English Origins of Peter Blight of Philadelphia and George Blight of Philadelphia and New Jersey

ENGLISH ORIGINS OF PETER BLIGHT OF PHILADELPHIA AND GEORGE1 BLIGHT OF PHILADELPHIA AND NEW JERSEY by Michael J. Leclerc F rank Willing Leach produced a series of articles, “Old Philadelphia Families,” that was published in the early twentieth century in the North American newspaper. One of these focused on the family of Peter Blight (1760-1814) and his extended family in England and America. i Leach stated that Peter and brothers Isaac, Caleb, Richard, and George were the sons of Captain George Blight, R.N., of Exeter and Topsham, Devonshire. Many photographs illustrate the article, including one of George Blight, son of Isaac. Close analysis of Leach’s statements reveals that, as with many such profiles done at the turn of the century, some statements were correct, some were incorrect, and some were close to correct. Most significantly, there is no record of any George Blight in the Royal Navy, nor is there any evidence that Caleb and Richard ever existed as brothers of Peter, Isaac, and George. Peter Blight was a merchant in Philadelphia. His brothers Isaac and George were ship captains who brought materials from England, the West Indies, and elsewhere to Philadelphia for him to sell to the public. The first shipment was advertised in the Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser on IS August 178S and included double Gloucester cheese, coals, cordage of an excellent quality, oznaburgs (textiles from Osnabriick in Germany), cheeks, boots and shoes, tin and copper ware, tea urns, and more, available at his store in Bicklcy's alley, just above Mrkct Street in Water-Street.2 Leach notes that Peter joined the Society of the Sons of St. George 23 October 1787, and that Capt. George Blight and Capt. Isaac Blight, both of Topsham, England, were made honorary mem¬ bers the same day. A manumission in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania dated 20 April 1792 and signed by Peter Blight reveals more information about the fam¬ ily: “Whereas My Brother Isaac Blight of the Island of Jamaica Merchant ' Michael J. l.eclerc (m.leclerc@comcast.net) is Director of Special Projects at tile New England Historic Genealogical Society, lie discovered these English origins while researching his uncle's Blight ancestry, which proved unconnected to this family. i Frank Willing Leach, "Old Philadelphia Families, Blight," North American, Sunday, 17 March 1912,6-7. 2 Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser, IS August 178S, issue 2036, page 4, column 1. 3 Leach, “Blight" |note 1 ]. Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 (201 I ) S 6 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol.47 hath senl under my Care a Negro boy Named Frank aged about thirteen »4 years George blight of Elizabeth, Essex County, New Jersey, left a will dated 16 October 1803 that was entered into probate 6 February 180 t. He left the rents and profits from his real and personal estate for the support of his two children until they reached the age of twenty-one, then half was to go to the support of his wife Deborah. At Deborah’s decease the estate was to be divided between his sons George Wain Bright and Isaac Blight. If his sons died before coming of age, the estate was to go to the children of George’s “brother” Peter Blight. A codicil dated 2 4 October 180.3 names new executors: wife Deborah and “nephew George Blight, Jr., (son of Isaac Blight).”S These records link brothers Isaac, George, and Peter. While none of these records identifies their origins, Isaac, at least, spent some time in Jamaica. The will of James Blight of Kingston, Jamaica, was written 2 October 1797 and proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 8 November 1799. James left to his housekeeper Sarah Pennington, who was a free quadroon woman, “three hundred pounds Sterling Money of Great Brit¬ ain" to be paid to her upon his death, lie also left to her all of his horses, his horse chaise, all of his household furniture, wearing apparel, and “Red Table-Linen.” He left “unto James Blight my reputed Son by the Said Sarah Pennington the sum of five hundred pounds Sterling money aforesaid to be paid to him when he shall attain the age of twenty one years.” In the intervening time, the interest from the money was to be used to educate said son. The rest of his estate he left to [emphasis added] “my Dear Mother