The Blackard "First Family" - William Blackard (???? - 1821)

William was born in Virginia according the father's place of birth reported by his youngest son, Spivey Blackard in the 1880 U.S. Census. This places his birth before 1755/56 when Charles Blackard I was recorded in Edgecombe, North Carolina. The fact that William was not listed for taxes with his son Thomas in 1819 in Sumner Co, TN also means that William reached the age of 60 by 1819 and was born before 1759. William was also listed for taxes in Person County in 1793 and 1795 but not in 1805. This would indicate that William was born before 1745 but after 1735. William's son, also named William, was said to have been born in NC in 1805 and Jean Blackard (Job's widow) was listed in 1805.

William posted the bond for his brother, Charles II, to marry Nancy Vermillion in Caswell County in 1780. This indicates that William owned land somewhere sufficient to satisfy this $250 bond but probably not in Caswell.

William and Job Blackard were listed in the Caswell tax lists of 1787 and 1788. I think that before 1787 they may have been living in Warren/Franklin County with their father Charles I. Perhaps their move to Caswell followed his death, but this has not been verified yet.

William Blackard was recorded in the first U.S. census (reconstructed from tax lists) of 1790 in Orange County, North Carolina with his name spelled correctly. This has caused many to believe that he was the first American Blackard but we have found that this was not the case. Brother Willoughby Blackard was recorded under the misspelling Willibee Blackheart in 1790. William apparently owned land in both Caswell and Orange districts according to the 1790 Orange tax lists.

William appeared in the 1793 and 1795 Person County, NC tax lists but not in the 1805 Person County tax list.

In Warren County (part of old Bute County) a William Blanched bought at estate sale of Samuel Stokes in 1797. This could be William Blackard but isn't verified yet.

Someime between the birth of his son William in 1805 and the birth of his son Joshua in 1807 William moved his family to Tennessee. His brother Charles II was recorded in TN in 1805 and 1806.

William had married an Elizabeth Humphries of Caswell/Person County before coming to TN and he had 5 sons and 3 daughters who were documented in Sumner County, TN and later in the 1820s in Illinois. However, I believe that there is a possibility that he may have had older children that settled and stayed behind in NC. There are several unidentified NC Blackards that may have been his descendents.

William filed his will in Sumner County in 1820 and it was probated after his death in 1821 at age 76-86 according to an estimated DOB of 1735-1745.