As noted, my mother was the daughter of Henry Lee Blair. Henry Lee Blair had, of course, Blair DNA from his father's side but he also had Blair DNA on his mother's side from his 2nd great grandmother Mary Blair (married Capt. Moses Guest). I am calling these two Blair lines as 1 and 2: Line 1 being my grandfather's direct paternal Blair line and Line 2 being my grandfather's maternal Blair ancestry. I discuss Line 1 here. Line 2 will be discussed when I add my GUEST family records (in progress), but until then, please visit my information on Colonel James Blair who was the brother of my 4th great grandmother Mary Blair.
As noted above, I will be discussing my Blair Line 1 on this page. So far, I have only been able to trace this line back to William Blair of Pendleton District, SC and Franklin County, GA in the early 1800s. I have not been able to go further back than him.
It is important to note that any discussion about my maternal ancestors should include a brief history of the Pendleton District of South Carolina and Franklin County Georgia. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, this area was very rich with Revolutionary War soldiers. This is due in large part to Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, (the hero of the Kings Mountain Battle), General Andrew Pickens, (the leader of the Southern theater) and Colonel Robert Anderson [1], (arguably 2nd-in-command to General Pickens), settling here along with scores of their fellow patriot soldiers. These men were awarded land for their service during the war. These lands were formerly native American Indian lands that were signed over to Georgia and South Carolina through various treaties. Also, the Indians sided with the British during the American Revolution and lost land as a result. Although it came some years later, the Trail of Tears was a continuation of the loss of Indian lands in North Georgia that started after the Revolutionary War. As the years progressed, more of Georgia's native American Indian lands were given up (some forcibly) and the descendants of these same Revolutionary War soldiers moved south and west in the slow migration that eventually led to the western states being created and settled. My own ancestry closely follows this southern migration pattern.
William Blair, my maternal 3rd great grandfather, lived in both areas (Franklin County & Pendleton District) and is probably a descendant of one of these Revolutionary War soldiers; However, he is the "brick wall" in this line of my Blair family research. I found quite a few records for him but none of the records provide any definitive information about his parents or siblings. Some old family lore stories have us as direct descendants of the Revolutionary War soldier Colonel James Blair but yDNA results of my Blair cousin disproves this theory; However, the lore stories are partially correct because Colonel James Blair's sister is one of my direct ancestors thus making Col. James Blair my 4th great-granduncle[3] (This is Line 2 of my Blair DNA).
My cousin's yDNA results might indicate that my Blair line is related to Rev. James John Blair of Northern Ireland. Three of James' sons fought in the American Revolution in North and South Carolina: Hugh Blair, Capt. James Blair and Major Thomas Blair. Interestingly, Hugh Blair lived in Surrey County, NC which is where Col. Benjamin Cleveland and several other families that settled in the Pendleton District of SC were from. A grandson of Rev. James John Blair is said to be James Blair of Lancaster District of SC who was a General in the SC Militia and also a SC State Congressman. He was the sheriff of Lancaster District. He was noted to have been 6' 6" tall and weighed over 300 pounds - called the Waxhaw Giant. Note: This Captain James Blair (son of Rev. James John Blair) is not the same James Blair that settled in Pendleton District. With William having sons named Hugh and Thomas, one might come to the conclusion that the yDNA should be expressly used; However, the yDNA also shows many matches to men with the last name McCrary/McCreary which further clouds the picture. I am working on a page with the yDNA results - it is in progress.