Sarah Blight now residing in the Town o/Topsham in the county of Devon in great Britain Widow.” If his mother predeceased him, his estate was to go to his three sisters: "Elizabeth now the Wife of William Paine of Topsham aforesaid Maria now the Wife of John Bishop of the same place Merchant and Sally now the Wife of James Oliver of the City of Exeter in the Kingdom of Great Britain aforesaid Linen Draper but at present of the City of Philadelphia. . . . ”(> I’he marriages of the three sisters are found among the Blight mar¬ riages at the Anglican church in Topsham. Mary Blight, married 12 February 1732 Samuel Buttall. Isaac Blight, married 14 November 1732 Sarah Passmore. Jane Blight, married 24 November 1736 William Taylor. Elizabeth Blight, married 20 May 178-i William Payne. Sally Blight, married 14 April 1792 James Oliver. 1 The Pennsylvania Abolition Society [PAS], Additional PAS Documcnts-Serics IV- Manumissions, Indentures, and other Legal Papers (AmS 03 1 ) (image at MSP.org). s Essex County, New Jersey, Surrogate's Court, Docket 10266C (EHI. #330,661 ). (> Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; PROB 1 1/1.3.32 (downloaded from The National Archives, Kew, at nationalarehives.gov. uk). 20 1 1 English Origins of Peter and George Blight 7 Isaac lilight, married 1 4 July 1793 Sarah Loathis. Maria Blight, married 18 August 1793 John Bishop.7 Baptisms of two children of Isaac and Sarah Blight, compatible with the 1732 marriage above, occurred at the Presbyterian church in Topsham. Significantly, they link the given names of the mother and two of the sis¬ ters named in the will of James Blight. Blight, Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Sarah, baptized 26 February 1733. Blight, Sally, daughter of Isaac and Sarah, baptized 4 May 1772.” Many of Devon’s original records, including probate matters, were destroyed during World War II. Fortunately, some transcriptions made prior to the destruction survive, including abstracts of probate records. The will of Isaac Blight of Topsham dated 2|?] April 1776, was entered into probate at the principle registry of the Bishop of Fxetcr l i April 1789. Isaac left his entire estate to his wife Sara. His children are not named in the will.9 The lack of baptismal records and the names of Isaac’s surviving chil¬ dren in his will prevents us from identifying his family with complete certainty, but the existing records present us with the most likely sce¬ nario: that Peter, Isaac, and George (with James, Elizabeth, Maria, and Sally) were children of Isaac and Sarah (Passmore) Blight of Topsham. The identification of the father, Isaac' Blight, also suffers from a lack of records, but he would most likely be the Isaac baptized at St. Sidwell, Exe¬ ter,10 21 July 1732, son of William Blight.11 Twelve baptisms for children of William appear at St. Sidwell. William Blight, baptized 3 February 1720|/1 1. Jane Blight, baptized 3 February 1720|/1 ]. Jane Blight, baptized 23 May 1724. Jane Blight, baptized 27 December 1726. Kdward Blight, baptized 14 August 1728. Mary Blight, baptized 19January 17291/30]. Isaac Blight, baptized 21 July 1732. II. Tapley-Soper, Parish of Topsham, Co. Devon. Marriages, Baptisms & Burials A.D. 1600 to i B f 7 from the Parochial Register, the Register of the Independent Meeting, the Register of Presbyterians, the Register of Quakers, Together with Copies of Memo¬ rial Inscriptions (Exeter: The Devon and Cornwall Record Society, 1938), 418, 612, 640, 630, 63 1 , 63 1 (Anglican church). There are Blight marriages in the Topsham regis¬ ter as early as 1709; only records related to this lineage are presented in this article. s Tapley-Soper, Topsham Registers |note 7], 768 (Presbyterian church). The Presby¬ terian church has no surviving baptismal records from the start of 1733 until midway through 1771 9 "Oswyn Murray Collection of Wills, abt. 1600-1800,” volume 3 (unpaginated) (FI IL #9 17,238, item 2). 10 St. Sidwell is a large parish in the northern part of Exeter. Topsham touches the southern edge of Exeter. 1 1 C. A. T. Fursdon, "Exeter St. Sidwell’s Parish Register, Volume I. Baptisms, 13691804” (typescript, Devon and Cornwall Record Society, at Devon Central Library), un paginated, chronological order ( Fill. #916,839). 8 Pennsylt'anin Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 Jacob blight, baptized 2 1 July 1732. Abraham Blight, baptized 5 February 17331/4 1. John Blight, baptized 5 September 1736. Jacob Blight, baptized 29 January' 17371/8], Ann Blight, baptized 17 August 1740. 