If you missed my earlier posts about My Blanton Family Roots check them out here:
My 7x great grandfather Thomas Blanton I of Old Rappahannock County and Essex County, Virginia: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2024/01/22/my-blanton-family-roots/
Thomas Blanton II and John Blanton see My Blanton Family Roots – Part 2 – The Second Generation here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2025/04/07/my-blanton-family-root-part-2-the-second-generation/.
Richard Blanton I of Spotsylvania County (c.1688-c.1734) – Part 3 – The Second Generation: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2025/05/13/my-blanton-family-roots-part-3-the-second-generation-2nd-installment-richard-blanton-i-of-spotsylvania-county-virginia-c-1688-c-1734-my-6x-great-grandfather/
Undocumented Sources Create Confusion
In his History of Caroline County originally published in 1924, Dr. Marshall Wingfield, without citing any evidence, wrote that “John Blanton married Hannah Anderson of Caroline County; in 1749 removed to Cumberland County, and settled near Brown’s Church.”[1]
In 1975, Louise McDonald self-published her Blanton Family, which is readily available online. She includes Wingfield’s quote above but goes further stating “At about the time John Blanton married Hannah Anderson it so happens that Richard Blanton married Johana Snead/Sneed of Caroline County. The identity of Hannah Anderson has been confused with Johana Snead. Joana had brothers Israel and Alexander Snead. Johana’s sisters were Ruth who married Mr. Mundy, Millie who married Charles Brown, Lucy who married Benjamin Newton and a sister who married Mr. Redd.” She also stated that “Richard Blanton and his wife Johana Snead, had a son Carter Blanton b. 1765, Virginia, who married Susannah Snead in Caroline County.”
McDonald also stated that “John Blanton who married Hannah Anderson” had four sons including James Blanton, Sr., John Blanton, d. 1807, m. 1786, Sarah Anglea, Thomas Blanton, b. 1758, d. 1846, m. Drucilla Anglea and removed to Tennessee, and David Blanton, b. 1760 m. Lucy Johns. In a section written by Mary Walker (Blanton) Wharey about her Smith, Walker and Blanton roots. She stated “My grandfather David Blanton’s mother was a Miss Anderson from Caroline County. I do not know his father’s name.”
In conclusion McDonald confidently states “a thorough search of all available records in the Commonwealth of Virginia and those in Kentucky, proves that Richard Blanton born around 1720 (was a sheriff prior to the Revolutionary War) died in Kentucky, is buried in Grassy Springs Churchyard, near Glenn’s Creek, about 20 miles south and east of Frankfort, Kentucky.” [2]
This information has been used over and over in Blanton family trees for decades. Turns out it’s mostly incorrect.
Richard3 Blanton II of Spotsylvania County – my 5x great grandfather
First, we can dispense with the notion that “John Blanton married Hannah Anderson in 1749 and removed to Cumberland County” offered by Wingfield and repeated by McDonald. The evidence proves that it was Richard3 Blanton (Richard2, Thomas1) who married Johanna “Hannah” prob. Anderson and fathered James4 Blanton, John4 Blanton, Thomas4 Blanton and David4 Blanton [my 4x great grandfather] all of Cumberland County.
Here is the proof:
On 21 March 1771 Richard Blanton and George Anderson both of Spotsylvania County bought 150 acres on Douglas Run in Spotsylvania County from Stephen Tatum for £45. David Anderson was a witness. [3] George Anderson and David Anderson were brothers of Johnanna “Hannah” (Anderson) Blanton.
On 28 July 1806, James, John, Thomas and David Blanton all of Cumberland County sold their moiety interest in these same 150 acres to Lewis Anderson of Buckingham County for £75. The deed notes that Tatum sold it to Richard Blanton and George Anderson and that it was for use by Betsy Anderson [David Anderson’s wife], mother of purchaser Lewis Anderson.[4]
These two deeds prove that James Blanton, John Blanton, Thomas Blanton and David Blanton of Cumberland County were heirs of Richard Blanton of Spotsylvania County.
