January 2003 Vol. 2, No. 1 Prince William Reliquary RELIC, Bull Run Library, Manassas, Virginia REL-I-QUAR-Y: (noun) A receptacle for keeping or displaying relics. THE HISTORY OF THE BLACKBURN FAMILY by Louisa D. F. Hogue, recopied by Ruth C. S. Black with an introduction by Brendon Hanafin* Rippon Lodge is an 18th century plantation house located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The house was built circa 1745 by Colonel Richard Blackburn of Rippon, England. Blackburn was one of the founding fathers of the Port of Dumfries, and a carpenter by trade. His son, Thomas, served in the Revolutionary War under George Washington and Washington was a frequent guest. Washington’s nephew, Bushrod, married Anne Blackburn at Rippon and later owned the plantation after Thomas’ death. This manuscript, written by Louisa Hogue in the late 19th century is a remarkable genealogical document and offers a unique glimpse into Rippon Lodge’s Rippon Lodge courtesy Brendon Hanafin storied past. Her grandson, Antarctic explorer Admiral Richard Blackburn Black, purchased Rippon in the early 1950’s. Prince William County purchased Rippon Lodge from the Black family in 2000 and is in the process of restoring the house and readying the site for public access. Although the house and grounds remain closed during the restoration, the public is invited to Rippon Lodge on the 3rd and 11th of May for a day of tours, hikes and archeological programs. There is so much that is intensely interesting connected with the maternal ancestry of my great grandfather William Baylis that I must give a preliminary IN THIS ISSUE sketch of this line at the outset. The earliest of these forefathers of which I find The History of the Blackburn Family... 1 satisfactory positive knowledge is "Col. Richard Blackburn," Poll Tax Lists for Prince William described in the early deeds, recorded in Prince William County, County, VA – Manassas District (1940’s) ................................................. 9 Va., as "Richard Blackburn, Carpenter," of Hamilton Parish, and still later, of Dettingen Parish. Queries .................................................. 17 The records show that Richard Blackburn was buying A Chinn/Ben Lomond Update .............. 18 lands from March 19, 1733, to October 28, 1751. His first Freedman Bank Records: An Index purchase was 130 acres, in [H]amilton Parish, on Little Creek. to Prince William County ..................... 20 This was followed in the same year, 1733, by sucessive Petition for Public Road, March 8th 1895 ...................................... 23 purchases of 1875 acres "on Broad Run of Occoquan," 764 acres Returns of Corporation Election "on south side of Bull Run," a tract "on north side of Bull Run, Held June 9, 1903 at Manassas............. 24 (number of acres not given) 201 acres "in Hamilton Parish," and, * Brendon Hanafin, Historic Preservation Manager for Prince William County. Email: [email protected] - 1 - Prince William Reliquary Vol. 2, No. 1 (January 2003) Prince William Reliquary with John Gregg, 1280 acres "on main run of Quantico is produced quarterly by the Creek." In 1734, the purchases are: 1 acre on North Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC) for Genealogy & Local History side of Main Run of Neapsco, opposite lands of Major Prince William Public Library System Henry Lee, and 2 acres on Neapsco Creek, purchased Bull Run Regional Library of Henry Lee. In 1738, one purchase is made of 200 8051 Ashton Avenue Manassas, VA 20109 acres, on north side of Bull Run; in 1739, 65 acres in (703) 792-4540 Hamilton Parish, bounded on every side by land of Richard Blackburn, 280 acres on north side of Bull Web site: www.pwcgov.org/library/relic/Relic.htm Run, and 130 acres on south side of Bull Run; in 17--, 225 acres "on the middle ground between the branches Two years will be posted on this site. All issues of Broadrun and the branches of Bull Run; in 1746, 131 will be kept at RELIC. acres "near the head of the north branch of Quantico; Editor: "in 1749, 163 acres and 28 ½ acres in Dettingen Parish; Carolyn G. Lynn, RELIC volunteer in 1750, 6 acres, "including a spring;" in 1751, 600 Email: [email protected] acres in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, "on both Submission Deadlines: sides of the River Occoquan." Mar. 15, June 15, Sep. 15, Dec. 15 In 1738, Blackburn was Guardian for one Submission Guidelines: William Elliot; also security for Maurice Veal, We welcome articles of historical or genealogical Guardian of Thomas Arrington. In 1739 and 1741 he is interest regarding Prince William County, Manassas or Manassas Park. Publication is not Sherriff, as shown by two deeds. guaranteed and we reserve the right to edit if That Richard Blackburn had a brother Edward, appropriate. All work submitted must include is shown by a Power of Attorney, given by Edward citations. Blackburn of Bermudas, to his brother Richard The conclusions of contributors Blackburn of the Parish of Hamilton, in Prince William are not necessarily those of the County," etc., dated January 9, 1734, in the Eight Year editor or staff of RELIC. of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, Correspondence: King of Great Brittain, France, Ireland;" etc. Address all correspondence regarding Prince When in Manassas, the present county seat of William Reliquary to RELIC at the above address or email the editor. Prince William County, Va., examining records, in the spring of 1899, the Clerk of Court told me that Ripon Questions for a RELIC librarian should be Lodge Estate, the former home of the Blackburns, was emailed to [email protected]. Please be sure to put the word “RELIC” in the distant from there about 18 miles; that it was a very subject line of your message! famous place, and the Blackburns a very noted people; Queries: that the old Mansion House which tradition says We will publish queries regarding individuals who Richard Blackburn built, was still standing, in a dark were in Prince William County. Please include room of which a Masonic Lodge was held where your name, address, and/or email address. Queries may be edited for length. George Washington had attended. Through the courtesy of George C. Rounds, a Magazine is produced electronically. Lieutenant in the U.S. Signal Corps, then resident in You may print a copy for your own personal use. Articles written with an author Manassas, and greatly interested in old estates, etc., byline may not be reprinted without written (who assisted in arrangements for the trip, gave me a permission from the author. Unsigned articles map of the road, and a letter of introduction to Mr. may be reprinted provided Prince William Reliquary is cited. George R. Atkinson, the owner of old Ripon Lodge Estate, who lived at Neapsco Mills,) I was enabled to visit this old estate and mansion house. With a negro Copyright 2001-2003. All rights reserved. Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center for Genealogy and boy for driver, I traversed in buggy the wild, Local History, Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 picturesque country, over corduroy [sic] bridges, rough Ashton Avenue, Manassas, VA 20109-2892. stoney roads, ans [and] steep hills. Evening coming on before we reached our destination, we made frequent inquiries about the road, mostly from negroes, whose - 2 - Prince William Reliquary Vol. 2, No. 1 (January 2003) cabins, almost the only habitations of this wild region, we passed at considerably long intervals. The information given was usual[ly] accompanied by the assurance that it was a "right fair way." Arriving at Neapsco Mills after dark, we were recieved [sic] by the hospitable Mr. Atkinson, to whom I gave the letter of introduction, after which supper and bed were welcome refreshment. In the morning, "mine host" mounted his horse, and rode behind the buggy, accompanying and directing us to the old home of my ancestors. He showed me through the Mansion House, each room of which (except a dark room under the slanted roof) was supplied with an open fireplace, and a mantle with fluted woodwork. The walls were all paneled work, and so perfectly was the lumber seasoned and joined that not a seam or imperfection was to be seen. The foundation was going to ruin. There were great gaps where it appeared that the bricks composing it had probably been removed for use elsewhere. The outside collarway and door were also in ruins. From the dooryard in front of the house, the Potomac River was visible through openings in the forests of that wooded ridge, the same on which Mount Vernon stands, some twelve miles away to the northward. Scarsely [sic] more than a stone's throw from the mansion is the private graveyard, where our ancestor, Richard Blackburn, lies buried. Mr. Atkinson conducted me to this spot, chalked over the old gray stone which covered the grave, and traced out the letter[s] with a little twig, so that I might read the inscription entire, except in two or three places, one on either edge where a small chip had been broken off, and again where only the "V" of Virginia was legible, the remainder of the word being too much worn for even this method of deciphering to bring it out. Following is the INSCRIPTION. Here Lieth the Body of Coll. RICHARD BLACKBURN Who Departed this Life July the 15th 1757 In the 52nd Year of His Age He was Born in Rippon England From Whence He came to Virginia where he Acquired A Reputable Character was Intrusted And Preferred [?] by the Governor to the ( )nent Stations & Command in the ( ) well as by the People who made ( ) ( ) esentative in the General As(sembly) ( ) is Collony where he discharges His ( ) with Honor to Himself as well as to His Constituents who Reposed in him This Important Trust -- He was a Man of Consumate Prudence Frugality & Indefatigable Industry Whereby he made a Large Fortune in V( ) He was Followed to the grave ( ) His Inseparable Friend the Honorable William Fairfax & and other Gents of Distinction together with his Disconsolate Relations who Mourned the lofs of so worthy And usefull a Man to them and his Country This Monument id [is] dedicated to his Memory by His Friend JOHN BAYLIS Note: The stone from which the above was copied is broken in two, and in one place quite a scale has been broken out of the right-hand side of the inscription and a smaller one on the left.