12 Burials for three of these children are also at St. Sidwell: Jane Blight, buried 26 January 1724|/5], Jacob Blight, buried 5 March 1736[/7). Abraham Blight, buried 17 March 1 736|/7 1 . 1 Marriage records for only two of these children appear at St. Sidwell: F.dward Blight, married I i November 1755 Margaret Dugdalc. Jacob Blight, married 22 May 1763 Anne Brennam. 1 1 GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY 1. EDWARD* BI.IGHT was born say 1666 (estimating marriage at 25) and buried at St. Sidwell, Exeter, Devon, 26 November 171 l.,s He married at St. Sidwell 7 August 1691 JUELOR ,16 — Children of Edward* and Juelor (— ) Blight, baptized at St. Sidwell: 1 i. SARAH BLIGHT, baptized 20 July 1692. ii. WILLIAM" BLIGHT, baptized 15 October 1693; buried at St. Sidwell 21 April 2 1740; married first at St. Sidwell 28 September 1720 JANE RADDON; married second there 26 December 1722 JANE PARKINS. iii. ELIZABETH BLIGHT, baptized 24 April 1695. iv. EDWARD BLIGHT, baptized 2 1 August 1 699; died young (see below). v. EDWARD BLIGHT, baptized 19 March 17031/4]; buried at St. Sidwell 24 October 1735; 18 married there 20 September 1724 MARY HOLDER.14 vi. JOHN BLIGHT, baptized 26 August 1706. vii. ELIZABETH BI.IGHT, baptized 11 June 1710. 1 “ Fursdon, "St. Sidwell’s Baptisms" (note 1 1 1; mother not named in records. '•'(I A. I Fursdon, “Exeter St. Sidwell’s Parish Register, Volume 4: Burials, 15691804 (typescript, Devon and Cornwall Record Society, at Devon Central Library), unpaginated, chronological order (Fill. #916,840, item 1 ). 14 C. A. T. Fursdon, “Exeter St. Sidwell’s Parish Register, Volume 3: Marriages, 15691837” (typescript, Devon and Cornwall Record Society, at Devon Central Library), unpaginated, chronological order (Fill. #916,840, item 1 ). 1 15 Fursdon, "St. Sidwell’s Burials” |note 131. Edward was said to be “at the work lions" at the time of his death and burial. 16 Fursdon, "St. Sidwell .s Marriages” |note 1 4|. Eursdon’s transcription indicates that there was no surname for the bride. The baptisms of known children give only the father’s name. No identifiable burial record was found for her, but Fursdon indicated that for many periods of time the handwriting in the* registers was so difficult to read it was often impossible to decipher. i" Fursdon, "St. Sidwell’s Baptisms’” |notc 1 1 1. 18 Fursdon, “St. Sidwell’s Burials” |note 131Fursdon, “St. Sidwell’s Marriages” [note 14 1. 201 I English Origins of Peter and George Blight 9 2. WILLIAM" BLIGHT ( Edward ) was baptized at St. Sidwell, Exeter, Devon, IS October 1693. 20 He was buried there 21 April I740.21 William married first at St. Sidwell 28 September 1720 JANE RADDON.22 She was buried there 27 November 1 722.21 William married there second 26 December 1722 JANE PARKINS.2 i Children of William" and Jane (Raddon) blight, baptized at St. Sidwell:2'’ i. WILLIAM BLIGHT, baptized 5 February' 1720|/1], ii. JANE BLIGHT, baptized 5 February 1720]/ 1 ]; died young (see below). Children of William" and Jane (Parkins) Blight, baptized at St. Sidwell:26 iii jANi: BLIGHT, baptized 25 May 1724; buried at St. Sidwell 26 January 1724[/5|. iv. JANE BLIGHT, baptized 27 December 1726; married at Topsham, Devon, 24 November 1 756 WILLIAM TAYI.OR. v. EDWARD BLIGHT, baptized 14 August 1728: married at St. Sidwell 14 November 1755 MARGARET DUGDAI.E. vi. MARY BLIGHT, baptized 19 January 17291/30]; married at Topsham 12 Feb¬ ruary 1752 SAMUEL BUTTALL. 3 vii. ISAAC'' BLIGHT, baptized 21 July 1732; died at Topsham between 2]?] April 1776 and 14 April 1789; married at Topsham 14 November 1752 SARAH PASSMORE. viii. JACOB BLIGHT, baptized 21 July 1732; buried at St. Sidwell 5 March 1736|/7|. ix. ABRAHAM BLIGHT, baptized 5 February 17331/4]; buried at St. Sidwell 17 March 17361/7], x. JOHN BLIGHT, baptized 5 September 1736. xi. JACOB BLIGHT, baptized 29 January 17371/8]; married at St. Sidwell 22 May 1763 ANNE BRENNAM. xii. ANN BLIGHT, baptized 17 August 1740. 3. ISAAC' BLIGHT ( William", Pd ward ) was baptized at St. Sidwell, Exeter, Devon, 21 July 17 3 2. 27 Isaac Blight, Sr., was buried at Topsham, Devon, 30 April I776.2S His will was written 2|?| April 1776 and probated 14 April 1789. 29 Isaac married at Topsham l i November 1752 SARAH PASSMORE.'0 2(1 Fursdon, “St. Sidwell’s Baptisms" |note 1 1 ]. 21 Fursdon, "St. SidwelTs Burials" |notc I3|. 22 Fursdon, "St. SidwelTs Marriages" |notc 14|. 