BLANKENSHIP[i]  

Blankinsop - Blankingship - Blankinship

Blenkinsop - Blakinsop

Information on this page from Windows Into Our Past, A Genealogy of the Parsons, Smith and Associated Families, Vol. 1 ©1996, Judy Parsons Smith

ARMS-ARGENT:  a fess between three garbs sable, a crescent for difference.

 

Blankenship Monument Cover

The name Blenkinsop is derived from the Anglo-Saxon custom of taking their names from the place in which they live.  Hope means a small bay, an opening, a gap in the hills or a valley.  Sop/Ship is a corruption of  hope.  So the name Blenken’s hope became Blenkensop and later Blankenship.

Blenkensop Castle is located approximately one mile from Greenhead, Northumberland , England ..  The license to crenellate (permission from the king to erect fortify and crenellate house) was granted for Blenkinsop Castle on 6 May 1340.  This license also granted to the family  the property to have and hold (and his heirs) without interference from the crown.

Early Blankenship’s

Odo, half brother of William the Conqueror.  Odo, Bishop of Bayeus, a Norman knight was the first Blenkinsop.  He was given ca. 1066, a Pele Tower at the site on which Blenkinsop Castle now sits.

 *         A Blenkinsop was made a Baron by Henry I (1100-1135).
 
*         A Blenkensop, Bishop and Knight, followed King Richard I (1189-1199) during the third crusade to the Holy Land .
 *       Ralph de Blenkensopp (1216-1272, King Edward I)
 
*        Rodolphus de Blenkensop , 1st Lord of Demesne. (most likely granted title to the land on which Blenkinsop Castle was eventually built). (1272-1307, reign of Edward I)

 Ž      The license to crenellate granted for Blenkinsop Castle on 6 May 1340

*         Thomas de Blenkensopp (1366, King Edward III )
*      John Blenkinsoppe had received the Pele Tower , as a inheritance, and was in possession in 1415
*         23 Apr 1470, Elizabeth Blynkynesoppye of Blynkynsoppe, widow of Thomas Blynkyensope , of Blynkkensope, received a general pardon
[ii].  This reference does not give what her offense had been.
*         William Blenkensopp (1558, Queen Elizabeth )

A partial ancestry of the family living at Blenkensop Castle:

Blenkensop

Blenkensop had:

1-      Thomas Blenkensop, m. Dorothy , daughter of Albany Featherstone, of Featherstonehalgh.
2-      John
Blenkensop, m. ______, daughter of ______ Rydley of Willmondswicke.

Thomas Blenkensop

1.  Thomas Blenkensop , son of ____ Blenkensop, m. Dorothy , daughter of Albany Featherstone, of Featherstonehalgh.  Thomas & Dorothy Blenkensop had three (3) sons:

1.1.  William Blenkensop, m. Margaret , daughter of Copperthwayte
1.2. 
Robert
Blenkensop
1.3.  Bryan Blenkensop

William Blenkensop

1.1.     William Blenkensop , son of Thomas & Dorothy Blenkensop had four (4) children:     

1.1.1     Thomas Blenkensop, m1st Julian , daughter of Leonard Musgrave ; m2nd Jane , daughter of William Herdman
1.1.2
     Nicholas Blenkensop
1.1.3
     Richard Blenkensop
1.1.4
    Anne Blenkensop, m. Christopher Ridley of Unthanke

Thomas Blenkensop

1.1.1.  Thomas Blenkensop , son of William & Margaret Blenkensop , m1st Julian , daughter of Leonard Musgrave ; m2nd Jane , daughter of William Herdman .  Thomas & Julian Blenkensop had seven (7) children:

1.1.1.1..  Thomas Blenkensop, living in 1615
1.1.1.2.
  Francis Blenkensop
1.1.1.
3.  Julian Blenkensop, m. Cuthbert Grainger of Bromfield in Cumberland
1.1.1.
4.  Mabell Blenkensop
1.1.1.
5.  Dorothy Blenkensop
1.1.1.
6.  Margaret Blenkensop
1.1.1.7.
.  Elizabeth Blenkensop

Thomas & Jane Blenkensop had two (2) children:

1.1.1.8.  William Blenkensop
1.1.1.
9.  Margaret Blenkensop

The Blankenship's in America

The first Blankenship to arrived in Virginia was Ralph Blakinsop .  He arrived at Jamestown on 23 Jan 1640.  The second Blankenship arriving in Virginia was Henry Blakinsop .  Arriving on 26 Dec 1653.  It is highly unlikely that Henry Blakinsop married.

