The Blackburns, of "Ripon Lodge"; Wm. and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 4 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** The Blackburns, of "Ripon Lodge" William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 4. (Apr., 1896, pp. 266-269. THE BLACKBURNS, OF "RIPON LODGE". Col. Richard Blackburn came from Ripon(1), Yorkshire, Eng. His wife was Mary Watts, of the same family as Dr. Watts, the humnologist. His daughter Alice married Col. Thomas Elzey, of Loudoun county, Va., from whom the Harrisons, of Loudoun county, were descended, and Dr. Graham Elzey, formerly a professor of Blacksburg college, was also one of his descendants; Richard Blackburn's son, Thomas Blackburn, was born about 1740, and died at "Ripon Lodge", Prince William county, Va., October 27, 1807. He and Henry Lee represented Prince William county in the Convention held at Richmond, March 20, 1775. He was elected by the Virginia House of Delegates "by joint ballot with the Senate" lieutenant-colonel of the Second Virginia Regiment on December 20, 1776. He was wounded at the battle of Germantown while acting as volunteer aid-de-camp on Gen. Washington's staff. "During the Revolution he quartered a regiment of Continental troops on his place a whole winter, clothed and fed them, and in the spring sent them back to the army free of expense". His wife was Christian Scott, daughter of Rev. James Scott. His eldest son, Richard Scott, was commissioned captain in the United States Army, June 2, 1794, and was afterwards commis- sioned major. He died about 1804. His second son, Thomas Blackburn, was commissioned first lieutenant United States Army, November 1, 1799. He married Elizabeth Sinclair and had many descendants. He died in 1813. Col. Blackburn's daughter, Julia Ann, married Judge Bushrod Washington, to whom Gen. Washington bequeathed Mount Vernon. His second daughter, Catherine, married Henry Smith Turner, of Jefferson county, Va. His third daughter, Sarah, married Nathaniel Craufurd, of Prince Georges county, Md. Lieutenant Thomas Blackburn owned a farm on Bull Run, at Blackburn's Ford, where the First Manassas fight opened on July 18, 1861. The "Gloucester Blackburns" are not related to this family(2). At "Ripon Lodge", in Prince William county, the residence of Col. Richard Blackburn, is a tombstone with the following inscription, taken down by the editor at the place: ________________________________________________________________ (1) Col. Edmund Jennings named his place in York county "Ripon Lodge," his family being also from Ripon, in Yorkshire. (2) This family statement is contributed by John S. Blackburn, Esq., Principal of Potomac Academy, Alexandria. See, also, Hayden's Va. Genealogies. Page 267. Here Lieth the Body of Collo Richard Blackburn who Departed this Life July the 15th 1757 In the 52d Year of his Age. He was Born in Rippon in Englad from whence He came to Virginia where he Acquired a Reputable Character, was intrusted and Prefured by the Governor the [most] [promi]nent Stations & Command in the * * well as by the Poeple to made * * [repr]esentative in the General As[sembly] * * Collony where he discharged His * * With Honour to himself as well as to His Constituents who Reposed [in] Him This important trust. He was a Man of Consumate Prudence, Grugality & Indefatigable industry whereby he made a Large Fortune in * * * He was Followed to the grave By his inseparable Friend the Honourable [W]illiam Fairfax and other Gentn of Distinction together with his disconsolate Relations who mourned the loss of so worthy and usefull a Man to them and to his country This Monument is Dedicated to his Memory by His Friend John Baylies. The following letter(1) was written by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Blackburn (Second Virginia Regiment Colunteer Infantry on Continental service) to Hon. Leven Powell, Member of Congress from Virginia: Rippon Lodge Jany 19th 1801. Dear Sir: Your Favor of the 14th Inst I did not receive till late yesterday Evening. You are so polite as to ask my Sentiments with other of your Constituents, with respect to the present Dilemma in the Choice of a President. The Opportunity of Information which you have from your Situation, and your own good Judgment will enable you to make up a better Opinion I conceive than you are likely to do from the Advice of any of your Constituents; and it seems the less necessary it should be given, because, as you truly observe, your Vote will, if against Mr. Jefferson, be annulled by the