Additional records offer further proof:
In a lease dated 12 July 1759 and recorded 5 February 1760, George Boswell to Richard Blanton, Joanna his wife and James Blanton his son, for the following rents and covenants, 160 acres, adj. land Martin True bought of Boswell, River Ta. To have and to hold for their natural lives, yearly rent, 50 shillings quitrents. In the event the Blanton’s do not pay, the lease ends upon a 60 day grace period.[5]
On 4 May 1761 Richard and Hannah Blanton sold Henry Martin for £26.5, 150 acres in Spotsylvania County.[6] I found no record of this purchase. It may be the land his father Richard Blanton I lent to his widow then gave to his son Richard Blanton II in his will recorded in 1734.
On 5 July 1762, Richard Blanton bought 154+/- acres in Spotsylvania County on the River Ta from George Boswell, Ransom Boswell, William Gatewood and Ann his wife, for £60. David Anderson was a witness.[7] On 1 October 1763 Richard and Joanna Blanton sold the tract (same metes & bounds) – now 162 acres on the Ta River [Mattaponi tributary] in Spotsylvania County to William Scott for £75.[8]
On 5 March 1764 – A deed of land from Richard Blanton to William Scott was acknowledged by the said Richd and ordered recorded.[9] On 6 August 1764 – “On Judt P Land from Richd Blanton & Joanna his wife was fur. Ackd by the sd Joanna she being first privately Exd & Ord to be recd.”[10]
Finally, on 9 November 1786, Richard Blanton and all four sons (James, John, Thomas, David) signed a Cumberland County legislative petition in opposition to an “act for Incorporating the Protestant Episcopal Church.” Signatories wanted the property sold and the proceeds given to the county.[11]
These records prove that it was Richard – not John – Blanton who married Joanna “Hannah” prob. Anderson. And that they had sons named James Blanton, John Blanton, Thomas Blanton and David Blanton. While there is no marriage record proving she was an Anderson, their great granddaughter Mary Walker (Blanton) Wharey, noted that her grandfather David Blanton’s mother was a “Miss Anderson of Caroline County.” Richard3 Blanton of Spotsylvania County is very much associated with the Anderson family in Spotsylvania County as were his sons in Cumberland County.
Richard Blanton of Woodford County, Kentucky
Recall that McDonald offered “At about the time John Blanton married Hannah Anderson Richard Blanton married Johana Snead/Sneed of Caroline County. The identity of Hannah Anderson has been confused with Johana Snead.” She concluded that “a thorough search of all available records in the Commonwealth of Virginia and those in Kentucky, proves that Richard Blanton born around 1720 (was a sheriff prior to the Revolutionary War) died in Kentucky, is buried in Grassy Springs Churchyard, near Glenn’s Creek, about 20 miles south and east of Frankfort, Kentucky.”
Having established that Richard rather than John Blanton married Hannah prob. Anderson, we are left to wonder whether Richard3 Blanton (Richard2, Thomas1) also married a Joanna Snead and removed to Kentucky or if two Richard Blantons have been conflated.
Inset of a Kentucky map with Grassy Springs, a branch of Glenn’s Creek, which runs from near Versailles, Kentucky through Woodford County, Kentucky into the Kentucky River south of Frankfort, Kentucky.[12]
In his History of Woodford County, Kentucky, William E. Railey (1852-1943) includes information about Richard Blanton. In a section devoted to the pastor sons of Toliver Craig, Sr. including Lewis Craig, Joseph Craig and Elijah Craig [of bourbon fame] who were all Virginia Baptist ministers prior to the Revolutionary War when Baptists were considered dissenters to the Anglican Church. In 1781, Rev. Lewis Craig and Captain William Ellis led a group of between 500-600 Baptists called “The Traveling Church” from Spotsylvania County, Virginia to Virginia’s Kentucky District. Brother Joseph Craig was purportedly on that same trip while other Craig brothers including Elijah and Benjamin came later in the 1780s.[13]
In discussing Rev. Joseph Craig, Railey writes about a friend of Craig’s named Richard Blanton. Railey writes “Richard Blanton died at the home of his son in law Isaac Crutcher, near Grassy Springs Church, himself a prominent Baptist minister. Richard Blanton lived to be nearly one hundred years old. His [Blanton’s] revelation was as follows: “Before the Revolution it was not lawful for preachers or teachers of denominations other than the Church of England to speak in public about Gospel truths. The Baptists were rebellious, and the Rev. Joseph Craig was a leader of those who protested. I was sheriff of Frederick County at the time and one of my first duties was to arrest and incarcerate the Rev. Joseph, an unpleasant duty. While he was in the county bastille it was no deterrent, as he continued to preach and teach through the bars at the jail. As it became evident that he was accomplishing more in jail than was possible before his incarceration, he was released by order of the ecclesiastical authorities. Both Rev. Jo Craig and Richard Blanton later lived in Woodford County and were friends, and the Rev. Craig was just as active in Kentucky building churches and congregations, and organizing societies as he was in Virginia. He [Joseph Craig] died in 1819 and Richard Blanton about that time, the former 77 years old and the latter over 90.”[14]
A Richard Blanton that was born during the 1720s, served as sheriff prior to the Revolution, and died about 1819 at the home of his son in law Rev. Isaac Crutcher near Grassy Springs Church has to be the same Richard Blanton that McDonald claimed married Joanna Snead in Caroline County and had a son named Carter Blanton. Is this Richard3 Blanton who married Hannah Anderson? Did he remarry and remove to Kentucky?