2' Fursdon, "St. SidwelTs Burials” |notc 13]. 2 i Fursdon, “St. SidwelTs Marriages" (note 14]. 2S Vital events presented above. 26 Vital events presented above. Baptisms” (note 1 1 1. 2lS Tapley-Soper, Topsham Registers (note 7|, 5 15 (Anglican church). 29 “Oswyn Murray Collection of Wills" |see note9|. 91 Tapley-Soper, Topsham Registers [note 7], tlS (Anglican church). There are sev¬ eral Passmore families in Topsham, and it is unclear to which family Sarah belongs. 27 Fursdon, "St. SidwelTs Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 10 Vol. 47 Children of Isaac' and Sarah (Passmore) Plight: i. ISAAC BLIGHT, born say 1753 (estimating from parents’ marriage); died in 4 Rothcrhithe, Southwark, 24 September 1805; married first by say 1775 ELIZABETH PASSMORE; married second at Topsham 14 July 1793 SARAH 5 6 7 LOATH IS. ii. ELIZABETH BLIGHT, baptized 26 February 1755 at the Presbyterian church in Topsham, daughter of Isaac and Sarah; married at Topsham 20 May 1784 WILLIAM PAYNE. iii. PETER KENWOOD BLIGHT, son of Isaac, buried 8 January 1758 at Topsham. 51 iv. JAMES BLIGHT, son of Isaac, buried 1 December 1 764 at Topsham.*2 v. PETER1 BLIGHT, born about 1765 (age at death); died in Philadelphia 23 April 1814; married there by say 1702 MARTHA GILLINGHAM. BLIGHT, born by say 1770 (child born in 1796); died in Kingston, vi. JAMES' Jamaica, in October 1799. vii. SAI.I.Y BLIGHT, baptized t May 1772 at the Presbyterian church in Topsham, daughter of Isaac and Sarah; married at Topsham 14 April 1792 JAMES OLIVER. 9 viii. MARIA BLIGHT, born say 1773 (estimating marriage at 20); married at Tops¬ ham 18 August 1793 JOHN BISHOP. 10 ix. GEORGE1 BLIGHT, born say 1773 (estimating marriage at 25); died in Eliza¬ beth, Union County, New Jersey, 28 November 1803; married there 13 January 1798 DEBORAH HETITEI.D. 8 4. ISAAC1 BLIGHT (lsaatA, William 11 , lid want ) was born say 1753 (estimat¬ ing from parents’ marriage) and died in Rothcrhithe, Southwark, 24 Sep¬ tember 1805 from a gunshot wound received the previous day.** He mar¬ said-to-be ried first by say 1775 (child baptized in 1776) ELIZABETH Devon, Topsham, at by license ELIZABETH PASSMORE.*1 He married second as his second wife at 14 July 1793 SARAH LOATHES.** Sarah married second Long.*6 Shoreditch, London, Leonard’s, St. 1.3 May 1 817 John Isaac was a ship captain and a merchant. He passed at least some time in Kingston, Jamaica, before returning to England. In 1805 he partnered with Richard Patch in a scheme to hide Blight’s assets from the *' Tapley-Sopcr, Topsham Registers [note 7], 433 (Anglican church). 52 Tapley-Sopcr, Topsham Registers [note 7], 1.58 (Anglican church). 55 Edward Jossclyn Beck, Memorials to Serve for a History of the Parish of St. Mary. Rothcrhithe, in the Comity of Surrey and in the Administrative Comity of London (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1907), 24 1. 5 i Leach, “Blight” [note 1 1. Leach gives Isaac's wife as Elizabeth Passmore, hut does not mention the marriage to Sarah Loathis. No record of the marriage to Elizabeth Passmore has been found. Based on census records and the ages of his children, Isaac’s son George was horn around 1791. definitely no later than 1794. The birth of Thomas Loathis Blight in April 1794 makes it unlikely that Sarah Loathis was the mother of George and more likely that Isaac was married twice. With no conflicting evidence at the moment, Elizabeth Passmore is given here as the first wife. 55 Tapley-Sopcr, Topsham Registers |note 7 1, 65 1 (Anglican church). *6 St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Parish Register, Marriages 1816-1817, 29:223, #669; Guildhall Parish Register Ms.7498 (PHI. #405,104). 201 I English Origins of Peter and George Blight government. Patch turned against Blight and murdered him. The murder caused quite a sensation, and a book about it was published in 1 806.'7 A series of miniatures of the blight family was offered for sale by Expertissim, dealers in art objects, in 201 1. Four of the six miniatures are identified: Isaac Blight, George Blight (1780-1834), Lady Robert Sidney (born Sarah Blight), and George Ci. Blight (son of George and Maria (Blight) Blight), and two unidentified young ladies. The miniatures passed to Alice (Blight) Lowther, a descendant of George and Maria. The miniature of George is the same used to illustrate Leach’s article on the Blight family. The grouping of these miniatures shows that Isaac was the father of George (husband of Maria Blight) and of Sarah (Blight) Sydney.