Ralph Blakinsop

Ralph Blakinsop , came to “ James Cittie ” Co., VA in 1640; m. ca. 1640, either in England or Virginia . to Martha (Unknown).

Since there is no record that he claimed his “Head right”, he most likely forfeited to the ship owner to pay for his passage.  Ralph followed the James River to the present city of Richmond , then turned Southwest and settled  on Clearwater Run, in present day Chesterfield Co., VA.  He cleared the land with the available farming tools, and built his home.  (Farm tools in those days were both scarce and crude.)  Ralph created an estate from the lands he owned

Martha Blankinship apparently m2nd after 1714 to ______ Stanley .  

Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinsop had two (2) sons:

1.  Ralph Blankinsop
2.   Richard Blankinsop, never married.  No issue.

Ralph Blankinship

1.  Ralph Blankinship , d. 1714, Henrico Co., VA; m. Martha (Unknown).

Ralph Blankinship became a planter and raised his own family on his father’s old home place.  Ralph applied for additional land, which was granted to his wife on 9 Jul 1724 (10 years after his death). 

Martha Blankenship, 250 acres (N.L.), Henrico Co., S. side of James Riv., beg in Mr. Henry Walthall ’s line to E. side of the main road; 9 Jul 1724, p. 15, 20 Shill., & Imp. of Francis Clappe .[iii]

On 7 Aug 1723, Martha Stanley deeded each of her two sons a parcel of land (about 100 acres each).

Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship had six children:

1.1.   William Blankinship, b. ca. 1694; not a minor in 1714; received land in 1727 - 200 acres - located on Coldwater Run and Winterpock Creek in what is now Chesterfield Co., VA.
1.2.  John
Blankinship, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723; m. Elizabeth ( Hudson ??).
1.3.  Ralph
Blankinship, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723.
1.4.  James
Blankinship, b. minor in 1714.
1.5.  (unknown)
Blankinship, b. minor in 1714.
1.6.  (unknown)
Blankinship, b. minor in 1714.

William Blankinship

1.1.  William Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. ca. 1694; not a minor in 1714; received land in 1727 - 200 acres - located on Coldwater Run and Winterpock Creek in what is now Chesterfield Co., VA.

1.1.1.  William Blankinship, served in Virginia militia.

John Blankinship

1.2.  John Blankinship , son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723; d. ca. 1751, will dated 9 Apr 1751; m. Elizabeth ( Hudson ??).  John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship had children:

1.2.1.  William Blankinship , d. 1802, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Mary (Unknown )
1.2.2.  Joseph Blankinship
1.2.3.  Elisha Blankinship
1.2.4.  Isham(Isam) Blankinship
1.2.5.   Norvell Blankinship moved to Amherst Co., VA; d. Amherst Co., VA
1.2.6.  Henry Blankinship
1.2.7.  Matthew Blankinship
1. 2.8.  Hudson Blankinship
1.2.9.  Amy B lankinship , m. Mr. Turner .
1.2.10. Elizabeth Blankinship , m. Mr. Morrisett

Ralph Blankinship

1.3.  Ralph Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723; d. ca. 1754; will dated 20 Dec 1754, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Elizabeth (Unknown) (mentioned in will).  Ralph Blankinship had children:

