Thursday, June 1, 2017

Who's your daddy? Dionysius Blakely maybe?

The name "Blakely" runs through our family like a river. There have been at least four Blakely Eddinses, a few James Blakelys, and at least one Blakie, who was a girl. Family Tree DNA has shown us as fourth or fifth cousins to various Blakely families, but we never knew who our MRCA (Most Recent Common Ancestor) was—until now. 

Maybe.

His name was Dionysius Blakely—or other variations of both first and last names. My theory is that he was my fifth or sixth great-grandfather. I'm writing this blog entry to find out what facts can be proved about him, and whether he is the logical choice for GG5. Here goes.

Readily available primary evidence, other than land plats, which I will deal with in another post:

• The Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution says that "Dionysius Blakely...enlisted in the Third Regiment on July 24, 1776. NA 853...(National Archives M853 Roll 16)"

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/49323/FLHG_RosterSCPatriots-0097/92506?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return&rc=1093,1978,1293,2020;1091,2287,1250,2329;1095,2593,1232,2634;1291,2643,1449,2685;1091,2725,1231,2766#?imageId=FLHG_RosterSCPatriots-0099

This image includes the information that it was the Third Regiment commanded by Colonel William Thompson. 

https://www.fold3.com/image/21643392

What does this tell us about him? 

The minimum enlistment age during the Revolutionary War was 16 with parental consent. If Dionysius enlisted at 16, his birth year would have been 1760. He could have been born earlier since most of the recruits were 20 - 25, but at least we now have the first estimated date of birth. 

Source: two articles. Read both if you have time.

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2013/08/23/the-young-and-the-restless-the-astonishing-ages-of-the-revolutions-key-figures/

• In the 1790 US Census for SC, "Dioniscious Blackly" is living in Orangeburg District. In the household are one male under 16, two males over 16, four females. Total in household is seven. Neighbors: Bland Blackley, George Turner (married to an Eddins), Dreher, Martin, Steiger, Rolls (Rawls), Amick, Dailey, Jacob Lightsey, Looner (Looney?), Fulmer, Corley, Roof.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5058/4185996_00242?pid=388713&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26db%3D1790usfedcen%26h%3D388713%26tid%3D24121874%26pid%3D5097623042%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26rhSource%3D7590%26requr%3D2550866976735232%26ur%3D0%26lang%3Den-US&treeid=24121874&personid=5097623042&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

What does this Census tell us? Dionysus was over 16, born before 1774. Seven members in the household, four of whom were women.

• In 1799 Dionysius signed a petition for a ferry across the Saluda River with a bold hand. This is how we know he could write, and how he spelled his own name. So cool to see his actual signature!!!

http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/ViewImage.aspx?imageNumber=S165015179900048000a.jpg&recordId=251823

• In the 1800 US Census for SC, Nace Blakely lives in Lexington, Orangeburg District. In the household are one male under 10, one male 16 - 25, one male 26 - 44 (Dionysius). There are two females 10 - 15, three females 16 - 25, and one female 45 and over. Of these people, three people are under 16 (two females, one male), and two people over 25 (presumably Dionysus and his wife). There are six slaves. Nine white, six black, 15 people total. Neighbors: George Turner (wife's maiden name Eddins), Elizabeth Clakley, Kelly, Roof, Sylvia Eddins (my ancestress), Brenan, Hydle, Corley, Lightsey, Roll (Ralls), Souter, Weisinger, Liephart (Leaphart), Boughniet (Boughnight).

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1800usfedcenancestry&h=495491&indiv=try&o_cvc=Image:OtherRecord

What does this Census tell us? Dionysus was nicknamed "Nace." His birthdate was between 1756 and 1774; the 45+ woman, presumably his wife, was a little older than he was. He owned slaves. He was rich.

• In the 1810 US Census for SC, Dionitious Blataty (reads as "Blakley") is living in Edgefield County. In the household are one male 26 - 44, one male 45 and over (Dionysus), two females 10 - 15, three females 16 - 25, and one female 45 and older (his wife). There are two people under 16; there are three people over 25. There are 14 slaves. Eight white, 14 black, 22 people total. Neighbors: Busby, Collum, John, John Eddins (son of Sylvia/Zilpha), Abney, Corley, Cates, Efford, Dennis, Funderberg, Green.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7613/4433170_00093?pid=601334&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1810usfedcenancestry%26h%3D601334%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage:OtherRecord&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

What does this Census tell us? Dionysus was born between 1756 and 1765. He owned or had owned land in two SC counties (Lexington/Orangeburgh and Edgefield). The oldest female (presumably his wife) was born before 1765. The number of slaves he owned had more than doubled, so his wealth had increased as well.

• On 1/11/1815 Dionicious Blakely owned/had owned/sold 18 slaves to James Eidison, John Blakely, William Perry, Hardy Harris, and John Hidle for a total value of $4,670.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60512/43943_343959-00043?pid=2573&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26db%3DSCSlaveRecords%26h%3D2573%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26rhSource%3D3599&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true

$4,670 in 1815 dollars is worth somewhere between $943,000 and $2,800, 000 in today's dollars, according to MeasuringWorth.com. He was certainly loaded!

• Dionysius died about 1815 in Edgefield County, SC, where his will was probated on December 29, 1815. The will names his legatees: wife Fanny and son John, who administrated the will; and others.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9080/007649207_00355/463621?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dUSProbateSC%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_db%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn%3dd%26gsfn_x%3dNP%26gsln%3dblakely%26gsln_x%3dNS%26MSAV%3d2%26MSV%3d0%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

• Among Dionysius's will and probate record is one document that Fanny administered on December 19, 1815.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9080/007649207_00355/463621?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dUSProbateSC%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_db%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn%3dd%26gsfn_x%3dNP%26gsln%3dblakely%26gsln_x%3dNS%26MSAV%3d2%26MSV%3d0%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults#?imageId=007649207_00360

Another document that mentions that wife/administratrix Fanny is deceased by 11 January 1816. Son John Blakely became administrator in her place.

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9080/007649207_00355/463621?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dUSProbateSC%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_db%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn%3dd%26gsfn_x%3dNP%26gsln%3dblakely%26gsln_x%3dNS%26MSAV%3d2%26MSV%3d0%26uidh%3dwy5&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults#?imageId=007649207_00357

• Dionysius's legatees were his wife Fanny (died by January 1816), son John Blakely, daughter Sarah, and his other daughters, whose husbands dominated the proceedings. Daughters were Leodocia/Dicey/Elizabeth (James Eidison/Eidson), Nancy (William Perry), Unknown female (Hardy Harris), Mary Polly (John Hidle). There was perhaps one more daughter.

https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/dionysius-blakeley/about/background

So, to summarize:

Dionysius Blakely was born between 1755 and 1760, most likely in SC. During the Revolutionary War he served in the South Carolina Volunteers' Third Regiment under Col. Thompson. He was married to Fanny MNU, who was just a little older. They had at least five children, one boy and four girls: John, Nancy, Mary (Polly) Elizabeth, and Unknown. He was rich and owned slaves. He owned land in at least two counties. He could write. He died between January 11 (sale of slaves to sons-in-law) and December 19, 1815 (Fanny's document).

Most interesting to me: he always lived near at least one member of the Eddins family.

In the next blog post, I'll discuss the land deals associated with Dionysius Blakely.

My fragrant cousin has just informed me that there is a new baby in the family. Her name is Blakely. And the river of time flows onward...

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