-™ Child of Isaac1 and Elizabeth (Passmore) Blight: i. MARY BLIGHT, baptized 4 August 1776 at the Presbyterian church in 'fopsham, daughter of "Isaac, then dee d. ™ & Elizlh.” 10 ii. GEORGE" BLIGHT, born in 1780; 1 1 died in Philadelphia 3 September 18.3 i; 12 married there October 1817 MARIA2 BLIGHT,-* his cousin, daughter of Peter* Blight. Children of Isaac1 and Sarah (Loathis) Blight: iii. THOMAS LOATHIS BLIGHT, born 28 April 1794 and baptized at St. Mary, Lam¬ beth, Surrey, 27 December 1794;“ married by license at St. Mary Magdelene, Woolwich, Kent, 20 November 1813 ELIZABETH LONG. *5 37 Joseph and W. B. Gurney, The Trial of Richard Patch for the Wilful Murder of Isaac Blight, at Rotherhithe, on the 2.id of September ISOS. At the Session House, Newington, Surrey, on Saturday the Fifth of April, 1806 (London: M. Gurney, Bookseller, 1806). •™ Images of the miniatures and their identifying names on the backs were viewed on the Expertissim website (en.expcrtissim.com/miniaturcs/six-niiniatures-of-mcmbcrs-of-thcblight-family-of-philadelphia-ol2 1 22740.html). w There is clearly an error in this record. The will of Isaac' Blight, written just before his burial .30 April 1776 names wife Sara. Although it is possible that the name Elizabeth is in error and this is the last child of Isaac' and Sarah (Passmore) Blight, it is more likely that Mary is the first child of Isaac1 and Elizabeth (Passmore) Blight, that Elizabeth took the child in for baptism (something usually done by the father or godparents) because Isaac* was traveling, possibly even at sea, at the time, and when Elizabeth said Mary was the daughter of Isaac, the individual at the church remembered having buried IsaacA back in April and assumed that was why Isaac was not present. 10 Tapley-Sopcr, Topsham Registers |note 7), 770 (Presbyterian church). 11 Leach, “Blight” [note 1 1. 12 Contemporary transcript of papers, 1834- 1836. relating to the partition and valua¬ tion of the estate of George Blight anil his daughter Sarah Ann (Blight) Rush (New-York Historical Society, BY Blight, George), 40 pages, unpaginated. 13 Commercial Advertiser, 28 October 1817, volume 20, #7776, page 2, column 4. No date is given for the marriage. II Parish register of St. Mary at Lambeth, London, 1:823 (image at Ancestry.com). i5 ..Thomas Loathis Blight of this parish and Elizabeth Long a Minor of this Parish Spinster were married in this Church by license with the Consent of John Long the Natural and Lawful Father of sd Minor.” Witnesses were John Long, Ann Long, and Sarah Blight. Elizabeth would also become his stepsister in 1817 when his mother mar¬ ried her father. St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent, Bishop's Transcripts, Baptisms, 12 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 iv. SARAH ANN BI.IGHT, born 22 December 1795 and baptized at St. Mary, Lam¬ beth, 15 April 1 796; ,<s married about 1814 Sir WII.I.IAM ROBERT SYDNEY. *7 v. ELIZABETH BLIGHT, born in Jamaica about 1796; |H married by banns at St. Mary Magdelene, Woolwich, 19 December 181.5 RALPH TROTTER. '9 5. ELIZABETH BLIGHT ( Isaac'', William", liclward ) was baptized 26 Febru¬ ary 1755 at the Presbyterian church in Topsham, Devon, daughter of Isaac and Sarah, and married at Topsham 20 May 1784 WILLIAM PAYNE.150 William was baptized at Topsham .51 January 1765, son of William and Grace Pain.1’1 Children of William and Elizabeth (Blight) Payne, baptized at Topsham:.32 i. MARY PAYNE, baptized I March 1785. ii. SALLY BLIGHT PAYNE, baptized 7 November 1786. iii. ISAAC BLIGHT PAYNE, baptized 5 February 1791. iv. ELEANOR PAYNE, baptized 27June 1794. v. JAMES BLIGHT PAYNE, baptized 12 April 1798. 6. PETER 1 HEIGHT ( IsaacA, William", Ed wared) was born about 1765 (age at death) at Topsham, Devon, son of Isaac and Sarah (Passmore) Blight.S5 lie died 2.3 April 1814 in Philadelphia, in his 50th year.Sl Peter married by say 1792 MARTHA GILLINGHAM, who was born 4 1st month [January] 1765 in Philadelphia, daughter of James and Phcbc (Hallowed) Gillingham;1515 Mrs. Martha Blight, widow of the late Peter Blight, died 18 March 18.32 in Marriages, and Burials, 1815, volume I)W, TI772 at London Record Office, page 83, #247 (FHL #307,732, item 5). 1(1 St. Mary at Lambeth parish register |note 44 1. 47 Sir William Robert Sydney obituary, Gentleman’s Magazine, New Series 2( 1866): 705. 