of Augusta Co., VA, and Greene Co., TN
PPT = Personal Property Tax Book. LT = Land Tax Book
The family organization below was made possible by the generous
sharing by Bob Donaghe of his late father's research on the Donaghe
family, especially the copy he found of the final estate settlement
which included bequests to ALL of the grandchildren of Hugh
Donaghe. I had proven the ancestry of Sarah Blake. The estate
settlement proved siblings of Sarah Blake which could have been
identified in no other way. This Blake family owes much to James
Jasper Donaghe for his research.
The first Blake I have found on record in Augusta Co. was a John
who was listed in the court records of 1773 as a Vice Constable.
In the PPT Books of 1782 are a Theophilus and a George Blake.
Peter Blake first appears in 1783. In 1787, are a Theophilus,
John, Thomas and Peter. The relationship of these men to Peter, if
any, is not known. A Samuel Bleke witnessed the deed of 2 Oct 1789
from Peter and Sarah Blake to Hugh Donaghe. I have no idea who he
was. A James and a Samuel Blake were being sued in Augusta Co. on
20 May 1789. I do not know who they were. This James would be too
old to be the son of Peter.
My uncle, Winfred Broadus Smith, in researching this family in the
1960s, said he thought Sarah who m. Thomas Stockton was a sister of
Peter Blake. The 1795 deed in Greene Co., TN, of Hugh Donaghe of
Augusta Co., VA, clearly states that his granddaughter Sarah Blake,
was the daughter of Peter Blake. The deed of 1789 in Augusta Co.
of Peter Blake and Sarah his wife, gives us the name of the
daughter of Hugh Donaghe. We do not know who was the mother of
Sarah Donaghe. Sarah (DONAGHE) BLAKE seems to have died not long
after the deed of 1789. Peter m. Mary McMahan on 6 Sep 1792 in
Augusta Co.
The Roane Co., TN, censuses of 1830 and 1840, have Sarah Blake as
old enough to have been born between 1780 and 1790. This means
that her mother Sarah, must have been born between 1755 and 1760 as
she seems to have had four children older than Sarah. Peter
Blake's wife Sarah, was not named in her father's will, probably
meaning she was dead.
She was an illegitimate daughter of Hugh DONAGHE of Augusta Co.,
VA, and might have been born before he married his first wife
Elizabeth. Hugh gave much money and land to his children by his
wives. In his will, he left £50 to all of his grandchildren. Many
of whom were not named in the will. The estate settlement record
of these bequests made it possible to identify all of his
grandchildren. The deeds of Augusta Co., VA, and Greene Co., TN,
and marriage records of Greene Co., made it possible to place them
in their parents families. Sarah's surname is in quotes as I do
not know the surname she used. Normally an illegitimate child used
the name of it's mother but it could assume the surname of it's
father.
In English Common Law, which was the basic law of the Colonies, an
illegitimate child could inherit nothing from a father, as the law
considered that the child was the "child of no one". But the
surname of the father could be assumed. The father could give them
possessions but they could inherit nothing from him. This regidity
protected the rights of the legal heirs.
Some have claimed that Hugh was a son of a John Donaghe of
Kelklief, Co. Down, Ulster. I have seen no proof of this and so am
not claiming it.
Peter BLAKE b. 1750?, d. after 1819 Greene Co., TN, m.c. 1774
Augusta Co., VA, Sarah "DONAGHE" b. 1755-60? Augusta Co., d.c.
1789-92 Greene Co., TN, daughter of Hugh DONAGHE b.c. 1735, d. 5
Dec 1809 Augusta Co., VA, by an unknown girl. Peter and Sarah had
these children, listed as grandchildren, according to the estate
settlement records of Hugh Donaghe, decd. Their birth dates are
based on estimated age of about 18 at marriage. Only for Sarah do
I have anything else to go on.
1 Hugh BLAKE b.c. 1775 Augusta Co., VA, m(1) 3 Aug 1793 Greene
Co., TN, Elizabeth ALLISON, m(2) 25 Jun 1814 Greene Co., TN,
Polly ALEXANDER
2 Elizabeth BLAKE b.c. 1778 Augusta Co., VA, m. 9 Apr 1794 Greene
Co., TN, John CHESNUT
3 Margaret BLAKE b.c. 1780 Augusta Co., VA, m. 27 Feb 1797 Greene
Co., TN, Jacob CHESNUT
4 James BLAKE b.c. 1782 Augusta Co., VA, m. 24 Feb 1804 Greene
Co., TN, Sarah GREEN
5 Sarah BLAKE b. 1780-1790 Augusta Co., VA, d. 1840-1850 Roane
Co., TN, m. 25 Jun 1805 Greene Co., TN, Thomas STOCKTON b.c.