Majority of the Delegates from Virginia. I have, however, no difficulty in giving my Sentiments, such _____________________________________________________________ (1) The above letter was directed on the cover to "Hon'ble Leven Powell Washington Mail" and post-marked "Dumfries Jan" and endorsed by Mr. Powell (apparently) "Col. Blackburn 19th Jan'y 1801". Copied by John S. Blackburn, Alexandria, Va., October 5, 1895, and given to him by Mr. Charles Levan Powell. of Alexandria, grandson of Hon. L. Powell. Compared with the original by the editor. Page 268. as they are, on the Occasion. The present Rage of Parties in the U. States must be truly alarming to all good Citizens. Every Man who wishes to preserve Union and prevent the Ex- tremity to which Matters may be carried should reflect, at the present Crisis, that Temper, and a just Consideration of the Importance of Union, can only preserve us from the dreadfull Effects of civil Warfare, which has been allready threatened by intemperate Men. We have been so happy under the Administrations of Washington & Adams, that I should have supposed the great Body of our Citizens, could not but see, and properly estimate, the Order & Justice by which they have been governed. But, alas, poor human Nature, a quiescent & happy State seems not to belong to Thee. With Respect to the comparitive Merits of Mr Jefferson & Mr Burr I pretend not to be an accurate Judge. So far, however, as I can understand their politics & Views, I disapprove of both. Mr J-----s, I conceive, possesses the best Abilities, yet as it is feared that He is inimical to the Fiscal & naval Systems, adopted under the Administrations of Washington & Adams, He may by his fine spun Theories break the Thread of our Government, and make us a poor, divided, contemptible, and dependent People. The Opinions which he has given on com- mercial Points must certainly tend to alarm all those who think their Effects, if carried into Execution, would be a Commitment of the Trade of our country to Foreign Nations, & our con- sequent Impoverishment. In this Light I view it, and I think that common Sense, can see it in no other, and I trust & hope that if he is appointed to the Presidency, the true Interests of our Citizens will lead their Representatives to put aside any such visionary Schemes should He attempt to introduce them. But admit those Objections to Mr Jefferson, & consequently that it might be more safe to trust Mr Burr, who we will suppose would act upon different Principles on these Points what shall we say to the latter's publick Renunciation of taking place of Mr Jefferson? Will not the sitting Mr Burr in the Chair after this be considered flying in the Face of the Poeple? There is no doubt that the Jeffersonian party will so represent it. It seems to me that Mr Burr is acting with much Art in this Business, and means to throw upon the federal party in Congress, the Odium of superseding Jefferson, if He should be forced into the Chair; while He will enjoy the Honors & Emoluments of the Office. Congress, I think, have a nice & delicate point before them. As it seems beyond a Doubt, that it is the wish of the people either that Jefferson or Burr should be President (however they have been misled in the Choice they have made) I think it consistent with the Spirit of our Government to induct the one or the other. If the Choice of the States by their Representatives should fall on Mr Burr, unless He refuses to take place of Mr Jefferson, there can be no just Cause of Complaint by the people at large, who, having made no Distinction in their Votes, for these Gentlemen, have consequently left it to the Representative House of Congress to determine which of the two is most proper to preside. I fear that if neither is elected, that from the present Effervescence of party, the Business may end as Polish elections used frequently to do - in an appeal to the Sword; which God of his infinite Mercy forbid. May the Blessing of God rest on your Councils & guide you, in the paths of peace & Safety. I am dear Sir with Respect & Esteem your most obed't T. BLACKBURN. Page 269. Excuse this rough Scroll. I have written it by candle-light & with a bad pen, which I had not eyes to mend. I shall be glad to hear from you on this & other publick Subjects as often as convenient. The Washington Federalist gives us none of the Debates in Congress. Pray what has been done in Mr Nicholas's Resolution for a regular System of choosing President & Vice-President? Are there any & what objections to it?