1.3.1.  Ephraim Blankinship received land & plantation in fathers will.
1.3.2.  Joseph Blankinship received tract of land - upper part above Deep Creek and 1 shilling in father’s will.
1.3.3.  Jeremiah Blankinship received the plantation on which his parents lived after the death of his mother (1754 - will).
1.3.4.  William Blankinship, served in Colonial Navy. Received 1 shilling from his father’s estate.  He was named the executor of his father’s will.
1.3.5.  Francis Blankinship received a cow and calf from his father’s estate.
1.3.6.  Frederick Blankinship received a bed and furniture from his father’s estate.
1.3.7.  John Blankinship, received 1 shilling from his father’s estate.
1.3.8.  Ralph Blankinship, received 1 shilling from his father’s estate.
1.3.9.  Matt Blankinship, received 1/3 of remaining estate after his mother’s death (1754 - will)
1.3.10.  Sarah Blankinship, m. Mr. Cobb .  Sarah Cobb received 1 shilling from her father’s estate.
1.3.11.  Womack Blankinship, served as a Corporal and served in 1st and 10th Virginia Regiments of the Continental Line.  Not mentioned in father’s will.

James Blakinship

1.4.  James Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. minor in 1714.  James Blankinship had children:

1.4.1.  David Blankinship, no unit in which he served is identified.  His record is registered with the War Department.
1.4.2.  James Blankinship, m[iv]. 1797, Chesterfield Co., VA to Ainey Railey

William Blankenship

1.2.1.  William Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , d. 1802, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Mary  (Unknown).  William received 128 acres, (the plantation on which he lives) from his father’s estate on 9 Apr 1751.  He was also named as co-executor with his mother, Elizabeth .  William & Mary (Unknown) Blankinship had children:

1.2.1.1.  William Blankenship.  He served as a gunner, artillery and listed in Army register as one who did not receive bounty land.
1.2.1.2.  Archibald Blankenship.
1.2.1.3.  Mary Blankenship
1.2.1.4.  Dorothy Blankenship

Joseph Blankenship

1.2.2.  Joseph Blankenship , son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , received 110 acres from his father’s estate on 9 Apr 1751; migrated to Bedford Co., VA in his later years.  Joseph had two (2) sons:

1.2.2.1.  Stephen Blankenship, soldier in the 1st Virginia Regiment of Regulars raised during the late war and continued in said Regiment until taken prisoner by the enemy with whom he continued until the end of the war.
1.2.2.2.  Daniel Blankenship

Elisha Blankenship

1.2.3.  Elisha Blankenship , son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , migrated to Bedford Co., VA then to North Carolina . Not mentioned in father’s will.

Isham (Isam) Blankenship

1.2.4.  Isham(Isam) Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship ,  migrated to Bedford Co., VA then to North Carolina and later to Tennessee .  Received approximately 124 acres from his father’s estate.

Norvell Blankenship

1.2.5.  Norvell Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , moved to Amherst Co., VA; d. Amherst Co., VA.  Received 100 acres from his father’s estate.  Norvell had sons:

1.2.5.1.  Able Blankenship
1.2.5.2.  Noel Blankenship
1.2.5.3.  Arthur M. Blankenship (probably - see further information below)

Henry Blankenship

1.2.6.  Henry Blankenship , son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, settled in West VA , he had many descendants in West Virginia .  He received 124 acres from his father’s estate.

Matthew Blankenship

1.2.7.  Matthew Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, served in Revolutionary War.  He received 100 acres and the plantation in which his father lived, from the estate in 1751.

Hudson Blankenship

1.2.8.  Hudson Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , b. bef 1730, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Edith ( Archer ?).  Hudson received 124 acres from his father’s estate.  Hudson & Edith Blankinship had many children:

1.2.8.1.  Henry Blankinship, m. Nancy Potter
1.2.8.2.  Archer Blankinship
1.2.8.3.  Jesse , entered service in Campbell County , Virginia .  Served in the 6th Regiment of Continental Line

Amy Blankenship

1.2.9.  Amy Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , m. Mr. Turner .  Amy Turner received 5 shillings from her father’s estate.

Elizabeth Blankenship

1.2.10.  Elizabeth Blankenship , son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship , m. Mr. Morrisett.  Elizabeth Morrisett received 5 shillings from her father’s estate.