1785 Albemarle Co., VA, d. 1851 Roane Co., TN.
18 Nov 1773 Constable Johnston Nelson, Vice John Blake
VA, Augusta Co., Court Order Book XV, p. 31
1782 Augusta Co., VA, PPT
Theophilus Blake 1 titheable, 2 horses, 5 head of cattle
George Blake 1 titheable, 4 horses, 6 head of cattle
Peter Blake 1 titheable, 3 horses, 8 head of cattle
18 Mar 1782 Hugh Donahe and Elizabeth his wife of Augusta County
of the one part and Peter Blake of the Said County and
Commonwealth of Virginia for ten shillings, sold a tract of land
containing 232 acres being granted to William Thompson by Patent
bearing the date the first day of June 1741 being in the
County of Augusta on the South Side of the North River of
Shannadore, on the west side of a branch of Buffalo run an
estate in fee simple. Hugh Donahe LS
At a Court held for Augusta Co. 18 Mar 1783 Elizabeth Donahe LS
This Indenture of Bargain and Sale for Land from Hugh Donahe and
Elizabeth his wife to Peter Bleke was acknowledged by the Said
Donahe and ordered to be recorded.
VA, Augusta Co., Deed Book 24, 1783-1785, p. 6-9
1783 Augusta Co., VA, PPT
Peter Blake 1 wm above 21, 4 horses, 6 cattle
7 Jun 1783 Thomas Bleak granted 115 acres in Augusta Co., on the
Greenbrier River
VA, Patents and Grants, Book H, p. 121
VA, Abstracted Patents and Grants, Augusta Co., p. 147
1784 Augusta Co., VA, PPT
Peter Blake 1 wm above 21, 4 horses, 5 cattle
2 Dec 1785 Theophilus Blake granted 95 acres on the Foggy Spring
Branch of the Cowpasture River, in Augusta Co.
VA, Patents and Grants, Book X, p. 220
VA Abstracted Patents and Grants, Augusta Co., p. 163
Mar 1786 Commonwealth of Virginia vs Joseph Thompson & Peter Blake
- defendants pretending to have power and authority to take up
and secure any of the troops or soldiers in the British Service,
commonly called conventioners, and stationed at the barracks in
the County of Albemarle, did on 1 Sep 1780, take up & sieze John
Somers, a yeoman, and one of the said convention troops, and left
him in Custody until John paid them ransome. Also Henry
Vosscust, a German.
VA, Augusta Co., Court Orders
Between 1785 and 1790, Peter's daughter Sarah Blake was born.
1787 Augusta Co., LT, Charles Cameron's District
Blake Theophilus 47 acres val. £6/1/5 tax 1/9 3/4
Blake John 47 6/5/4 1/10 1/2
Blake Thomas 115 20/2/6 6/0 1/2
Bleak Peter 230 69/19/2 £1/0/1
Aug? 1787 (Date blank) Grant to Moses Moore of 90 acres on the
west side of Greenbrier river below Bleaks on the Allegania
Mountain.
VA, Patents and Grants, Book No. 7, p. 651
VA, Abstracted Patents and Grants, Augusta Co., p.166
1788 Augusta Co., LT, Joseph Bell's District
Bleak Peter 230 acres £69/19/2 £1/1/0
20 May 1789 William Connell exr & c of Elizabeth Guy decd. plt
against James Blake & Samuel Blake Defts
In Debt By consent of the parties the Judgment obtained in the
office is set aside and this suit is discontinued the Defts
paying unto the plt his Costs.
VA, Augusta Co., Court Order Book 21, 1789-1791. p. 64
20 May 1789 William Connell exr. & c. of Elizabeth Guy deceased
plt against Jams Blake & James Windom Defts In Debt Thomas
Hughart Gent. under took that if the Defts be cast in this suit
they shall satisfy and pay the condemnation of the Court for the
same, or that he will do it for them and on the Motion of the
Defts by their Attorney who pleaded payment it is ordered that
the Judgment obtained in the office against the Defts and their
Security be set aside, and the plt replied generally to the said
plea and joining in the Issue the trial thereof is referred to
the next Court.