1851 Census of England, Parish of St. Mary Newington, Ecclesiastical District of Trinity, Borough of Lambeth, District I . sheet 5, household 21,9 Grey Terrace. 19 St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, Kent, Bishops 'Transcripts, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1815, volume I)W, T1770, London Record Office, page 20. #60 (Fill. #307,732, item 1 ). 15,1 Taplcy-Sopcr, Topsham Registers [note 7|, 640 (Anglican church). Taplcy-Sopcr, Topsham Registers [note 7|. William Paine married Grace Drcwc at Topsham 1 1 September 1 763 (Taplcy-Sopcr, Topsham Registers |notc 7|). 15 Taplcy-Sopcr, Topsham Registers [note 7|, 458, 461, 468, 475, 4K2 (Anglican church), parents named as William and Elizabeth. S3 Obituary of Peter Blight, Paulson's American Daily Advertiser, volume t.3, #1 I 677, Monday, 25 April 1814, page 3, column 3. 15 Record of Deaths in Philadelphia and Vicinity, 1791-1851, folio 5 (unpaginated) (Fill. #20,45 1, item 4; original at Historical Society of Pennsylvania [MSP]). 1515 William Wade llinshaw, Encyclopedia of American (Junker Genealogy, 6 volumes (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Edwards Brothers, 1936-50), 2:366, 532. Martha Blight, late Gilling¬ ham, was disowned for marrying out of unity by the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting 28 2nd month [February] 1794. - ‘ 201 1 Pnglis/i Origins of Peter ami George lUighl 13 Philadelphia, in her 60th year, funeral from her late residence, 27 South 1 3th Street.56 Children of Peter1 and Martha (Gillingham) Blight, horn in Philadelphia: i. MARIA" BMGHT, horn 19 August 1793;57 died in Philadelphia 11 January 1 865, age 71;58 buried there at St. James the Less, 9 married there in Oetober 1817 GKORGE1 BLIGHT,60 her cousin, son of Isaac Blight. ii. CHARLES" BLIGHT, horn about 1795; died in Philadelphia 22 March 1864, age 69;61 buried at St. James the Less, Philadelphia, 24 March 1864, Charles Blight of Philadelphia married 24 November 18.31 in New York City JULIA FULTON, daughter of the late Robert Fulton;65 she was horn 13 April 1810, daughter of Robert and Harriet (Livingston) Fulton,6* and died 8 October 1848 in Manhattan, age 38.65 iii. JAMES HENRY" BLIGHT, born about 1797 (age at death); died 26 April 1880, in his 84th year, unmarried; buried at St. James the Less, Philadelphia.66 iv. PETER2 BLIGHT, born about February 1799; died in Philadelphia 6 October 1 799.<>v. PETER2 BLIGHT, born about 180 1 (age at death); Peter Blight of Philadelphia died on St. Thomas, West Indies, 7 February 18.32, in his 32nd year. 56 Notices of Marriages and Deaths in Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, IN.ilIN.i.i in Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, volume 177 (Philadel¬ phia: 1907):436. 5 Cemetery Records, Church of St. James the Less, Hunting Park Avenue and Clear¬ field St.: Falls of the Schuylkill, Philadelphia, indexed by Millieent Noreross Bcrghaus, 1972 (photocopy of lot cards by the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania IGSPI at MSP Phl4E:3), lot *56. Maria Blight return of a death (image at familyseareh.org from FHL #1,986,716). 59 Cemetery Records, Church of St. James the Less [note 57], lot #56. 60 Commercial Advertiser, 28 Oetober 1817, volume 20, #7776, page 2, column 4. No date is given for the marriage. 6 Charles Blight return of a death (image at familyseareh.org from Fill. #1,986,425). 6" St. James the Less Fpiseopal Church, Philadelphia, Pa., Records 1846-1946 (photo¬ copy of originals by GSP at MSP, Phl4E:l), 1:171, 65 Notices of Marriages and Deaths in Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser. IN.ilIN.i i in Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, volume 177 (Philadel¬ phia: 1 907): it). (> i Hugh F. Fulton, Genealogy of the Pulton T'ami/y (Lancaster, Pa.: Press of the New Era Printing Co., 1900), 199. 65 Julia Blight death, New York Deaths and Births, 1795-1952, book 16, (abstracted at familyseareh.org from FHL #447,552). 66 Cemetery Records, ( Torch of St. James the Less |note 57], lot #30. 6 William Wade ilinshaw, Index to Pennsylvania Quaker Meeting Records, volume N, l’hiladell>hia Southern District (Kokomo, Ind.: Selby Publishing Co., 1990), 18. “John mentions a sad accident at Peter Blights in the Country, his Child about 3 or 4 years old was fixt on a chair by a tea table, it fell off the Chair on its head and dislocated the Ncek, so that it died almost immediately,— to the great affliction of the parents.” (Elaine For¬ man Crane, The Diary of Elizabeth Drinker |Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1991], 2:1220). 