KNOWN ANCESTRY

Arthur M. Blankenship

1.2.5.3.  Arthur Blankenship[v], most likely the son  of Norvell Blankenship, b. 1770, Chesterfield (or Amherst) County, Virginia; d. 1865, Lee County, VA; m.1st- 6 Sept 1794, by Edward Morgan in Montgomery Co., VA to Mary  Muncy[vi], daughter of Samuel & Mary (Scott) Muncy, b. ca. 1775, Augusta Co., VA; d. 1826-1827, Lee Co., VA; m2nd- 1827-1828, Lee Co., VA to Lavina (Munsey) Woodward, widow of William Henry Woodward, daughter of William  & Elizabeth Munsey, d. ca. 1833, Lee Co., VA, a young woman; m3rd- 13 July 1834, Lee Co., VA by Henry Thompson (Methodist Minister) to Lavina Jane Burgin/Burgen, daughter of James & Nancy (Ledington) Burgin, b. 1819.

Arthur followed this path of migration to Lee County , Virginia (based upon land transactions):

Lynchburg to ...
Bedford and Botetourt Counties to ...
Montgomery
and Tazewell Counties to ...
Russell
County to ...
Lee
County

Arthur Blankenship , was a colorful individual.  Marrying thrice and rearing three large families.  His age at his death has been speculated to be anywhere from 93 to 112 years.  Arthur settled in Lee County and raised his families.  He and his wives are buried there.  Arthur was a hunter and trapper, a framer, a wheelright, a blacksmith, tanner, and a miller.  He seems to have been a jack of all trades and gifted in all areas of endeavor.  He was a God-fearing and generous man; shrewd in business yet helpful and kind to his neighbors. 

As other settlers passed by, his home, as they headed west, Arthur found himself in advantageous business position.  Settlers reaching his establishment were able to re-stock with meat, have their horses shod, wheels of their wagons were repaired for the journey ahead.  The pioneers heading to and through the Cumberland Gap were able to obtain information and advise from Arthur .  Those travelers who had tired of traveling were able to purchase available pieces of real estate from Arthur , which he seemed to always have available.

Arthur & Mary Blankenship had (8) eight children:

1.2.5.3.1.  Jeremiah Wilkerson Blankenship, b. 1795, Wythe Co., VA; d. 1873, Missouri; m. 1818, Lee Co., VA to Naomi Munsey.  Went to Missouri at the age of 60, and settled in Polk County.
1.2.5.3.
2.  Hezekiah Blankenship, b. 1797; d. prior to 1866.  Migrated and settled in Polk County, Missouri.
1.2.5.3.
3.  Lydia Blankenship, b. 1799; d. 1884; m. John McElroy .
1.2.5.3.
4.  Elizabeth Blankenship, b. 1802-1803, Tazewell Co., VA; d. Lee Co., VA; m. Elias Harber , son of Jeremiah  & Elizabeth Harbour .
1.2.5.3.
5.  Mary Blankenship, b. 4 Apr 1807, Tazewell Co., VA; d. 2 Mar 1870, Lee Co., VA; m. George R. Ely .
1.2.5.3.
6.  Josephus Blankenship, d. aft. 1884, mentally retarded and died unmarried.[vii] or Lived in Idaho and reared a family?[viii]
1.2.5.3.
7.  Charles Campbell Blankenship, b. 27 Oct 1820; m. 28 Jul 1838, Claiborne Co., TN to Susannah Little .  Charles C. Blankenship  = was a Baptist Circuit Rider Preacher and a Lee County farmer.  He is listed as the first pastor of Cornith Baptist Church in Ben Hur, VA.
1.2.5.3.
8.  Sarah “Sally” Blankenship, b. abt. 1824-1826; m. John Pennington .

$          Lavina  (Munsey) & William Henry Woodward  had three (3) children:

- Jesse Shelton Woodward , d. 1880, Jamestown, IN; m. 25 Feb 1838 to Susan Bray .

- Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Woodward , b. ca. 1814; m. abt. 1830-31 to Gassoway Carroll .

