BLANKENSHIP[i]

Blankinsop - Blankingship - Blankinship
Blenkinsop - Blankinsop

Information from "Windows Into Our Past A Genealogy of the Cowne, Gough & Associated Families, Volume 2", compiled by Judy Parsons Smith © 1998.

Blankenship Monument Cover

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

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 Blenkensop
p  (1558, Queen Elizabeth )

A partial ancestry of the family living at Blenkensop Castle :

Blenkensop had:

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

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

A.     William , m. Margaret , daughter of  Copperthwayte
B.    
Robert
C.    
Bryan

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

a.      Thomas , m1st Julian , daughter of Leonard   Musgrave ; m2nd Jane , daughter of William   Herdman
b.     
Nicholas
c.     
Richard
d.    
Anne, m. Christopher Ridley
 of Unthanke

a.  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:

a1.  Thomas, living in 1615
a2.  Francis
a3.  Julian, m. Cuthbert Grainger
 of Bromfield in Cumberland
a4.  Mabell
a5.  Dorothy
a6.  Margaret
a7.  Elizabeth

Thomas & Jane Blenkensop had two (2) children:

a8.  William
a9.  Margaret


The Blankenships 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.

Norvel Blankenship

Norvel Blankenship [iii], m 1st Mary[iv]; m 2nd  Anna Warren [v]. Norvel & Mary (unknown) Blankenship had one child[vi]:

Abel[vii] (a/k/a Noah[viii]) who married Fanny Worsham [ix]

Able(who also had the name Noah) Blankenship & Fanny Worsham  had nine children[x]:

Thomas L. [xi]
Joel
[xii]
Drury
[xiii]
Ephram
[xiv]
Henry
[xv]
Daniel[xvi]
Fanny
[xvii]
David
[xviii]
Noel
[xix]

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
2.  Richard, never married.  No issue.

Ralph Blankinship

1.  Ralph Blankinship [xx], d. 1714, Henrico Co., VA[xxi];; 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.[xxii]

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 five (5) children:

1.1.  William Blankinship [xxiii], 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
[xxiv], b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723; m. Elizabeth (Hudson??) .
1.3.  Ralph Blankinship
[xxv], b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723.
1.4.  James Blankinship
[xxvi], b. minor in 1714.
1.5. Ann Blankinship
[xxvii], 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, served in Virginia militia.

John Blankinship

1.2.  John Blankinship [xxviii], 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??)  [xxix].

John Blankinship  m. Elizabeth (Hudson??)  John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) they had ten children[xxx]:

1.2.1.  William Blankinship [xxxi], d. 1802, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Mary  (Unknown)
1.2.2.  Joseph Blankinship
1.2.3.  Elisha Blankinship
[xxxii]
1.2.4.  Isham (Isam) Blankinship
[xxxiii]
1.2.5.  Norvell Blankinship
[xxxiv],moved to Amherst Co., VA; d. Amherst Co., VA
1.2.6.  Henry Blankinship
[xxxv]
1.2.7.  Joseph “Matthew” Blankinship
[xxxvi]
1.2.8.  Hudson Blankinship
[xxxvii]
1.2.9.   Amy Blankinship
[xxxviii], m. _____ Turner.
1.2.10. Elizabeth Blankinship
[xxxix], m. _______ Morrisett
1.2.11. Reuben Blankinship
[xl]

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

James Blankinship

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

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

William Blankenship

1.2.1.  William Blankenship, 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.  He served as a gunner, artillery and listed in Army register as one who did not receive bounty land.
1.2.1.2.  Archibald.
1.2.1.3.  Mary
 
1
.2.1.4.  Dorothy

Joseph Blankenship

1.2.2.  Joseph Blankenship , 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, 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

Elisha Blankenship

1.2.3.  Elisha Blankenship , migrated to Bedford Co., VA then to North Carolina. Not mentioned in father’s will.

Isham (Isam) Blankenship

1.2.4.  Isham(Isam) Blankenship, 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 , 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
1.2.5.2.  Noel
1.2.5.3.  Arthur M. (probably)

Henry Blankenship

1.2.6.  Henry Blankenship , 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 , 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 , 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, m. Nancy Potter
1.2.8.2.  Archer
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 , m. _____ Turner.  Amy Turner  received 5 shillings from her father’s estate.