VA, Augusta Co., Court Order Book 21, 1789-1791, p. 65
1789 Augusta Co., LT, Joseph Bell's District
Bleak Peter 230 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0
2 Oct 1789 Peter and Sarah Bleke of the one part & Hugh Donaghe of
the other part both of the County of Augusta for five shillings
sell a tract of land containing 232 acres in Augusta Co., on the
south side of the North River of Shannado Granted to William
Thompson By patent Bearing Date the first of June 1741 - - -
Peter Bleke Seal
Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us Sarah Bleke Seal
John Donaghe, Danl Fitzjarrel, Saml Bleke, Richd Gladden, Wm.
Bateman
At a Court held for Augusta County June 21st 1791 This Deed from
Peter Bleke & Sarah his wife to Hugh Donaghe was proved by the
oath of Richard Gladden one of the witnesses thereto.
At a Court held for Augusta County April 28th 1800 This deed from
Peter Bleke & Sarah his wife to Hugh Donaghe was further proved
by the Oath of John Donaghe and Wm. Bateman two of the witnesses
thereto, and was ordered to be recorded.
VA, Augusta Co., Deed Book 31, 1800-1802, p. 37-9
Feb Term, 1790 Ordered that a road be laid off from the Court
House to Epperson's Ford on Lick Creek since called Hodges Ford &
that Peter Blake, George Piercy, Robert Campbell (and others)
view & mark the same & report thereon to our next Court. Issued.
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 160
1790 Augusta Co., LT, Joseph Bell's District
Bleak Peter 230 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0
May Term 1790 Peter Blake with others to view a road from the
Court House to Eppersons ford on Lick Creek since called Hodges
Ford.
TN, Greene Co., Inferior Court of Pleas and Q. S., p. 160
15 Feb 1791 A Deed fron Peter Blake to Hugh Donaghe was proved by
the oath of John Donaghe, one of the Witnesses thereto.
VA, Augusta Co., Court Order Book 21, 1789-1791, p. 384
1791 Augusta Co., VA, LT, Joseph Bell's District
Bleak Peter 230 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0
1792 Joseph Posey to Peter Blake 100 acres
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 2, p. 461
1792 Augusta Co., VA, LT, Joseph Bell's District
Bleak Peter 230 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0
1792 Joseph Posey to Peter Blake 97 1/2 acres
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 2, p. 465
May Term 1792 Peter Blake on a Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 239
6 Sep 1792 Peter Blake and Polly McMahan, married by Rev. William
Wilson, Deborah McMahan gave consent.
VA, Augusta Co., Marriage Records, unpaged
Nov Term 1792 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 265
13 Nov 1792 Grant to James Bleak of 116 acres on Stewarts Creek a
branch of the Cowpasture river.
VA Patents and Grants, Augusta Co., p. 194
Feb Term 1793 Peter Blake on jury
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 277
21 Feb 1793 Joseph Posey to Peter Blake, for 75 pounds, 97 1/2
acres, 3 polls
Wit: Daniel Kennedy
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 2, p. 465
1793 Augusta Co., VA, LT, Joseph Bell's District
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0 [should be 230]
May Term 1793 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 285
May Term 1793 on Fri. aft. 3rd Mon. Hugh Blake on Jury
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, 1783-1795, p. 291
3 Aug 1793 #305 Hugh Blake m. Elizabeth Allison, James Russell,
Sec.
22 Aug 1793 Peter Blake on jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 304
23 Aug 1793 Joseph Posey to Alexander McCalpin, for £200, 83
acres, in Richland Creek, on the S side of the hill, adj. Peter
Blake
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 2, p. 239
Nov Term 1793 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN,Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 310, 315
Peter Blake on jury deciding validity of will of John Hood.
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 315
Feb Term 1794 Peter Blake on jury
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 323, 324, 325
1794 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist., Matthew Kinney
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0 [should be 230]
9 Apr 1794 #330 John Chesnut m. Elizabeth Blake James Campbell,
Sec.
May 1794 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, p. 331
May 1794 Peter Blake vs Andrew Nelson & Joseph Posey Case Jurymen
impanelled and sworn passed on said tryal do find for the
plaintiff four hundred and twenty pounds to be discharged on
making lawful titles to the land in the bond mentioned during the
setting of the present court and paying 6 cents. damages and
6 cents costs. Deed executed.