- William Pressley Woodward , b. 30 Sept 1816; d. 26 Jul 1899, Mooresville, IN; m1st 1 Apr 1816 to Keziah Bray ; m2nd Ellen Thompson

Arthur & Lavina (Muncy Woodward) Blankenship had  (4) four children:

1.2.5.3.9.  Hettie Blankenship, b. abt. 1829; d. Union Co., TN; m. John Green, son of Robert & Ely Ann (Drake) Green.
1.2.5.3.10. Levisa (Louisa) Blankenship, b. abt. 1830; d. bef. 1866; m. Mr.  Munsey.
1.2.5.3.11. Benjamin F. Blankenship, b. 1832; m. abt 1856, Elizabeth Unknown.  Joined the Union Army and served in the West as a captain.
1.2.5.3.12. Nancy Blankenship, b. abt. 1833-4; m. aft. 1850 Mitchell Barker

Arthur & Lavina Jane (Burgin) Blankenship had (8) eight children:

1.2.5.3.13.  Lavina Blankenship, b. 1835; m1st 1856-60 to Joshua Deeds; m2nd to Hiram Jones.
1.2.5.3.
14.  Elisabeth A. Blankenship, b. 1838, Montgomery Co., VA
1.2.5.3.
15.  Louisa Blankenship, b. 4 Aug 1839; d. 26 Mar 1922; m. 1857 to Marquis Lafayette Yeary , b. 9 May 1837; d. 26 Mar 1922.  Marquis & Louisa Yeary died within hours of one another.
1.2.5.3.
16.  John Blankenship,  b. 24 Dec 1840, Lee Co., VA; d.  8 Dec 1866, killed in Kentucky; m. Ann Dees.  He served in the Union Army.
1.2.5.3.
17.  Lettisha (Louvinia/Lorene) Blankenship, b. 31 Jan 1843, Lee Co., VA; d. 23 Mar 1940, Arapaho, OK;  m. 28 Mar 1867 to James Smith , b. 22 Sept 1841; d. 31 Aug 1919, Lee Co., VA.  Lettisha (Blankenship) Smith  moved to with some of her children to Oklahoma after her husbands’ death.
1.2.5.3.
18. Catherine Blankenship, b. 22 Nov 1846, Lee Co., VA.
1.2.5.3.
19.  Leitia Blankenship, b. 30 Jan 1849, Lee Co., VA; d. 23 Mar 1940, Clinton, OK; m. 24 Mar 1867 to James Smith , son of Elisha  & Cynthia Smith , b. 1843.
1.2.5.3.
20.  Elvira Blankenship, b. 5 Jul 1853, Lee Co., VA; d. 15 Jan 1859, 5 yr., 6 mos., 10 days, killed by a cow.

The mother/s of these two (2) additional sons are unknown:[ix]

1.2.5.3.21.  Archibald Blankenship.
1.2.5.3.
22.  George Blankenship.  Nothing further is known about him.

NOTE:  James Burgin [x], father of Lavina Jane Burgin, was one of the signers of the petition to form Lee County, Virginia in 1792.


[i]The Blankenship Family History”, by Col. Leslie C. Blankinship, pp. 18-21; 50-55; 66-73 and “Chesterfield County, Virginia Wills 1749-1774”, abstracted and compiled by Benjamin B. Weisiger, III
[ii]
“The Blankenship Family History”, by Col. Leslie C. Blankinship , p. 3
[iii] “Early Virginia Families Along the James River”, compiled & published by Louise Pledge Heath Foley, p. 62.
[iv]
Correspondence from James Blankenship of Monroe, Ohio - dated 20 Oct 1990.
[v]
" Montgomery County , Virginia , Reg. A, p. 353; and “Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and Adjacent Counties,  Vol. II. , compiled by Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales, pp. 967-969
[vi]
“A Brief of Wills and Marriages of Montgomery and Fincastle Cos., VA (1733-1811)” by Anne Lowry  Worrell, 1976 (reprint).
[vii]
“Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and adjacent Counties,  Vol. II. , compiled by Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales, pp. 967-969
[viii]
“The Blankenship Family History”, by Col. Leslie C. Blankinship, p. 55
[ix]
“The Blankenship Family History”, by Col. Leslie C. Blankinship, p. 55
[x]
"Bicentennial History of Lee Co., VA”