John J Blew Blue

• General Notes
  • http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/b/blue/pats.html
    
    Individual:
    1.1.1 John BLUE, (1713?-1791), m1.ca1739 Mary MARSHALL?, m2. Margaret
    KEYSER?. This John Blue was probably born in New Jersey and came toHampshire County, VA, about the year 1752. As discussed on theprevious pages, he was the first Blue to make the trip, not hisfather, as indicated in numerous books and manuscripts.
    
    John Blue and his family were probably drawn to Hampshire County by the existance of a sizeable Dutch population, which hadpreviously migrated from New Jersey and New York. According toMaxwell and Swisher in "History of Hampshire Co., WV", GeorgeWashington, as a lad of 16 years, was commissioned in 1748 by LordFairfax to survey some of the Fairfax lands. "On April 4 he made anentry showing the kind of people who lived there (along the SouthBranch of the Potomac), and who were all squatters on the lands ofLord Fairfax, or at least on land claimed by him....... . On April 4he (Washington) writes, 'We were all attended with a great company ofpeople, men, women and children, who followed us through the woods,showing their antic tricks. They seemed to be as ignorant a set ofpeople as the Indians. They would never speak English, but whenspoken to all spoke Dutch'."
    
    Since John's first wife, Mary Marshall, had her last child in 1753, it is probable that she had died before the family setout from Somerset Co., NJ, or that she died during the journey toVirginia. Sometime in the 1750's John married his second wife,reputed to be Margaret Keyser (some say Van Meter). Together, theyhad ten children to add to the four from his first marriage.
    
    Sometime after 1 May 1754, John Blue (Blew) received a grant from Lord Fairfax for Lot 27, 304 acres on the South Branch ofthe Potomac River. He and his family lived on this land, located onthe east bank of the river just south of Hanging Rocks, for abouttwenty years. In 1770, at about the time of his father's death, hepurchased Lot 31, north of the Rocks and containing 243 acres, fromJob Welton. He was living on this tract of land when he died in 1791.In 1773 he purchased Lot 30, containing 312 acres, from Thomas Wood,and in 1774 he received a grant of 203 acres adjacent to Lots 27 and30. So, at this time, John (1.1.1) owned 1062 acres along the SouthBranch, surrounding Hanging Rocks.
    
    John Blue's will was proved on 14 April 1791. In this will he divided his land between his four eldest sons (sons of hisfirst marriage); John received Lot 30, except for seven acres abovethe Rocks which went to Uriah; Uriah received Lot 27; and Michael andGarret each received a half share of Lot 31. Each son also received aone-fourth part of the "new survey" of 203 acres. Each of these foursons was obliged to pay certain sums of money to the remaining tenchildren.
    
    First marriage:
    
    1.1.1.1* John BLUE (Capt.), (1740-1826), m1. Catherine WILLIAMS, m2. Sarah HERRIOTT (b.1768). Revolutionary War veteran.
    
    1.1.1.2* Uriah BLUE, (1746-1814), m.ca1770 Susannah WILLIAMS (1754-1815). Lived in Hampshire Co. VA.
    
    1.1.1.3* Michael BLUE, (1748-1827), m.1776 Mary HERRIOTT? (ca1757-1826). Lived in Hampshire Co. VA and Fayette Co. OH.
    
    1.1.1.4* Garrett BLUE (1753-1835), m. Elizabeth DUKE (1747-1773), m2.1784 Mary MARSHAL (1765-1849).
    
    Second marriage:
    
    1.1.1.5 Abraham BLUE (b.ca1759), m.1797 Sally DRAKE.
    
    1.1.1.6* Peter Keyser BLUE (1761/2-1843), m.1787 Susannah KELCH (1768-1857).
    
    1.1.1.7 Jacob BLUE, (1770-1825), m.1796 Isabella HERRIOTT (b.1770). Went to Kentucky. No children mentioned in his will.
    
    1.1.1.8* Benjamin BLUE, (1772-1852), m. Elizabeth BEARD.
    
    1.1.1.9* David BLUE (ca1774-1844), m1.1796 Alice DAWSON, m2.1836 Mary "Polly" COOPER (b.ca1790).
    
    1.1.1.10* Hannah BLUE, (1779-1861), m. John HERRIOTT (1773-1841). Went to Kentucky.
    
    1.1.1.11* Margaret BLUE, (1781-1867), m.1798 James BEARD (1778-1844).
    