Six pages later Railey offers a Blanton Family sketch:
“Richard Blanton and his wife, Elizabeth, were of English extract, and were living in Spotsylvania County, Virginia in 1734. They had these children: Richard[15], Thomas, Sr. Priscilla, Elizabeth and Mary. Thomas Blanton was born about 1724 and spent a greater portion of his life in the county of Spotsylvania. He served in the Revolution, married Jane ———— , and came to Kentucky after he had reached his three score years and ten [80+ years old], but before the state had been admitted to the Union [1792]. This cannot be true as Kentucky became a state in 1792, when Thomas Blanton (b.c. 1724) would have been about 68 years old.
Railey is accurate as to Richard2 Blanton (Thomas1) m. Elizabeth ———-, and having issue Richard, Thomas, Priscilla, Mary and Elizabeth, all of whom were minors when Richard Blanton I’s will was recorded in 1734 in Spotsylvania County. See part 3 [link above] for more about the estimated birth years for these children. In short, these five Blanton children were born between 1723 and 1733 with Richard being older than Thomas. So Railey is in the ballpark estimating Thomas Blanton’s birth as 1724 although perhaps a few years too early.
Railey continues: He [Thomas Blanton, Sr.] disposed of all his real estate in Spotsylvania by 1786 and came to Woodford County on the Frankfort and Versailles Road. It was quite an extensive tract of land, extending from a point near the Franklin County line to the road that leads to Grassy Springs Church, and running back to Glenns Creek, near the Franklin line. I think he also owned the tract on the opposite side of the road, now the home of the widow of Lafayette Crutcher.” Railey states that “Thomas Blanton Sr and his wife Jane, had these children: John, James, Phoebe, Betsy, Mary, Lindsey, Sallie Blanton and Richard, Jr.”
Railey added that Thomas Blanton, Sr. disposed of his property for “love and affection” to “John Blanton who married Nancy Roberson; James who married ——- ——-; Phoebe, who married Rodenham Route; Betsy, who married George Bone; Richard, who married Maria Snead, &c.” He noted that John Blanton died about 1810 and that he and Nancy had children: Sallie, who married Richard Taylor; Thompson, who married Elizabeth Thompson in 1812; Benjamin, who married ——- Roberson; Willis, who married Rebecca Ware in 1812; Richard III, who married —– —–; Elizabeth, who married Anderson Shipp in 1816; James, who married Hester —–; Ann, who married William Wood in 1812; and Dorothy, who married John M. Hopkins in 1820.
According to Railey, “Richard Blanton, Jr. son of Thomas and Jane, came to Kentucky with other members of the family, or perhaps a little later. His brother John was drafted for service in the Revolution, but as he had married Nancy Roberson and was rearing a family of children, Richard, although only sixteen years of age, offered himself as a substitute for his brother and was accepted. After the Revolution Richard married Sarah Snead and they had these children: John, Jr., Charles, Richard, Carter, William, James, Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs. Daniel and Nancy, who married Rev. Isaac Crutcher.”[16]
So where do we stand?