Based on the 1830 census, William was born between 1781-1790 and we know that he died in 1835 based on his widow's pension application. He was a War of 1812 veteran: He enlisted at Carnesville, GA and was discharged at Fort Hawkins. His was in Captain John Watters' unit of the Georgia Militia. Fort Hawkins was named after Colonel Benjamin Hawkins. According to the National Park Service: "After the First Treaty of Washington was signed in 1805, between the United States and the Creek Indians, the Ocmulgee River became the southwestern boundary of the United States. During the war of 1812 with Great Britain and the Creek Indian War of 1813 - 1814, Fort Hawkins was used for the rendezvous and disposition of troops. In October of 1814, over 2,500 militiamen were organized and equipped at the fort to join General Andrew Jackson at Mobile in Alabama. Some of the soldiers saw duty in the Seminole uprisings in South Georgia. Fort Hawkins at this time was the principal depository for army supplies and rations for troops involved in the War of 1812 and the Indian Wars (Creeks and Seminoles). In February of 1818, General Jackson with 1,000 Tennessee volunteers arrived at Fort Hawkins to await the arrival of 900 Georgia militiamen and a number of friendly Creek Indians on their way to fight the Seminoles in the First Seminole War. The last great assembly of Indians at the fort occurred in 1817, when 1,400 Creeks...." Fort Hawkins is now a preserved historic site located in Macon, GA.
Catherine Blair's Widow's Pension Application
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William married Catherine Harrison in April of 1812 in Pendleton District, SC. Catherine was the daughter of Thomas Harrison and Nancy (lnu). One interesting item to note about Thomas Harrison's mother Nancy is that she is shown on a later census as having been born in New Jersey. New Jersey is where the Earles lived before moving south - some have said that Thomas Harrison's mother was an Earle. Thomas is also of the correct age to have been a Revolutionary War soldier but I found no records for him listing his service in the southern campaign; However, if he too was from New Jersey there might be records for him having served in another state.
Land records indicate that William and Catherine Blair lived in both Franklin County, Georgia and Pendleton District, South Carolina - both sides of the Tugaloo River (much of the Tugaloo now forms Lake Hartwell). William Blair's land in Georgia was adjacent to Absalom Cleveland on the Tugaloo River. Absalom Cleveland was the son of the Revolutionary War hero, Colonel Benjamin Cleveland (Battle of King's Mountain, among others). Benjamin and Absalom are buried on the South Carolina side of the Tugaloo River near Highway 123 - land that was part of Benjamin's large plantation. On the South Carolina side of the Tugaloo River, their lands appear to have been near Bachelor's Retreat, Oakway near the creeks named Choesta and Cain.
Absalom Cleveland married Martha "Patsy" Harrison who was the aunt of William Blair's wife Catherine Harrison. Catherine's father (Thomas Harrison) was the brother of Martha "Patsy" Harrison. This make's Absalom Cleveland the husband of my 4th great-grandaunt.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE HARRISON FAMILY LAND PLATS.
The maps below indicate the general area in Georgia and South Carolina where William Blair and Catherine Harrison Blair lived. On the1860 census, the last census where Catherine's name appears, the post office for her was Bachelor's Retreat in South Carolina. Bachelor's Retreat is where many of my Verner ancestors were known to have lived; and many are buried in that area. The Verners are another Revolutionary War family with several soldiers that settled in Pendleton District. My maternal grandmother (Rubye Bailey Blair) also had Verner ancestry - she and my grandfather were 4th cousins. This may be a shock to some but as my uncle once said: "We are related to almost everyone in Franklin County".
On the Georgia side, the deed record below for October 6, 1813, shows the name Devereaux Jarrett. Devereaux Jarrett owned and operated the historic Travelers Rest hotel which is now owned by the state of Georgia and is a National Historic Landmark. This landmark is situated in Georgia just across the Tugaloo River from the South Carolina lands owned by Colonel Benjamin Cleveland. On the map above, this is almost directly west of Bachelor's Retreat. Devereaux Jarrett owned approximately 10,000 acres in this area.[2]
The modern movie/TV mini-series "Band of Brothers" depicts the World War II paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa (at Currahee) Army base located nearby. The Currahee Mountain looms in the distance. My Blair grandfather (Henry Lee Blair - William Blair's great grandson) did some contract work at Camp Toccoa (he was a citizen) during the war. Currahee mountain is only a few miles from the final resting place of many of my maternal ancestors (Blair, Guest, Bailey, Verner, Wilkinson, Ledbetter, Miller, Crump, Kesler, Moss, and Addison).