68 Notices of Marriages and Deaths in Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, IN.ilIN.i.i in Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, volume 177 (Philadel¬ phia: the society, 1907), 426. 14 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 vi. SARAH ANN" BI.IGHT, born about 1804 (age at death); died in Philadelphia, about 23 years, unmarried, buried 1 2 July 1828 at St. Stephens.69 vii. WILLIAM Prrr BI.IGHT, born I October 1805; died 9 April 1852, unmarried; buried at St. James the Less, Philadelphia.70 7. JAMES1 BLIGHT (Isaac*, William", Edwand) was born by say 1770 (child born in 1796) and died in Kingston, Jamaica, October 1799.71 The Angli¬ can parish registers in Kingston show two natural-born children of James and his quadroon housekeeper, Sarah Pennington. James was “ill in health of body and of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding” when he wrote his will 2 October 1797, two weeks after the baptism of his eldest son. The will was proved 8 November 1799.72 He had never updated it to include younger son George. It is possible George died young, but there is no burial record for him in Kingston in this time period. ' Illegitimate children of James' Blight and Sarah Pennington, horn in Kingston: i. JAMES BI.IGHT, born 7 October 1796; baptized at the Anglican Church there 17 September 1797. ii. GEORGE BLIGHT, born 1 September 1798; baptized at the Anglican Church there 2 1 September 1 798. want ) was baptized 4 May 1772 at 8. SALLY BLIGHT (Isaac*, William", Ed the Presbyterian church in Topsham, Devon, daughter of Isaac and Sarah, and married at Topsham 14 April 1792 JAMES OLIVER of St. Petrock, Exe¬ ter.7'* Children of James and Sally (Blight) Oliver: i. JAMES" OLIVER, baptized at St. Pancras, Exeter, Devon, 27 January 1793c s buried there 25 February 1 793. 6 9. MARIA BLIGHT (Isaac*, William", Edward ) was born say 1773 (estimat¬ ing marriage at 20) and married at Topsham, Devon, 18 August 1793 JOHN BISHOP.77 69 Sarah Ann Blight interment (image at familyseareh.org from Fill. 1,905,5 15). * 70 Cemetery Records, Church of St. James the Less |note 571, lot #30. i Kingston, Jamaica, Anglican ( Ihurch, 2:222 (Fill. # 1 ,291,764, item 2). Prerogative Court of Canterbury Will Registers; PROli 1 1/1332 |notc 6|. 73 Kingston, Jamaica, Anglican Church, 2:54, 67 (Fill. #1,291,763, item 2). 74 Taplcy-Sopcr, Topsham Registers [note 7], 650 (Anglican church). 7S H. Tapley-Soper, The Registers of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials of the City of lixeter. Volume II: The Parishes of Allhallows, Goldsmith Street. St. Pancras, and St. Pan!. (Exeter: The Devon and Cornwall Record Society, 1933), l it) (citing Baptisms, volume 2), 147 (citing Baptisms, volume 3). Tapley-Soper, City of Exeter, St. Pancras, 1 35 (citing Burials, volume 2), 152 (citing Burials, volume 5) [note 75 1. Tapley-Soper, Topsham Registers |note 7], 65 1 (Anglican church). 201 1 English Origins of Peter and George liliglit IS Children of John and Maria (Blight) Bishop, baptized at Topsham: 8 i. DANIEL BISHOP, baptized 28 October 1794; married EMII.Y— 7l) ii. GEORGE BLIGHT BISHOP, baptized 10 January 1797. iii. JOHN BISHOP. iv. JAMI-S BISHOP, baptized 14 November 1804. 10. GEORGE1 BLIGHT ( IsaacA, William ", Edwardl) was born say 1773 (estimating marriage at 25) and died in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, 28 November 180.3 and was buried in his father-in-law’s vault at St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church in Elizabeth.80 He married there 13 January 1798 DEBORAH HETFIELD.81 She was born there 22 October 1780, daughter of Morris and Elizabeth (Clark) Hetfield, and died 14 May 18.37.82 Children of George1 and Deborah (Hetfield) Blight: i. GEORGE" WALN BLIGHT, baptized at St. John in Elizabeth, New Jersey, 29 January 1800;8-* died in Philadelphia I January 1840, age 40 years 11 months, buried in Franeisville Burial Ground, Philadelphia,81 apparently reinterred with his wife’s family at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia;8ÿ George Wain Blight of New Jersey married 7 February 1826 MARY VALERIA SERGEANT, only daughter of the late William Sergeant of Philadelphia;80 she was the daughter of William and Elizabeth B. Sergeant, born about 1806, died 6 January 1853 in Philadelphia, in her 48th year, buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery 87 ii. ISAAC: BLIGHT, resided in New York; died after 3 December 1 82 1 ,88 78 Tapley-Soper, Topsham Registers |notc 71, 475, 480, 496 (Anglican church). No baptismal record has been found for John. The brothers appear in a list of subscribers to Castalian Honrs, Poems by Sophie Dixon (London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1829), 213: Mr. Daniel Bishop, London; Mr. John Bishop, Jun., London; Mr. James Bishop, Southwark; Mr. George Blight Bishop, Southampton. 