We have a Richard Blanton, b.c. 1724, a sheriff prior to the Revolution, d.c. 1819 at the home of his son-in-law Rev. Issac Crutcher. And we have a Richard Blanton, b.c. 1760s[17] became a Rev. War substitute at age 16, married Sarah Snead and whose son-in-law was Rev. Isaac Crutcher. And had a son named Carter.
We know that Richard3 Blanton (Richard2, Thomas1), b.c. 1723 m. Johanna “Hannah” prob. Anderson. Did this same Richard Blanton remarry one Joanna Snead in Caroline County, have more children and remove to Kentucky? Is he the Richard Blanton of Woodford County Kentucky, d.c. 1819 at the home of his son in law Rev. Isaac Crutcher?
Is the Richard Blanton, b.c. 1760s and married to a Snead, with a son named Carter and a son-in-law named Rev. Isaac Crutcher, a different man? Were their two men named Rev. Isaac Crutcher? Or have the “facts” been jumbled, conflated and misstated? Can primary sources help us solve this mystery a century in the making?
NEXT TIME: Sorting out Richard Blantons continued . . . .
[1] Wingfield, Marshall. History of Caroline County, (Baltimore: Regional Publishing Company, 1975), p. 380
[2] McDonald, L., Ramey, B. B. (1975). Blanton Family. United States: Louise McDonald, p. 68; https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~blantonroots/genealogy/historians/lmcdonald/contents.htm.
[3] Spotsylvania County Deed Book H 1771-1774, p. 73; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GF-RTZ8?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 23 of 264.
[4] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book R, 1806-1809, p. 104; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1K-X5BP?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 56 of 281.
[5] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book E, 1751-1761, p. 612; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-5H8K?view=fullText : Apr 28, 2025), image 313 of 461; Image Group Number: 008153248
[6] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book E, 1751-1761, p. 798; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-54Y7?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 409 of 461.
[7] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book F, 1761-1766, p. 190; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-58VS?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 122 of 397.
[8] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book F, 1761-1766, p. 297; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-5DQ9?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 176 of 397.
[9] Spotsylvania County Virginia Minute Book 1755-1765, p. 304; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SQZY-G?view=fullText : Apr 28, 2025), image 158 of 196; Image Group Number: 007898798
[10] Spotsylvania County Virginia Minute Book 1755-1765, p. 334; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SQZ2-F?view=fullText : Apr 28, 2025), image 173 of 196; Image Group Number: 007898798
[11] Cumberland County Legislative Petition.; Inhabitants: Petition. (1786).; Legislative Petitions Digital Collections, Library of Virginia
[12] Glenns Creek (aka Glens Creek), Woodford County, Kentucky, Anyplace America.com; https://www.anyplaceamerica.com/directory/ky/franklin-county-21073/streams/glenns-creek-492902/
[13] These Craigs are not related to me as my Craigs arrived in western Pennsylvania about 1819.
[14] Woodford County (Fourth Installment), William R. Railey. History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Register of Kentucky State Historical Society , JANUARY, 1921, Vol. 19, No. 55, (JANUARY, 1921), pp. 43-44; https://www.jstor.org/stable/23369489.
[15] This is the Richard Blanton that married Johanna “Hannah” Anderson.
[16] Woodford County (Fourth Installment), William R. Railey. History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Register of Kentucky State Historical Society , JANUARY, 1921, Vol. 19, No. 55, (JANUARY, 1921), pp. 49-50; https://www.jstor.org/stable/23369489.
[17] If this occurred in what was to become Kentucky, it had to be 1780 or so This purportedly occurred about 1780 or so, which would place Richard Blanton’s birth sometime in the early to mid-1760s.
If you missed my earlier posts about My Blanton Family Roots check them out here:
My 7x great grandfather Thomas Blanton I of Old Rappahannock County and Essex County, Virginia:
Thomas Blanton II and John Blanton see My Blanton Family Roots – Part 2 – The Second Generation here: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2025/04/07/my-blanton-family-root-part-2-the-second-generation/.
