Virginia Reynolds on Blackard Immigrants (1970s)
"The first Blackard (Great Great Great Grandfather) that came over here as recorded came down from the Highlands in Scotland to Wales, married a Welch girl and came across the seas with two children. He was Scotch-Irish."
Felix Grundy Blackard on Blackard Immigrants (1905)
"Felix Grundy Blackard...is a descendent of Scotch-Irish stock. A little while before the commencement of the Revolutionary War two brothers left Scotland for America, having previously left Ireland to escape political persecution. Upon arrival in this country they located in South Carolina, where they married and where the descendants of one of them are still to be found. The other brother removed to Virginia and subsequently to Tennessee, where a large number of his descendants still reside. Some time in the twenties, five of these descendants, brothers, named William, Spivey, Jobe, Thomas and Joshua, came to Illinois an! d lo cated near where the boundary line between White and Gallatin counties now runs. There each of them entered government land and followed farming. Several of their descendants still live in that section"
From "Memoirs of the Lower Ohio Valley" pub 1905, pages 242 & 243.
W.G. Blackard on Blackard Immigrants - son of Jesse D. Blackard (1937)
Letter was from W.G. Blackard - Manager of the Blackard Chair Company Stuart, Virginia - letter dated June 14, 1937.
W.G. Blackard stated his grandfather was William, his great grandfather was Thomas and his great-great grandfather was Willoughby. W.G. Blackard also stated "I have been told by my father that there were only four of the boys came over from England. These being Willoughby, Thomas, William and Aaron. Willoughby settled Stuart, Virginia and was buried near Stuart, Va. Aaron settled near Burlington, N.C. William settled at Blacksburg first and afterward moved to Washington Co. Va. and I am not sure where Thomas settled."
Jack Blackard on Blackard Immigrants
From Mansford Wellington "Jack" Blackard Notes: "Cavaliers and Pioneers", a record of abstracts of Virginia land patents and grants, 1623-1666 contains a record of John Blachard transported to America in 1650. "Richard Tye & Charles Sparrowe, 2,500 acs. Chas. City Co., 12 Aug. 1650, p. 248. Near the head of Powells Cr. adj. To the land called Weynoake old Town, beg. at certain trees called the great Maukes, etc. running S. along Tye's old devdt., W along land of Thomas Wheeler to beg. Trans of 50 pers:". One of the 50 persons listed is John Blachard.
Jack Blackard on Blackard Immigrants
Other item from M.W. Jack Blackard's Notes - A quote from "Armorial Families of Great Britain" by Fox-Davies. "The first known Blackards lived near Aberdeen, Scotland. Came to America through the port of Charleston, South Carolina. Some settled in North and South Carolina, others in Tennessee. Research of available records indicate that some of the descendants came to Virginia after the Revolutionary War."
Yves D'Agostino on Blackard Name
The Blanchard's are effectively native of Normandy and North of France. This name is the French acceptation of the Belgian name Blanckaerdt (or Blanquaerdt) which comes from the old German words "blank" (shining) and "hard" (strong). Therefore, the name of your ancestors (and yours) does not means "white" or "somewhat white", but "strongly shining" ! The French word "blanc" comes also from the old German "blank". Perhaps, in the long run, the "n" of Blanckardt has disappeared."
Regarding the Blackard Name
Blackguard, which sounds very much like Blackard, is said to derive from the occupation of scullery/kitchen help - those who tend the fires and scrub the utensils. The Black-guard saw to the smooth and cleanly runnng of the kitchen. This etymology I found in a dictionary, the indication being that Blackguard, Blackard is an occupational name, such as Weaver, Carpenter, Wainwright, Cook, etc. .
Regarding the Origin of the Blackard Name
"I met a college professor in High Point, NC in 1960. I gathered that he was a history professor or some type of genealogy professor, because of his conversations. He talked with all of us about our surnames. He said my name, Blackard, was originally called "Blackguard" which came from the occupation of these people, as they worked as guards over the prisoners of the Kings or Leaders of those times, in Scotland and Ireland. This may help you in your search for the Blackard ancestors. Of course, the name may have been spelled in several different ways, Blackgard, Blackgerd, etc."
Regarding the Early American Blackard Family
"The 5 known sons (I think) of the original Blackard would be
1- Willoughby - went to Virginia after the Revolutionary War
2- Charles - stayed in North Carolina (little is known)
3- Job(e) - married and had children in North Carolina. He died before 1800.Aa
large part of his family live in Arkansas.