Elizabeth Blankenship

1.2.10.  Elizabeth Blankenship , m. _______ Morrisett.  Elizabeth Morrisett  received 5 shillings from her father’s estate.


Arthur M. Blankenship

1.2.5.3.  Arthur Blankenship [xlii], 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 [xliii] , 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.

Arthu r & Mary  Blankenship  had (8) eight children:

1.2.5.3.1.  Jeremiah  Wilkerson, 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 , b. 1797; d. prior to 1866.  Migrated and settled in Polk County, Missouri.
1.2.5.3.
3.  Lydia , b. 1799; d. 1884; m. John McElroy .
1.2.5.3.
4.  Elizabeth , b. 1802-1803, Tazewell Co., VA; d. Lee Co., VA; m. Elias Harber , son of Jeremiah  & Elizabeth Harbour .
1.2.5.3.
5.  Mary , b. 4 Apr 1807, Tazewell Co., VA; d. 2 Mar 1870, Lee Co., VA; m. George R. Ely .
1.2.5.3.
6.  Josephus , d. aft. 1884, mentally retarded and died unmarried.[xliv] or Lived in Idaho and reared a family?[xlv]
1.2.5.3.
7.  Charles  Campbell, 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” , 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 , b. abt. 1829; d. Union Co., TN; m. John Green , son of Robert  & Ely Ann (Drake) Green.
1.2.5.3.
10. Levisa  (Louisa), b. abt. 1830; d. bef. 1866; m. ______ Munsey .
1.2.5.3.
11. Benjamin  F., b. 1832; m. abt 1856, Elizabeth ________ .  Joined the Union Army and served in the West as a captain.
1.2.5.3.
12. Nancy , b. abt. 1833-4; m. aft. 1850 Mitchell Barker

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

1.2.5.3.13.  Lavina, b. 1835; m1st 1856-60 to Joshua Deeds; m2nd to Hiram Jones.
1.2.5.3.
14.  Elisabeth  A., b. 1838, Montgomery Co., VA
1.2.5.3.
15.  Louisa , 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,  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) , 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 , b. 22 Nov 1846, Lee Co., VA.
1.2.5.3.
19.  Leitia , 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, 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:[xlvi]

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

James Burgin [xlvii], 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]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[iv]
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[v]
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[vi]
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[vii]
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[viii]
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[ix]
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[x]
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[xi]
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[xii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xiii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xiv]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xv]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xvi]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xvii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xviii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xix]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xx]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship . Documentation for Ralph Blankinship  in 1690 may be found in Henrico Co. VA Order Book 1678-1793 page 362.
[xxi]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxii]
“Early Virginia Families Along the James River ”, compiled & published by Louise Pledge Heath Foley, p. 62.
[xxiii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxiv]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxv]
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[xxvi]
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[xxvii]
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[xxviii]
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[xxix]
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[xxx]
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[xxxi]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxiii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxiv]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxv]
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[xxxvi]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxvii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxviii]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xxxix]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xl]
This is the line according to The Blankenship Family History, by Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship .
[xli]
Correspondence from James Blankenship of Monroe, Ohio - dated 20 Oct 1990.
[xlii]
" 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
[xliii]
“A Brief of Wills and Marriages of Montgomery and Fincastle Cos., VA (1733-1811)” by Anne Lowry  Worrell, 1976 (reprint).
[xliv]
“Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and adjacent Counties,  Vol. II. , compiled by Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales, pp. 967-969
[xlv]
“The Blankenship Family History”, by Col. Leslie C. Blankinship, p. 55
[xlvi]
“The Blankenship Family History”, by Col. Leslie C. Blankinship, p. 55
[xlvii]
"Bicentennial History of Lee Co., VA”