Richard Blanton I of Spotsylvania County (c.1688-c.1734) – Part 3 – The Second Generation: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2025/05/13/my-blanton-family-roots-part-3-the-second-generation-2nd-installment-richard-blanton-i-of-spotsylvania-county-virginia-c-1688-c-1734-my-6x-great-grandfather/
In his History of Caroline County originally published in 1924, Dr. Marshall Wingfield, without citing any evidence, wrote that “John Blanton married Hannah Anderson of Caroline County; in 1749 removed to Cumberland County, and settled near Brown’s Church.”[1]
In 1975, Louise McDonald self-published her Blanton Family, which is readily available online. She includes Wingfield’s quote above, but goes further stating “At about the time John Blanton married Hannah Anderson it so happens that Richard Blanton married Johana Snead/Sneed of Caroline County. The identity of Hannah Anderson has been confused with Johana Snead. Joana had brothers Israel and Alexander Snead. Johana’s sisters were Ruth who married Mr. Mundy, Millie who married Charels Brown, Lucy who married Benjamin Newton and a sister who married Mr. Redd.” She also stated that “Richard Blanton and his wife Johana Snead, had a son Carter Blanton b. 1765, Virginia, who married Susannah Snead in Caroline County.”
McDonald also stated that “John Blanton who married Hannah Anderson” had four sons including James Blanton, Sr., John Blanton, d. 1807, m. 1786, Sarah Anglea, Thomas Blanton, b. 1758, d. 1846, m. Drucilla Anglea and removed to Tennessee, and David Blanton, b. 1760 m. Lucy Johns. In a section written by Mary Walker (Blanton) Wharey about her Smith, Walker and Blanton roots. She stated “My grandfather David Blanton’s mother was a Miss Anderson from Caroline County. I do not know his father’s name.”
In conclusion McDonald confidently states “a thorough search of all available records in the Commonwealth of Virginia and those in Kentucky, proves that Richard Blanton born around 1720 (was a sheriff prior to the Revolutionary War) died in Kentucky, is buried in Grassy Springs Churchyard, near Glenn’s Creek, about 20 miles south and east of Frankfort, Kentucky.” [2]
This information has been used over and over in Blanton family trees for decades. Turns out it’s mostly incorrect.
Richard3 Blanton II of Spotsylvania County – my 5x great grandfather
First, we can dispense with the notion that “John Blanton married Hannah Anderson in 1749 and removed to Cumberland County” offered by Wingfield and repeated by McDonald. The evidence proves that it was Richard3 Blanton (Richard2, Thomas1) who married Johanna “Hannah” prob. Anderson and fathered James4 Blanton, John4 Blanton, Thomas4 Blanton and David4 Blanton [my 4x great grandfather] all of Cumberland County.
Here is the proof:
On 21 March 1771 Richard Blanton and George Anderson both of Spotsylvania County bought 150 acres on Douglas Run in Spotsylvania County from Stephen Tatum for £45. David Anderson was a witness. [3] George Anderson and David Anderson were brothers of Johnanna “Hannah” (Anderson) Blanton.
Portion of the 1771 Deed from Stephen Tatum to Richard Blanton and his brother-in-law George Anderson
On 28 July 1806, James, John, Thomas and David Blanton all of Cumberland County sold their moiety interest in these same 150 acres to Lewis Anderson of Buckingham County for £75. The deed notes that Tatum sold it to Richard Blanton and George Anderson and that it was for use by Betsy Anderson [David Anderson’s wife], mother of purchaser Lewis Anderson.[4]
In 1806, James, Thomas, John and David Blanton of Cumberland County, Virginia sold their moiety in the same tract, which is referenced in the deed.
These two deeds prove that James Blanton, John Blanton, Thomas Blanton and David Blanton of Cumberland County were heirs of Richard Blanton of Spotsylvania County.
Additional records offer further proof:
In a lease dated 12 July 1759 and recorded 5 February 1760, George Boswell to Richard Blanton, Joanna his wife and James Blanton his son, for the following rents and covenants, 160 acres, adj. land Martin True bought of Boswell, River Ta. To have and to hold for their natural lives, yearly rent, 50 shillings quitrents. In the event the Blanton’s do not pay, the lease ends upon a 60 day grace period.[5]
Portion of the 1759 Spotsylvania County lease from George Boswell to Richard Blanton, Joanna his wife and James Blanton his son.