    1.1.1.12* William BLUE, (1784-1855), m1.1805 Rachel GIRARD, m2. Hannah (_____) GIRARD.
    
    1.1.1.13* Jesse BLUE (b.ca1787), m. Elizabeth FALL (b.ca1794).
    
    1.1.1.14 Elizabeth BLUE, m. Isaac WOODS.
    
    John Blue married Margaret Keyser, daughter of Peter Keyser, it is said. They had 14 children. By this time the country and settled upconsiderably. Lord Fairfax's land was being divided up and sold fortaxes. The Blew family bought a great deal of land from this tract.George Washington surveyed this land. Notice the following will. JohnBlew was about 10 years old when his family moved to Romney. His willis dated Oct. 16, 1790 and was proved April 14, 1791. He had acquireda great deal of land during his life time and left all his childrenwell provided for.
    
    " In the name of God Amen, I, John Blue Senr., of Hampshire Co. and the State of Virginia, being weak in body but sound in mind andmemory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it isappointed for all men once to die, do this sixteenth day of October,in the year of our lord one Thousand and seven Hundred and ninety,make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following,that is to first of all, commit my soul to God that gave it and mybody to be decently interr'd at the discretion of my Executors, and astouching my worldly affairs with which it has pleased God to bless me,I will, bequeath and devise as follows: Viz., first, i will andbequeath unto my beloved wife, Margaret the one third part of the landor tract I now live on (which I bought of Job Welton) during herwiddowhood for he own use and raising my young children. I also giveand will unto my said wife the old Black ran'd mare, saddle andbridle, one milk cow, one feather bed and furniture there untobelonging, for her use and disposal.
    
    I also will and devise unto my son, Uriah the old place he now lives on with one fourth part of the New Survey adjoining him, to him andhis heirs forever, he my said son paying one hundred pounds, fortypounds of the aforesaid sum to be paid unto my son Peter, in onetwelve months after my decease or to his heirs and I also will unto myson Abraham forty pounds (out of the aforesaid sum of one hundredpounds) or to his heirs three years after my decease and I also willthe remaining sum of twenty pounds to my daughter, Elizabeth fiveyears after my decease to be paid to her or her heirs by said son,Uriah. i also will and devise unto my son John the tract of land henow lives on which I bought of William Welton and the one fourth partof the new survey adjoining him and to his heirs forever, except sevenacres of bottom at the upper and next the rocks being part of theaforesaid tract on the river which I bought of said William Welton,said seven acres I will ad divse unto my son Uriah and his heirsforever. He may said son John paying one hundred pounds, fifty poundsof the aforesaid hundred, I will that my son John pay unto my sonJacob two years after my decease, 25 pounds per year or his heirs alsoI will that my said John pay fifty pounds being the other half of theaforesaid hundred unto my son, David or to his heirs to be paid fiveyears after my decease. I give and will unto my aforesaid son, John mysilver cup and to his heirs forever I also will that my aforesaidwife, Margaret have the old dwelling house for her and her children tolive in during her abode on the aforesaid premises. I also will anddevise unto my sons Michael and Garrett all that tract of land I nowlive on which I bought of Job Welton to be divided equally amongstthem two according to quantity and quality, share and share, exceptingmy aforesaid wife's third during her widowhood to them and their heirsforever and I also will and devise unto my aforesaid two sons, Michaeland Garrett the one half of the new survey to them and their heirsforever, son Michael paying Benjamin fifty pounds five years after mydecease, or his heirs, and my son Garrett to pay to my son Williamfifty pounds or his heirs when of age. I also will and give unto myson Jesse sixty pounds when of age, but if he dies before age, saidsixty pounds are to be divided among all my children. I give unto mydaughter Hannah fifty pounds when of age, if she dies before age thesaid fifty pounds are to be divided among the rest of my children. igive unto my daughter Margaret thirty pounds when of age but if shedies before age, the said thirty pounds are to be divided among therest of my children and I will that all my personal estate be soldexcepting a sorrel horse and a mare colt I gave to my son Jacob, agray mare and yearling colt to my son Abraham and a bay mare and coltto my son David, a young black mare two years old to son Benjamin andI will a cow and calf to my daughter, Elizabeth and after all legaciesare paid and other charges, I will that the remainder of my personalestate if any, be divided equally among all my children. I also makeand ordain my two sons, Uriah and John my whole and sole executors intrust of this my last will and testament whereof I have here unto setmy hand and seal the year and day first above written.
    
    John Blue - his mark