TN, Greene Co., Court Minutes, 1783-1795, p. 333
21 May 1794 Joseph Posey to Peter Blake, for 75 pounds, 100 acres,
on South side of Richland Creek, begining on line of David
Allison
Recorded in Court 19 Apr 1796
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 2, p. 461
Aug Term 1794 Peter Blake on jury to lay off a road from
Greeneville to Thomas Woolseys
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 345
Nov Term 1794 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 356
1795 Augusta Co., VA, LT, Joseph Bell's Dist
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0 [should be 230]
May Term 1795 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 381
May Term 1795 Deed of conveyance from Joseph Posey to Peter Blake
dated 1 Feb 1795, 97 1/2 acres, ackn in Court and admitted to
record.
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 393
16 May 1795 Know all men by these presents that I Hugh Donayhe of
Augusta County and State of Virginia, for and in consideration of
the natural love and affection which I have and do bear unto my
granddaughter Sarah Blake, daughter of Peter Blake of the County
of Greene in the Territory of the United States of America South
of the River Ohio and for the futher consideration of the sum of
five shillings to me in hand paid the receipt where of I do
hereby acknowledge, have given, granted and conveyed, and by
these presents, do give, grant, and convey and confirm unto the
said Sarah Blake one negro girl named Doll, about eleven years
old - now residing at the house of Peter Blake in Greene County,
to be and remain to the sole use and behoof of the Sarah Blake,
her heirs etc. on consideration that the said Sarah Blake
arrives at the age of eighteen years - andif not then the said
negro, Doll, shall remain as if this Bill of Sale had never been
made. Witness my hand and seal this sixteenth day of May A Dom
1795. Hugh Donaghe (seal)
Signed & Sealed Acknowledge in the presence of
John Rhea, Robert Campbell 37 1/2 c paid
Nov Term 1795 Deed from Hugh Donaghe to Sarah Blake
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 417-8
Aug Term 1795 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 396
Aug Term 1795 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 396
14 Mar 1796 Grant to Samuel Gelaspy of 150 acres on a branch of
Stewarts Creek waters of the Cowpasture River adjoining the lands
of James Blake, Wm. McCoy & Robert Stewart
VA Abstracted Patents and Grants, Augusta Co., p. 213
1796 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist.
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0
May Term 1796 on Thur. aft. 2nd Mon. Hugh Blake on jury
TN, Greene Co., Min of Court of Common Pleas, 1783-1795, p. 438
Nov Term 1796 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 465
27 Feb 1797 #452 Jacob Chesnut m. Margaret Blake, Ewin Allison,
Sec.
1797 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist.
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. £69/19/2 tax £1/1/0
1797 Greene Co., TN, Tax List, Capt. James Lauderdale's Co.
Blake, Peter 1971/2 acres, Rich. Creek, 1 white poll, 1 black
poll
9 May 1797 Hugh Blake on three juries
TN, Greene Co., Min. of Court of Common Pleas, 1797-1807, p. 22-3
1798 Greene Co., TN, Tax List, Capt. James Lauderdale's Co.
Blake, Peter 1971/2 acres, Richlnd Creek, 1 black poll, 25
squerrel scalps
1798 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist.
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. $333.30 tax $1.27
1 Nov 1798 Peter Blake, Jeremiah Smith, Ro. Campbell have moved to
Greene Co., North Carolina and John & James Donaghe are preparing
to move thither.
VA, Augusta Co., District Court, Records, p. 452
1799 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist.
Bleak Peter 330 acres val. $333.30 tax $1.27
1800 Greene Co., TN, Tax List, Capt. James Lauderdale's Co.
Blake, Peter 1971/2 acres, Lick Creek, 1 black poll, 5 squrrel
scalps
28 Apr 1800 A deed Blake & wife to Hugh Donaghe has been hereto
proved by the oath of Richd Gladden
a wit thereto was further proved by the oaths of Jno. Donaghe &
William Bateman two of the wits thereto & O Rd.
VA, Augusta Co., Court Order Book 26, 1799-1801, p. 175-6
1801 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist.