On 4 May 1761 Richard and Hannah Blanton sold Henry Martin for £26.5, 150 acres in Spotsylvania County.[6] I found no record of this purchase. It may be the land his father Richard Blanton I lent to his widow then gave to his son Richard Blanton II in his will recorded in 1734.
On 5 July 1762, Richard Blanton bought 154+/- acres in Spotsylvania County on the River Ta from George Boswell, Ransom Boswell, William Gatewood and Ann his fie, for £60.David Anderson was a witness.[7] On 1 October 1763 Richard and Joanna Blanton sold the tract (same metes & bounds) – now 162 acres on the Ta River [Mattaponi tributary] in Spotsylvania County to William Scott for £75.[8]
Portion of the 1763 sale from Richard Blanton and Joanna Blanton to William Scott. Note that Joanna, who used the common diminutive Hannah, used her mark rather than signing her name indicating that she was illiterate.
On 5 March 1764 – A deed of land from Richard Blanton to William Scott was acknowledged by the said Richd and ordered recorded.[9] On 6 August 1764 – “On Judt P Land from Richd Blanton & Joanna his wife was fur. Ackd by the sd Joanna she being first privately Exd & Ord to be recd.”[10]
Finally, on 9 November 1786, Richard Blanton and all four sons (James, John, Thomas, David) signed a Cumberland County legislative petition in opposition to an “act for Incorporating the Protestant Episcopal Church.” Signatories wanted the property sold and the proceeds given to the county.[11]
Page from a 1786 Cumberland County Virginia Legislative petition signed by Richard Blanton, James Blanton, John Blanton, Thomas Blanton and David Blanton.
These records prove that it was Richard – not John – Blanton who married Joanna “Hannah” prob. Anderson. And that they had sons named James Blanton, John Blanton, Thomas Blanton and David Blanton. While there is no marriage record proving she was an Anderson, their great granddaughter Mary Walker (Blanton) Wharey, noted that her grandfather David Blanton’s mother was a “Miss Anderson of Caroline County.” Richard3 Blanton of Spotsylvania County is very much associated with the Anderson family in Spotsylvania County as were his sons in Cumberland County.
Richard Blanton of Woodford County, Kentucky
Recall that McDonald offered “At about the time John Blanton married Hannah Anderson Richard Blanton married Johana Snead/Sneed of Caroline County. The identity of Hannah Anderson has been confused with Johana Snead.” She concluded that “a thorough search of all available records in the Commonwealth of Virginia and those in Kentucky, proves that Richard Blanton born around 1720 (was a sheriff prior to the Revolutionary War) died in Kentucky, is buried in Grassy Springs Churchyard, near Glenn’s Creek, about 20 miles south and east of Frankfort, Kentucky.”
Having established that Richard rather than John Blanton married Hannah prob. Anderson, we are left to wonder whether Richard3 Blanton (Richard2, Thomas1) also married a Joanna Snead and removed to Kentucky or if two Richard Blantons have been conflated.