RECORDS FOR WILLIAM BLAIR
Note: It is not known if all of these are the same man.
In 1793, a William Blair is listed in the estate documents of James Sims - it is not noted if he owed money or was owed money by the estate. (South Carolina)
In 1795, a William Blair witnessed a land transaction on 23 Mile Creek. (South Carolina)
In 1798, a William Blair bought land on Rocky River. (South Carolina)
In 1801, a William Blair is noted as owning land on Rocky River. (South Carolina)
In 1807, a William Blair bought 102 acres on the "dividing line between Pendleton and Abbeville Districts, North side of old Indian line". Joseph Blair is noted, possibly related to Milly Savage, wife of seller Samuel Savage. (South Carolina)
There are several records for William Blair witnessing documents as well as him owning land adjacent to Absalom Cleveland in Georgia. In his old age, Absalom was declared a "lunatic" and there are numerous records for his estate and William Blair's name can be found on several of these records.
On the defaulters list above, the following names are of interest: Absalom Cleveland is listed consecutively following William Blair which likely indicates that they were adjacent landowners; Jeremiah Cleveland was the nephew of Col. Benjamin Cleveland and thus the 1st cousin of Absalom Cleveland; Fauche Cleveland is probably the grandson of Col. Benjamin; Barzilla Harrison is a name that is also shown in the Pendleton District records and he may be related to William's wife Catherine Harrison; John C. Watters is probably Captain John Watters whom William Blair served with in the War of 1812; and, lastly, Robert McCrary is of interest because he might be related to William Blair in some fashion due to yDNA matches of numerous McCrary/McCreary men who match our Blair DNA.
Other names shown on deed records above are Benjamin Perry and Pettigrew. Benjamin Perry was another Revolutionary War soldier and he was from Massachusetts. He is the father of SC Governor Benjamin Franklin Perry (1805-1886). Benjamin Sr is buried very close to the present day Chickasaw Point Community. The Pettigrew family is another line of mine. They are a Revolutionary War family, descendants of the Northern Ireland immigrant James Pettigrew (1713-1784) and his wife Mary Cochran. John Verner married James' daughter Mary and they had several children that were soldiers in the American Revolution. There are several noteworthy Pettigrew men in NC, SC and AL state history - all descendants of James Pettigrew and Mary Cochran. My grandmother and my grandfather are both descendants of these Pettigrew and Verner families (as noted, my grandparents were 4th cousins). The 1600s era CRILLY HOUSE that James Pettigrew grew up in in Northern Ireland is still standing.
This 1823 document indicates that William's land was on Beaverdam Creek. Most likely his land was at the confluence of Beaverdam and Tugaloo. I did find several land plats where Beaverdam Creek was indicated but I did not find any maps which show its location on the Franklin County side of the Tugaloo; However, there was a Beaverdam Creek on the South Carolina side and it was located just below Cain Creek. This is likely currently under the waters of Lake Hartwell. The names Absalom Cleveland and Reuben Cleveland likely indicates they were close or even adjacent landowners and their property is noted to be on the Tugaloo River. Also note the name Obediah Hooper on this 1823 list. Obediah was a noted hero of the American Revolution. His descendants spread throughout the state of Georgia and the south. Judge Hooper Alexander (a noted lawyer in DeKalb County and the author's 3rd cousin) is just one of his descendants. James Hooper, the brother of Obediah and also a Revolutionary War soldier, is buried in Fulton County, GA (Sandy Springs).