4- William - married and had children in North Carolina - moved to Sumner Co,
Tennessee about 1807 and had more children in Tennessee. After William's death
his 5 sons moved to White/Gallatin Co in Illinois.
5- Eli - In Franklin Co, Tennessee as early as 1812 (little is known) 2 possible
sons are Levi and Branch Blackard. Both were in the War of 1812 from Tennessee
and were found in Lawrence Co, Tennessee in the 1820 Census."
1949 Letter from Kate Blackard on the Blackard History
"What I know and what I've heard of the Blackard Family Tree- Family tradition (or) handed down stories - The 1st Blackard was a Scotch (a highlander - left scotland went to Wales married a Welch girl - crossed the ocean to America with his wife and two small children - My child idea was that this ancestoral family waded the ocean each carrying a child on his or her shoulder. The reason I thought so was this grandmother was (as Welch women often are) quite tall and large she was said to be as tall or nearly so as a six foot man."
1960 Kate Blackard Letter on Blackard Immigrants
"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."
Early American Blackard Family in North Carolina (Internet Source)
"William was born in NC Orange Co 1720, and died NC Person Co, 1791.Therefore he lived in NC for 71 years. He had 4 sons all born in NC 1754-1766 and Jobe Married in Caswell Co (1792) and died in Person Co., 1799. Person Co was formed from Caswell Co 1779, so all Person Co records before 1779 were in Caswell Co. There were a lot of Blackards in NC in 1766."
Family Group Sheet on Father: William Blackard Born: 1720 in: Orange Co., NC Died: 1791 in: Person Co., NC
CHILDREN
1 William Charles Blackard M Born: 1754 in: Orange Co., NC Died:1821 in: Sumner
Co., TN
2 Thomas Joseph Blackard M Born: 1756 in: Orange Co., NC
3 Willoughbe Blackard Born: August 12,1758 in: Orange Co., NC M Married: 1778
Died: 1840in: Patrick Co., VA Spouse: Susannah Owens
4 Job Blackard Born: December 16,1766 in: North Carolina M Married: January
31, 1792 in: Caswell Co., NC Died: 1799 in: Person Co., NC Spouse: Jean Hargis
Illinois Stories Regarding Blackard Immigrants
"The first known Blackards lived near Aberdeen, Scotland. Came to America through the port of Charleston, South Carolina. Some settled in North and South Carolina, others in Tennessee. Research of available records indicate that some of the descendants came to Virginia after the Revolutionary War."
Regarding Blackard Welsh Origin
"I have always heard that the Blackards were Welsh."
Regarding Blackard Immigrants
"Our family story was that there were two brothers. I have copied below the narrative that came from an ancient genealogy which was received from Ira Shain, genealogist, in Illinois in 1963. He got it from descendents of James A. Blackard and the descendents lived in Charleston, SC. This genealogy was probably written in the late 1880s or before. "
"At some time, prior to the Revolutionary War, two Blackard brothers escaped political persecution in Ireland by sailing from Aberdeen, Scotland. The ship, bound for Charleston, S.C., also carried McMurtrys and Trousdales. One of the Blackard brothers stayed in Charleston, where his descendants still resided at the start of the Civil War. The other brother, with the remainder of the party, journeyed along the colonial post road north from Charleston and thence to the headwaters of the Pee Dee River to what is now Hurdle Mill, Person County, N.C. In 1860, a direct descendent still lived in the original Blackard home. "
"I will tell you that there is a legend in the Illinois Blackards that the name was changed from Blanchard for some reason."
Regarding John Trousdale (Supposed Fellow Immigrant)
SOURCE: "The Trousdale Genealogy" by Karl Truesdell, 1952; Enlarged
by Theodore McKee Trousdale, Jr., 1960.
JOHN TROUSDALE was born Abt. 1704 in Ulster Province (now Northern),. Ireland,
and died Abt. 1782 in Orange (now Alamance) Co., NC. He married ELIZABETH in
Ireland or PA. She died Abt. 1784.
Migrated to America between 1730 and 1735 settling initially in Lancaster Co., PA and then moved to Orange Co., NC. With variations the foregoing represents the consensus of family tradition. Except for John's will, no records exist.
