Virginia Militia first.

1776 NC Line Service

1776 -.Willoughby enlisted in in Bute Co or Caswell County, NC under Captain John Hogan and served in the Fourth North Carolina Regiment, Col. Henry Dixon, Major Thomas Denaho, Captain Jacob Turner

1777- Fought at Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777 under George Washington.

1780 - Taken prisoner at the battle of Stone Ferry and was taken prisoner at Charleston, South Carolina, May 26, 1780. On July 27, 1780, he was exchanged and placed in Captain Edward Yarborough's Company in Colonel Henry Dixon's Sixth North Carolina Regiment. Was in battle of Gate's Defeat on 16 August 1780.

1781 - Fought in Battle of Guilford Courthouse on 16 March, 1781. Was in Battle of Camden on 26 April 1781 and Eutaw Springs on 8 September 1781 under General Greene.. Discharged November 15, 1781.

1782 Hillsborough District, NC

1782 Hillsborough District, NC army payroll voucher

1783 Warren County, NC

In 1783 Willoughby was recorded in the Warren County tax list as Williby Black as a single man worth $100. He was living close to Spencer Snow and Frances Snow. Possibly his father Charles Blackard I was still living in the area. NC Genealogist, Louise Fuller, believes that he was possibly working on the nearby Alston estate. Warren County is the northern half of old Bute County.

1787-1788 Caswell County, NC

1787 Tax Lists - Caswell Co, NC- St. Luke's District - Williby Blackard -- 1 White Poll
1788 Tax Lists - Caswell Co, NC- St. Luke's District - Willibee Blackard -- 1 White Poll

His brothers Willam and Job were not listed in the Caswell County tax lists until the years 1789.

1790 First U.S Census Rowan County, NC

1790 - The 1790 US Census lists Willibee Blackheart for Salisbury Distict, Rowan County, NC. It reports Willilbee as head of household with 3 females. This is probably a wife and 2 daughters. This would indicate that Willougbhy married Susan Owen in 1789 when he left Caswell County.

1791 Tax Lists - Rowan County NC Davie Distict tax list includes Willube Blackhart taxed for 1 white poll.

1800 Second U.S. Census Rockingham County, NC

Willoughby was recorded under the spelling "WilYouBe Blackart" on the 1800 Rockingham county, NC census and listed as 26-45 with a wife and 6 children.

"Person County North Carolina Compilations" by Katharine Kerr Kendall from Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc. which has on page 61 -Person County Rcord Books, book 3 cont. - September Court 1802

99 Inv. estate of Saml. McMurry taken 15 Mar. 1802. List of bonds and notes on: Duncan Carmicle, Nathan Williams, George Eskridge, William Ball, William Yalock, William Woods, Williby Blackard, Benjamin Douglass, James Bark, Martin Douglas, William Farrar, Thompson McKissock, John Black, David Breeken.

1810-1816 Grayson County, VA

From 1811 to about 1820 Willoughby resided in Grayson County, VA.

1811 - On May 25th, 1811, Willoby Blackard obtained deeds from Thomas Jessup and John Pearson He was also a witness for another deed transaction.

1812 - On February 25th, 1812, Thomas Dalton sued Willoughby Blackard for debt.The sheriff could not find him to serve the writ and Willoughby did not appear in court.

1815 - Grayson Co, Virginia - Personal Property Tax + 2 head of Cattle.

Willoughby Blackard still resided in August 1816 according to this land deed for John Dalton adjoining Willoughby's property.

Virginia. Land Office. Register. Land grants, 1779- Library of Virginia. Archives. Land Office Patents & Grants/Northern Neck Grants & Surveys Dolton, John. grantee. 1 August 1816. Location: Grayson County. Description: 60 acres on the waters of Big Read Island River adjoining Willibe Blackard. Source: Land Office Grants No. 66, 1816-1817, p. 61 (Reel 132).

1820 Fourth U.S. Census Wythe County, VA

Willoughby then moved and resided in Wythe Co, VA from about 1818 or 1820 until his death in 1838 according to his final pension records..

The 1820 Wythe Co NC Census listed Susannah Blackert as head of household and without showing Willoughby in the household.

1830-1838 Wythe County, VA

1832 - On Oct 8 1832, appeared in person to testify for war pension in Wythe Co, Virginia

1834 - Annual pension of $80 allotted on 4 March, 1834 in Wythe Co., VA.

1835 - Annual pension received in Wythe Co., VA

Virginia Pension Roll of 1835 Report from the Secretary of War In relation to the Pension Establishment Of the United States 1835

WILL YOU BE BLACHARD WYTHE COUNTY PRIVATE VIRGINIA MILITIA $80.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE $240.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED JANUARY 17, 1834 PENSION STARTED AGE 76

9 March 1838, signed [X] power of attorney to collect his pension payments, witnessed by Justice of Peace and William Blackard.

Willoughby died between March and May 1838 in Wythe Co, Virginia

Willoughby's 1832 testimony for his war pension

" On Oct 8 1832, appeared in person to testify for war pension in Wythe Co, Virginia Willoughby made this declaration:

Wythe County, to-wit: On this eighth day of October 1832, personally appeared before Justices of the County court of Wythe in open court Will you be Blackard a resident of Wythe County, and State of Virginia, aged 74 years on the 12th of August last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, That he enlisted in the Army of the States on the 12 Oct 1776 with Capt. John Hogan and served in the 4th Regiment of the North Carolina line under the following named Officers Col. Henry Dixon, Major Thomas Donoho, Capt Jacob Turner who was promoted to Maj. and killed at Germantown -then Capt. William Sanders. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Bute County North Carolina, marched first to a place in Virginia called the long bridge, & was in the battle when Fordyce was defeated, from thence he returned to North Carolina to Bute county thence to Halifax county, & then to Stono River & was in the battle of Stono - Genl Lincoln was commander in chief who was there wounded –from the battle of Stono went into Charleston & was there taken prisoner May 2n. 1780 & remained a prisoner until the 27 July same year was then exchanged & then was put in the 6th Reg. North Carolina line, Col Henry Dixon, Liut Col Robert Mayben, Maj. Donoho, Capt. Edward Yarborough served under Capt Yarborough to the end of the war was in Gates defeat Aug 16, 1780 - then in Guildford battle March 15, 1781 - then the battle of Camden April 23d 1781 - then the Eutau Spring battle Sept. 8th 1781 - Green commanded. Was discharged Nov. 15, 1781 - Has lost his discharge. He hereby relinguishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

Will you be (his mark) Blackard

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the aforenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. I, John P. Mathews, Clark of the County Court of Wythe County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Will you be Blackard for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 21st day of October 1832 J. P. Mathews Clk by A. B. Moore his Dep."

1840 Wythe County, Virgina

In the 1840 Wythe County Virginia U.S Census Susannah Blackard (age 80-85) appears to be living with Daniel Sutphin and Jane Blackard Sutphin.

Willoughby's wife Susannah died in November 1848 in Wythe County and their son Charles Blackard was the administrator of her estate.