I have prepared the following spreadsheet that is a compilation of the various early Tax Digests for Franklin County, Georgia that show a BLAIR name. William and Catherine are highlighted in yellow. Captain James Blair is the famous Revolutionary War soldier and namesake of the BLAIR LINE in north Georgia. As I noted earlier, I find no yDNA or family link between James Blair and William; However, it is very interesting to note how closely they lived to one another as well as the historical names of some of the adjacent landowners of the various Blair men (and women). Note: The Hays Blair shown below for 1802/1803 might be Captain/Colonel James Blair - his middle name was said to be Hayes/Hays. If it is in fact another male Blair and not Col. James Blair, we might conclude that Hays might be related to William Blair since William enlisted in the militia in Georgia where he might have been living with his family.
Image 2On the tax digests above one will find the name Benjamin Stonecypher. He was the son of the Revolutionary War soldier John Henry Stonecypher who served under Col. Benjamin Cleveland. Benjamin Stonecypher's land was located near Eastanollee Creek about where Highway 17 and Whispering Pines Road intersect. The Stonecypher house is still standing near that intersection.
Another historic site that was close to this area was the Prather Covered Bridge that spanned the Tugaloo River. It was built in the early 1800s but was destroyed during the Civil War and then rebuilt only to be washed away in a flood. It was rebuilt again but vandals burned it down in 1978. All that remains are the stone/rock pillars. The remains can be seen from the Highway 184 bridge that crosses the Tugaloo above Toccoa.
Based on the VW Bug coming out, this one was the last one built.
I have located a few old maps of Franklin County, GA during the time period noted in the records above and it is very clear that the area where William Blair's land was located had to have been confined to a small area along the Tugaloo River. Just after the Revolutionary War this was the western edge of the frontier: All land to the west and north in Georgia was still Cherokee Indian land. This was once Franklin County until Habersham was created and a large portion of Franklin became Habersham. Later, Stephens County was created and a large portion of Habersham then became Stephens. Today, the area is split between Franklin and Stephens Counties on the Georgia side of the Tugaloo River and Oconee County on the South Carolina side.
His widow Catherine died after 1871 while a resident of Oakway, Pickens County, South Carolina.
The Censuses
Notes: 1) Counties were not established in South Carolina until 1868. The censuses of 1790-1860 specify DISTRICTS; 1870 censuses and later specify COUNTIES. This has been a point of confusion for many researchers; 2) The 1790-1810 Georgia censuses are missing for all counties in Georgia and the 1820 census for Franklin County is missing as well.
Since William Blair died in 1835, we have only 1 census which definitively indicates him: The 1830 census. His widow and children can be found on later censuses. One can use the Franklin County Tax Digests and the US Censuses to trace his (and Catherine's) whereabouts within Pickens District of SC and Franklin County, GA.
1790 - A James, George and Mary Blair are listed in Pendleton District, SC. James Blair is probably Col. James Blair. George is shown with 2 boys old enough to be William. Mary is shown with 5 boys and 4 girls - all the boys are old enough to be William.
1800 - A James, George and William Blair are listed in Pendleton District, SC. James and George are likely the same as shown on the 1800 census. William is not shown with any boys so he is likely to not be the father of a William Blair and it is unlikely that this is the William that married Catherine due to his age (26-44) - unless there is an error with the census information.
1810 - A James and Andrew Blair are listed in Pendleton District, SC. No definitive identification of these 2 men. No other Blairs shown.
1820 - No Blairs shown in Pendleton District. A Thomas, James Sr. and Jr. are now in Habersham County, GA. James Sr & Jr are likely Col. James Blair and his son. Note that Habersham was formed from a part of Franklin County. Most likely, William Blair is living in Franklin County, Georgia. See Tax Digests above where he is shown to have owned land as early as 1818. The 1820 census for Franklin County is missing.
1830 - In 1826, Pendleton District was split up and became Anderson and Pickens Districts and William Blair is shown living near his brother-in-law (Shadrach Harrison) and John Verner, Esq. in Pickens District. He owned 1 slave. Other names of note that are close are John Calhoun [5], John Green [6], Aaron Terrill, Thomas Harrison, John Harrison, Benjamin Harrison, Obediah Hooper, George C. Cleveland, Thomas Harbin, John Legrand and Charles Verner, Esq. Based on these names, I think we can safely say that William lived near/along the Tugaloo River and Bachelor's Retreat in South Carolina. Note that we have no other Blairs living in this area.