Bleak Peter 98 acres val. $98.98 tax $0.38
1802 Augusta Co., VA, LT, 2nd Dist.
Bleak Peter 98 acres val. $98.98 tax $0.47
1803 Augusta Co., VA, LT
Peter Bleak 98 acres, val/acre 1.01, amt of val. $98.98, tax
$0.47
24 Feb 1804 #932 James Blake m. Sarah Green Peter Blake, Sec.
1804 Augusta Co., VA, LT
Peter Bleak 98 acres, 1.01 98.98 0.47
26 Nov 1804 #979 David Ellison (Allison) m. Elizabeth Shields
John Blake, Sec.
25 Jun 1805 Thomas Stogdon m. Sarah Bleak
TN, Greene Co., Marriage Records
1805 Augusta Co., VA LT
Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
29 Apr 1806 Peter Blake summoned to Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p.
1806 Augusta Co., VA, LT
Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
28 Jul 1806 Peter Blake on Grand Jury
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p.
1807 Augusta Co., VA, LT
Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
1808 VA collected no taxes this year
On 30 Jan 1808 Peter Blake sold 197 acres in Greene Co., to John
Dodd, both of Greene Co.,
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 8, p. 256
30 Jan 1808 Peter Blake to John Dodd both of Greene Co., TN, for
$667 sold 97 acres, 83 poles, in Richland Creek and one other
adjacient, 100 acres, begining at a line of David Allison & James
Wright, heirs of Alexander McAlpin decd.
Witnesses: John Russell, David Allison
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 8, p. 465
30 Jan 1808 Bill of sale from John Dodd to Peter Blake for a negro
woman named Catherine alias Cate about 27 years of age a slave
for life
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 85
1809 Augusta Co., VA, LT
Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
1809 TN, Greene Co., Capt. Jacob Hoyal's Dist.
Bleak, Hugh 1 w poll
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813 Greene Co., TN, Capt. Feller's Dist.
Blake, Hugh 1 w poll
1810 VA, Augusta Co., LT
Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
1811 Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
1812 Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
1812 TN, Greene Co., Capr. Thomas McSpadden's Dist.
Blake, Hugh 1 w poll
1813 Peter Bleak 98 1.01 98.98 0.47
1814 Peter Bleak 98 res. not known, 1.01, description of land,
not known, 98.99, 0.84
25 Jun 1814 #1649 Hugh Blake(Bleak) m. Polly Alexander Sec.-
James Morrow, V. Nair
1815 VA, Augusta Co., LT
Peter Bleak 98 " 1.01 " " " 98.99, 0.84
1815 TN, Greene Co., Capt. Robert McCalpine's Dist.
Blake, Hugh 1 w poll
1816 TN, Greene Co., Capt. Stephen Johnson's Dist.
Blake, Hugh 1 w poll
1816 VA, Augusta Co., LT
Peter Bleak 98 " 1.01 " " " 98.99, 0.74
20 Jul 1816 Sheriff's Deed Daniel Guin, High Sheriff of Greene Co.
to Ewen Allison of same, Guin having stated taxes for 1814 were
unpd on 100 acres belonging to heirs of Hugh Donahoo decd., tract
being of S side of Nolochucky river where on Hugh Blake now lives
& adj. of Snapps and cor. of Kennedy $5.52 5 mills pd.
Wit: Robert Malony, Seth J. W. Lucky
Recorded 10 Sep 1816
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 10, p. 474
1817 Peter Blak 98 " 1.01 " " " 98.99, 0.74
1818 Peter Blak 98 " 1.01 " " " 98.99, 0.74
6 Nov 1818 Indenture of John Sevier to James H. Davis both of
Greene Co., for $297 pd, sold 1471/2 acres on S side Chucky river
and beg. on line of Thomas Davises & adj. Runel.
Wit: James Patterson, Ewin Blake
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 12, p. 101
15 Mar 1819 Deed of Trust Ewen Allison to Hugh Carter $400 pd 86
acres on S side of Nolochucky river, adj. Snapp, Kennedy, Hugh
Donahoo and whereon Ewen Blake now lives.
Alexander Severier, Trustee, who will claim land if note is not
pd.
Wit: Joseph Brown, William K. Vance
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 11, p. 427
26 Apr 1819 The execution of a deed of conveyance from John
Allison, David Allison, Ewin Blake, David Blake, Peter Blake,
James Morrow and Rebecca Morrow his wife to Hugh Carter trustee
dated 15th day of March 1819 for 260 acres of land was duly
proven by the oaths of Joseph Brown and William K. Vance
subscribing witnesses and ordered to be registered.
TN, Greene Co., Court of Pleas & Q.S., p. 371
TN, Greene Co., Deed Book 11, p. 1__
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