The migration from Ireland conforms to the general exodus of the period when more than half of the Protestant population left to avoid over-population and dire famine conditions. The period is that of George
II - no political strife, little religious persecution. By the time John arrived in Pennsylvania the good, cheap land east of the Susquehanna and south of the mountains had been occupied. A presumed brother, William, is authentically identified in the area as a freeman, landowner, and taxpayer, John Trousdale, however, is not officially recorded as having lived in Lancaster Co. Elsewhere, two grandchildren state that they were born in Lancaster Co., PA.
Attracted by the low cost speculative grants in the Carolinas John Trousdale apparently abandoned whatever living he had in Pennsylvania and moved southward following the 400 mile route via the Lower
Trail or Trading Path by way of the Shenandoah and the Piedmont, a month's trip by wagon. Moving in company, religious congregations - Quakers, Moravian, Presbyterians, or political groups - German,
Scotch-Irish, Jacobite, would settle in particular localities, community of interest prevailing. Squatting on likely home sites the families would later buy the land from the agent for the patent (Hist Alamance Co., NC, Whittaker). John Trousdale, a Presbyterian, sought the Hawfields tract, a part of the original Granville patent, on the east bank of the Haw River between Swepsonville and Saxapahaw, Haw Creek a tributary of the Haw running along its south edge. Insofar as known, John, the elder, did not himself acquire land in Orange Co. although his two younger sons did become extensive landowners on both banks of the Haw and his eldest son lived on the west side (Alamance Co, NC, S.W. Stockard). Other settlers at the time, to mention a few names included in subsequent marriages, were the Freelands, Stockards, Clendennins.
On arrival in Orange Co., John Trousdale was well along in years. His sons who accompanied him were married and had families of their own.
Regarding The Blaccard Name
"The family legend is that two brothers Blackard, sailed from Aberdeen, Scotland for Charleston, SC. I have found a Blackard living in NC in 1720.
For many reasons, I believe that the original name was Blaccard, they were French Huguenots and the route was France, Ireland, Scotland, SC and NC. Part of the Blaccard family fled to Switzerland from France and at least one emigrated to the US in 1862.
The key to the Huguenot connection was that the Blackard brothers sailed to Charleston, SC, a very unusual port unless you were Huguenot. There were a ton of Huguenots in Charleston and the old Huguenot church still exists. Then our ancient family tree came from descendents who lived in Charleston after the Civil War, moving, as refugees from Louisiana, to relatives already living in Charleston. Then there was the persecution of Huguenots, even in Britain, which first encouraged them to settle in Ireland and then wanted them to leave. In TN, a Levi Blackard was in the census as Blaccard and I traced a family from France, Blaccards, who moved to Switzerland and the descendents emigrated to New York in 1862.
Since there is no actual documentation extant, not yet anyway, this is all hypothesis.
The other thing, and this runs counter to the Blaccard theory, but is possible anyway, is that the name Blanchard is French. The legend came from Alfred Blackard, son of Thomas Blackard of Illinois, who told it to Verner Blackard, who wrote it in a letter that Donna Blackard Woods, descendent of Verner found.. Thomas may have been the grandson of William Blackard of NC who might have been a brother to Jobe Blackard."
Regarding Thomas Blanchard (Early New England Immigrant 1639)
Father: Pierre Jean Blanchard b: ABT. 1555 (Normandy)
Son: Thomas Blanchard b: (England) d: 1654
"In 1639 he married Agnes Bent widow of --- Barnes and daughter of John and Agnes Bent In 1639, the Blanchards sailed on the "Jonathan" for New England. Thomas settled first in Charlestown until 1645 when he removed to Braintree MA. In Feb 1651 he bought 200 acres farm in Malden MA where he died 21 March 1654."
"Thomas Blanchard settled in 1639, in Braintree, Mass, but removed to Charlestown in 1651. After arriving in New England on the ship "Jonothan", he married 3rd Mary, who survived him. He made his will 22 May, in 1654, and it was proved June 20, 1654 (New England Genealogical Society Register17:156 --- 32:407-411)."
Notes from the Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, By Frederick A. Virsus "Vol VII pg 833: Blanchard, Thomas (D. 1652; desc. of Aloin Blanchard of Rouen, France, 1418, patriot, executed by the British after surrender at Rouen) came from Lorraine, France to England; From England in the "Jonathan" to Charlestown, Mass., in 1639; was at Braintree 1646-50; Charlestown, 1651;..."