Inset of a Kentucky map with Grassy Springs, a branch of Glenn’s Creek, which runs from near Versailles, Kentucky through Woodford County, Kentucky into the Kentucky River south of Frankfort, Kentucky.[12]
In his History of Woodford County, Kentucky, William E. Railey (1852-1943) includes information about Richard Blanton. In a section devoted to the pastor sons of Toliver Craig, Sr. including Lewis Craig, Joseph Craig and Elijah Craig [of bourbon fame] who were all Virginia Baptist ministers prior to the Revolutionary War when Baptists were considered dissenters to the Anglican Church. In 1781, Rev. Lewis Craig and Captain William Ellis led a group of between 500-600 Baptists called “The Traveling Church” from Spotsylvania County, Virginia to Virginia’s Kentucky District. Brother Joseph Craig was purportedly on that same trip while other Craig brothers including Elijah and Benjamin came later in the 1780s.[13]
In discussing Rev. Joseph Craig, Railey writes about his friend Richard Blanton. He stated, “Richard Blanton died at the home of his son in law Isaac Crutcher, near Grassy Springs Church, himself a prominent Baptist minister. Richard Blanton lived to be nearly one hundred years old. His [Blanton’s] revelation was as follows: “Before the Revolution it was not lawful for preachers or teachers of denominations other than the Church of England to speak in public about Gospel truths. The Baptists were rebellious, and the Rev. Joseph Craig was a leader of those who protested. I was sheriff of Frederick County at the time and one of my first duties was to arrest and incarcerate the Rev. Joseph, an unpleasant duty. While he was in the county bastille it was no deterrent, as he continued to preach and teach through the bars at the jail. As it became evident that he was accomplishing more in jail than was possible before his incarceration, he was released by order of the ecclesiastical authorities. Both Rev. Jo Craig and Richard Blanton later lived in Woodford County and were friends, and the Rev. Craig was just as active in Kentucky building churches and congregations, and organizing societies as he was in Virginia. He [Joseph Craig] died in 1819 and Richard Blanton about that time, the former 77 years old and the latter over 90.”[14]
A Richard Blanton that was born during the 1720s, served as sheriff prior to the Revolution, and died about 1819 at the home of his son in law Rev. Isaac Crutcher near Grassy Springs Church has to be the same Richard Blanton that McDonald claimed married Joanna Snead in Caroline County and had a son named Carter Blanton. Is this Richard3 Blanton who married Hannah Anderson? Did he remarry and remove to Kentucky?
Six pages later Railey offers a Blanton Family sketch:
“Richard Blanton and his wife, Elizabeth, were of English extract, and were living in Spotsylvania County, Virginia in 1734. They had these children: Richard[15], Thomas, Sr. Priscilla, Elizabeth and Mary. Thomas Blanton was born about 1724 and spent a greater portion of his life in the county of Spotsylvania. He served in the Revolution, married Jane ———— , and came to Kentucky after he had reached his three score years and ten [80+ years old], but before the state had been admitted to the Union [1792]. This cannot be true as Kentucky became a state in 1792, when Thomas Blanton (b.c. 1724) would have been about 68 years old.
Railey is accurate as to Richard2 Blanton (Thomas1) m. Elizabeth ———-, and having issue Richard, Thomas, Priscilla, Mary and Elizabeth, all of whom were minors when Richard Blanton I’s will was recorded in 1734 in Spotsylvania County. See part 3 [link above] for more about the estimated birth years for these children. In short, these five Blanton children were born between 1723 and 1733 with Richard being older than Thomas. So Railey is in the ballpark estimating Thomas Blanton’s birth as 1724 although perhaps a few years too early.
Railey continues: He [Thomas Blanton, Sr.] disposed of all his real estate in Spotsylvania by 1786 and came to Woodford County on the Frankfort and Versailles Road. It was quite an extensive tract of land, extending from a point near the Franklin County line to the road that leads to Grassy Springs Church, and running back to Glenns Creek, near the Franklin line. I think he also owned the tract on the opposite side of the road, now the home of the widow of Lafayette Crutcher.” Railey states that “Thomas Blanton Sr and his wife Jane, had these children: John, James, Phoebe, Betsy, Mary, Lindsey, Sallie Blanton and Richard, Jr.”
Railey went on adding that Thomas Blanton, Sr. disposed of his property for “love and affection” to “John Blanton who married Nancy Roberson; James who married ——- ——-; Phoebe, who married Rodenham Route; Betsy, who married George Bone; Richard, who married Maria Snead, &c.” He noted that John Blanton died about 1810 and that he and Nancy had children: Sallie, who married Richard Taylor; Thompson, who married Elizabeth Thompson in 1812; Benjamin, who married ——- Roberson; Willis, who married Rebecca Ware in 1812; Richard III, who married —– —–; Elizabeth, who married Anderson Shipp in 1816; James, who married Hester —–; Ann, who married William Wood in 1812; and Dorothy, who married John M. Hopkins in 1820.