0 1851 Census of England, Borough of Lambeth, Ecclesiastical District of Brixton, District 4, Parish of Lambeth, Surrey, page 44, #169 (online at Aneestry.com). •so Leach, “Blight" [note 1 ). 81 Charles Carroll Gardner and Grace E. W. Rcuck, "Essex County Marriage Records,” Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey \ GMNJ| 9( 1 933-34 ):8. 82 Abraham Hatfield, The Descendants of Matthias Hatfield (New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1954), 85. 8J; “Baptismal Register of St. John's Church, Elizabeth," GMNJ 6( 19.30-3 1 ):5: “George Wall,” son of George Blight and Deborah Smith |*-/c]. 81 George W. Blight interment record (image at familyseareh.org from EHL #1,905,620). 80 Photograph of Sergeant gravestone posted by Russ Dodge on findagrave.com. Marriages and Deaths in Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, /826ISJ0 in Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, volume 79 (Philadel¬ phia: 190.3):436. 8 Mary B. Blight physician’s certificate of death (image at familysearch.org from EHL #1,940,251 ): spouse named as George W. Blight. m Leach, “Blight” (note 1 1. No baptismal record was found for Isaac in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Leach states that Isaac signed a deed with his mother and brother in Phila¬ delphia dated 3 December 1821. 80 Notices of CATHERINE BAREKMAN, WIFEOFJOHN DOUSMAN AND AUGUSTINE LEAPHART OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY James /.. Hansen, i wsa TTdentifyirig wives and mothers on the frontier can be difficult, espeJLcially if family members continued moving west. In this case, a mar¬ riage record for a son on Mackinac Island, Michigan, provides the answer. JOHN DOUSMAN John Dousman was born probably in Germany. 1 1 is earliest located appearance in American records is a 9 January 1769 deed in which John Dousman of Fort Pitt purchased for £10 from Anthony Waller an improvement eight miles from the mouth of the Youghany, adjoining an improvement of John Fox on the east. The witnesses were Jacob liansnian and Plipps Wurtze/.1 When the land officially became available for sale in the spring of MM, John Tonseman made application 13 June 1769 for it.2 The tract was surveyed in 1770 as about 100 acres'’ and given the name baker’s Hope, but the patent for about 100 acres was not issued until 1814, long after John’s death, to his son-in-law Anthony Drevoii:' It appears that this particular tract was for investment purposes, as later records consistently identify John and his family as residing in Pittsburgh, where in 1770 he acquired a town lot.5 With the establishment of Bedford County in 1771, the Fort Pitt area came under its jurisdiction, and John appears on its first extant tax list (1773) in Pill Township as John Thonsman in the “single Freemen" cate¬ gory/’ In 1773 Westmoreland County was established from the western portion of Bedford County, and John appeared on the docket of the Court of Quarter Sessions for Westmoreland County for the April term James I.. Hansen, 1213 Debra I.ane, Madison, Wl 33701, is reference librarian at the Wisconsin Historical Society. His research interests include the early settlers of Prairie ) settled, and Green Bay, where ilu Chicn, where Hercules' Dousman ( Michael', Dousman and his family settled. Westmoreland County Deeds B:243, recorded 7 April 1787 (1111. #832,976). 2 Pennsylvania Land Office, Applications, New Purchase, #3404 (f ill. #986,897, item John2 John1 3). 5 Pennsylvania Land Office, Survey Book B: 1 24 (PHI. #1,003.390). Pennsylvania Land Office, Patent Book II 10:393 (PHI. #1,028,869). 5 Westmoreland County Deeds B:244 (Pill. #832,976). "Transcript of Taxablcs, County of Bedford— 1773" in Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, 22:3 1 -3S. Jacob ISowsman and I’hili/) Whetiseii also appear on the list. 1 16 Pennsylvania ( ienealoyical Magazine Vol. 47 (2011)