1840 - William died in 1835 but his widow Catherine is shown in Pickens District, SC. She is living near her son Hugh, her father Thomas and her brother Shadrach. She owns 4 slaves. George Cleveland is shown possibly living fairly close. It is likely that she remained on the same land that her husband William owned/rented. The only other Blair shown living in Pickens District is a John C. Blair and his name appears near John Verner, several Isbells, Clevelands and Maretts. Although Catherine and John C. Blair are not listed close together on the census, they probably did live close based on the names of the other men shown - Particularly John Verner who was shown near her husband William on the 1830 census. Note that the census takers did not always group names together based on geography although this would have been logical and easiest for them. See my notes on John C. Blair here.
One will also find the name Solomon O'Kelley who is living close to Catherine Blair on this census. Solomon married Nancy Harrison, the daughter of John Harrison who is probably the brother of Thomas Harrison, Jr.. If I am correct, this would make Nancy Harrison O'Kelly the 1st cousin of Catherine Harrison Blair (their fathers were brothers). Another interesting note is that Solomon O'Kelly, like my Ledbetter cousin, Mildred O'Kelley Brown, is descended from Thomas O'Kelly and Elizabeth Dean of Virginia. [7]
1850 - Catherine Blair, the widow of William, is now shown living in District 32 of Franklin County, GA. Here real estate is valued at a modest $550. The names Van Davis, John Stovall, Henry F. Stovall, Thomas Harrison, and John F. Harrison are shown nearby - names that can be found in the Franklin County GA Tax Digests (see spreadsheet above).
1860 - Catherine Blair, the widow of William, is now shown living in the household of her son Hugh in Pickens District, SC with Bachelor's Retreat as the post office. Hugh has a sizeable personal wealth of approx. $8,400. Stephen A. Marrett, the son-in-law of William and Catherine Blair is shown in the same district and post office; Harriett Blair, the daughter of William and Catherine Blair is living in the same household. Interestingly, John C. Blair is shown living close to Stephen A. Marrett.
1870 - I was not able to locate Catherine on this census. We know that she was still living in 1871 when she filed her widow's pension so the census taker must have missed her somehow. Her son Hugh is shown living in Oconee County with Walhalla as the post office. Post Civil War, his personal wealth is now only $1,200, roughly 1/8th of what it was in 1860 before war broke out.
CLICK HER FOR THE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM & CATHERINE (Harrison) BLAIR
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[1] Colonel Robert Anderson helped to raise my paternal 4th great grandmother Mary - she married Robert Lemon. This relationship is discussed in my book. See this page.
[2] James Blair's sister Mary married Captain Moses Guest: Moses and Mary are my maternal 4th great grandparents.
[3] I found a document at the Georgia Archives that showed a Devereaux Jarrett living in Burke and Wilkes Counties in Georgia. This Devereaux died prior to 1787; However, the Devereaux Jarrett that later owned the Travelers Rest inn may have been his son (Sr. and Jr.). Interestingly, in Wilkes County, Georgia there was a Fadda Jarrett that married my paternal 5th grandmother Athaliza Carroll Pinkston after her husband (my 5th great grandfather) Shadrach Pinkston died (1795). Shadrach Pinkston was a soldier in George Washington's elite Life Guards. Another interesting association with this line of study is the Life Guards soldier Pendleton Isbell (later made Captain) who served with Shadrach Pinkston. Pendleton Isbell was buried along the Tugaloo River and the grave was covered covered up when Lake Hartwell was created. A cenotaph for Pendleton Isbell is located on the hill behind the South Carolina Welcome Center on Interstate I-85. Note this is the same area where the Blairs and Harrisons lived. The Travelers Rest Inn is about 15 miles from the cenotaph of Pendleton Isbell.
[5] Vice President of the US