John & Zilpha, Bland & Dionysius

Now that I've done some heavy research into the lives of John & Zilpha, Bland and Dionysius, I'm ready to make comparisons in order to draw some conclusions.

1. Birth and death dates

John Eddins born about 1750, died about 1795.

Zilpha Maiden Name Unknown born between 1756 and 1765, died about 1831.

Dionysius Blakely born between 1756 and 1765, died about 1815,

Bland Blakely born before 1776, died after 1790.


2. Military service

John Edins, Bland Blakely and Dionysus Blakely all served as privates in the Third Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers under Col. William Thompson.

https://www.fold3.com/image/9679383

Payroll of 3rd Regiment in Garrison, March 1780. Bland Blakely and John Edins.

3. Land

They all lived in Lexington District, SC, around 1790. Dionysius and Zilpha lived there in 1800.

Dionysius transferred land to John & Zilpha Eddins

Bland and Dionysius lived next to each other in 1790.

Dionysius living next to George and Mary Eddins Turner in two censuses; next to John S. Eddins in another.


Mini-bios:

• John Edins mini-bio: born about 1750 (Va?), married about 1777 - 1780, mustered into Third Regiment SC Volunteers on xxx date 1777. In garrison March 1880. Owned land conveyed from Dionysius Blakely. Farmer. Appeared in 1790 Census in Lexington District, died intestate 1795.

• Zilpha Eddins mini-bio:  born between 1756 and 1765 (SC?), married about 1777 - 1780, widowed about 1795. Appears as HOH in 1800, 1810 Censuses in Lexington District. Married after 1819, shows up in the household of David Winchell, Lexington District, in 1820 Census. Ran ad naming children of John Eddins in 1828. Died in 1831.

Children of John & Zilpha: Elizabeth, Blakely, John S., Fereby, Mary, Martha, Anna Obedience, William D., James A., Ephraim.

• Dionysius Blakely born between 1756 and 1765, mustered into Third Regiment SC Volunteers on July 24, 1776. Married Fanny MNU (some people have her as Ivers). Owned lots of land in Lexington District, SC, some which was conveyed to John & Zilpha Eddins. Owned slaves. Died 1815.

Children of DB and Fanny named in his will: John, Mary (married John Hidle), Nancy (married William Perry), Elizabeth/Dicey/Leodocia (married James Eidson); Sarah; an unnamed daughter (married Hardy Harris); and perhaps one more daughter.

• Bland Blakely mini-bio: born before 1774, died after 1790. Possibly born 1730. Possibly listed in Wilkes County, GA, in 1786. Lived on land in Lexington County, SC, maybe owned it. mustered into Third Regiment October 17, 1777. Had unidentified people living with him in 1790.

Conclusions:

1. Dionysius and Zilpha were contemporaries, not parent/child.

2. Dionysius is not my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, but he may be my fifth great-uncle.

3. They all knew each other, since they lived close to each other several times.


Theories:

1.  Bland, Dionysius, and Zilpha were siblings.

2. Even though I don't know squat about John Eddins before he shows up in the Third Regiment SC Volunteers, I'm guessing he knew the Blakelys before then. He married Zilpha as his first and only wife about 1777, was in the Revolutionary Army for about three years, then returned home and resumed "Life with Zilpha."

I'll explore more of these theories in an upcoming post.