According to Railey, “Richard Blanton, Jr. son of Thomas and Jane, came to Kentucky with other members of the family, or perhaps a little later. His brother John was drafted for service in the Revolution, but as he had married Nancy Roberson and was rearing a family of children, Richard, although only sixteen years of age, offered himself as a substitute for his brother and was accepted. After the Revolution Richard married Sarah Snead and they had these children: John, Jr., Charles, Richard, Carter, William, James, Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs. Daniel and Nancy, who married Rev. Isaac Crutcher.”[16]
So we have Richard Blanton, b.c. 1724, a sheriff prior to the Revolution, d.c. 1819 at the home of his son-in-law Rev. Issac Crutcher. And we have a Richard Blanton, b.c. 1760s[17] became a Rev. War substitute at age 16, married Sarah Snead and whose son-in-law was Rev. Isaac Crutcher. And had a son named Carter.
So where do we stand?
We know that Richard3 Blanton (Richard2, Thomas1), b.c. 1723 m. Johanna “Hannah” prob. Anderson. Did this same Richard Blanton remarry one Joanna Snead in Caroline County, have more children and remove to Kentucky? Is he the Richard Blanton of Woodford County Kentucky, d.c. 1819 at the home of his son in law Rev. Isaac Crutcher?
Is the Richard Blanton, b.c. 1760s and married to a Snead, with a son named Carter and a son-in-law named Rev. Isaac Crutcher, a different man? Or have the “facts” been jumbled, conflated and misstated? Can primary sources help us solve this mystery a century in the making?
NEXT TIME: Sorting out Richard Blantons continued . . . .
[1] Wingfield, Marshall. History of Caroline County, (Baltimore: Regional Publishing Company, 1975), p. 380
[2] McDonald, L., Ramey, B. B. (1975). Blanton Family. United States: Louise McDonald, p. 68; https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~blantonroots/genealogy/historians/lmcdonald/contents.htm.
[3] Spotsylvania County Deed Book H 1771-1774, p. 73; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GF-RTZ8?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 23 of 264.
[4] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book R, 1806-1809, p. 104; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1K-X5BP?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 56 of 281.
[5] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book E, 1751-1761, p. 612; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-5H8K?view=fullText : Apr 28, 2025), image 313 of 461; Image Group Number: 008153248
[6] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book E, 1751-1761, p. 798; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-54Y7?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 409 of 461.
[7] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book F, 1761-1766, p. 190; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-58VS?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 122 of 397.
[8] Spotsylvania County Virginia Deed Book F, 1761-1766, p. 297; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKV-5DQ9?view=fullText : Mar 18, 2025), image 176 of 397.
[9] Spotsylvania County Virginia Minute Book 1755-1765, p. 304; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SQZY-G?view=fullText : Apr 28, 2025), image 158 of 196; Image Group Number: 007898798
[10] Spotsylvania County Virginia Minute Book 1755-1765, p. 334; “Spotsylvania, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SQZ2-F?view=fullText : Apr 28, 2025), image 173 of 196; Image Group Number: 007898798
[11] Cumberland County Legislative Petition.; Inhabitants: Petition. (1786).; Legislative Petitions Digital Collections, Library of Virginia
[12] Glenns Creek (aka Glens Creek), Woodford County, Kentucky, Anyplace America.com; https://www.anyplaceamerica.com/directory/ky/franklin-county-21073/streams/glenns-creek-492902/
[13] These Craigs are not related to me as my Craigs arrived in western Pennsylvania about 1819.
[14] Woodford County (Fourth Installment), William R. Railey. History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Register of Kentucky State Historical Society , JANUARY, 1921, Vol. 19, No. 55, (JANUARY, 1921), pp. 43-44; https://www.jstor.org/stable/23369489.
[15] This is the Richard Blanton that married Johanna “Hannah” Anderson.
[16] Woodford County (Fourth Installment), William R. Railey. History of Woodford County, Kentucky. Register of Kentucky State Historical Society , JANUARY, 1921, Vol. 19, No. 55, (JANUARY, 1921), pp. 49-50; https://www.jstor.org/stable/23369489.
[17] If this occurred in what was to become Kentucky, it had to be 1780 or so This purportedly occurred about 1780 or so, which would place Richard Blanton’s birth sometime in the early to mid-1760s.
A Son of Virginia 