GGWC Alexander Blackshear

Biography:

Alexander Blackshear/Blackshaw was purportedly born in Kent Co, Delaware about 1708 to Robert Blackshaw (formerly of Piscataway, NJ) and an unknown mother. However, his father Robert's known land purchases in Kent, put him in Little Creek Hundred in 1716 when he made 2 purchases of 200 acres each, and an additional 207 acres in the Dover area. Robert's earliest known land transaction in Delaware was in 1708, Lewes, Sussex Co, Delaware. He purchased a city lot in Lewes and registered it in the Georgetown Court. His name later appears in a Georgetown, Sussex Co Court record in 1712. It is possible Alexander was actually born in Sussex Co in either the Lewes & Rehoboth Hundred or Georgetown Hundred areas. However, most genealogies give Alexander's birth as Kent Co (Little Creek Hundred) where his father eventually farms. It is possible Robert lived in Kent earlier, working for someone else prior to purchasing his own land in 1716.

Alexander rendered material aid to the Revolutionary War effort and is recognized by the DAR as Patriot #A010766 and by the Sons of the American Revolution.

Alexander's first known Craven Co, NC record was as a witness to the will of John Fellyan on 1 Aug 1747. On 3 Oct 1748, Alexander Blackshire patented 100 acres of land in Onslow Co: Rattle Snake Branch, above Tuckahoe. (return was to Craven) On 19 March 1754 he was granted 181 acres on Cypress and Crabapple Creeks. Also in 1754 he was granted 100 acres in Craven Co. This begins his land acquisition in Craven Co. On pp 16-25 of "Blacksheariana" by Perry Blackshear, you can follow the Blackshear land purchases and various court proceedings. (Jones Co is created from Craven Co in 1778)

Alexander's WFT was made on 3 Oct 1785, and proved in Jones Co, NC at the Sept Term, 1786. In the will he mentions his wife Agnes, sons James, Elisha, and Abraham; daughters Eleanor Baily and Sarah Cliften (sic); grandsons Alexander (Abraham) and Jacob (Elisha) and granddaughters Susanna Fordham (Mary) and Mary Clifton (Sarah).

Alexander Blackshear

Birth: 1708 / Kent / DE

State of Service: NC

Spouse: Agnes

SAR Patriot #: P-115648 DAR #: A010766

Death: Sep 1786 / Jones / NC

Qualifying Service: Patriotic Service

Children: Elisah Stout, James