B L A N K E N S H I P
Blankinsop - Blankingship - Blankinship - Blenkinsop - BlakinsopInformation on this page from Windows Into Our Past, A Genealogy of the Parsons, Smith and Associated Families, Vol. 1 �1996, Judy Parsons Smith
ARMS-ARGENT: a fess between three garbs sable, a cresent for difference.
The name Blenkinsop is derived from the Anglo-Saxon custom of taking their names from the place in which they live. Hope means a small bay, an opening, a gap in the hills or a valley. Sop/Ship is a corruption of hope. So the name Blenken’s hope became Blenkensop and later Blankenship.
Blenkensop Castle is located approximately one mile from Greenhead, Northumberland, England.. The license to crenellate (permission from the king to erect fortify and crenellate house) was granted for Blenkinsop Castle on 6 May 1340. This license also granted to the family the property to have and hold (and his heirs) without interference from the crown.
Early Blankenship’s:
*Odo, half brother of William the Conqueror. Odo, Bishop of Bayeus, a Norman knight was the first Blenkinsop. He was given ca. 1066, a Pele Tower at the site on which Blenkinsop Castle now sits.
* A Blenkinsop was made a Baron by Henry I (1100-1135).
* A Blenkensop, Bishop and Knight, followed King Richard I (1189-1199) during the third
crusade to the Holy Land.
* Ralph de Blenkensopp (1216-1272, King Edward I)
* Rodolphus de Blenkensop , 1st Lord of Demesne. (most likely granted title to the land on which Blenkinsop Castle was eventually built). (1272-1307, reign of Edward I)
* Thomas de Blenkensopp (1366, King Edward III)
* John Blenkinsoppe had received the Pele Tower, as a inheritance, and was in possession in 1415
* 23 Apr 1470, Elizabeth Blynkynesoppye of Blynkynsoppe, widow of Thomas Blynkyensope,
of Blynkkensope, received a general pardon . This reference does not give what her
offense had been.
* William Blenkensopp (1558, Queen Elizabeth)A partial ancestry of the family living at Blenkensop Castle:
Blenkensop had:
1- Thomas, m. Dorothy, daughter of Albany Featherstone, of Featherstonehalgh.
2- John, m. ______, daughter of ______ Rydley of Willmondswicke.1- Thomas Blenkensop, son of ____ Blenkensop, m. Dorothy, daughter of Albany Featherstone, of
Featherstonehalgh. Thomas & Dorothy Blenkensop had three (3) sons:A. William, m. Margaret, daughter of Copperthwayte
B. Robert
C. BryanA. William Blenkensop, son of Thomas & Dorothy Blenkensop had four (4) children:
a. Thomas, m1st Julian, daughter of Leonard Musgrave; m2nd Jane, daughter of William
Herdman
b. Nicholas
c. Richard
d. Anne, m. Christopher Ridley of Unthankea. Thomas Blenkensop, son of William & Margaret Blenkensop, m1st Julian, daughter of Leonard
Musgrave; m2nd Jane, daughter of William Herdman. Thomas & Julian Blenkensop had seven (7)
children:a1. Thomas, living in 1615
a2. Francis
a3. Julian, m. Cuthbert Grainger of Bromfield in Cumberland
a4. Mabell
a5. Dorothy
a6. Margaret
a7. ElizabethThomas & Jane Blenkensop had two (2) children:
a8. William
a9. Margaret
The Blankenships in America:
The first Blankenship to arrived in Virginia was Ralph Blakinsop. He arrived at Jamestown on 23 Jan 1640. The second Blankenship arriving in Virginia was Henry Blakinsop. Arriving on 26 Dec 1653. It is highly unlikely that Henry Blakinsop married.
Ralph Blakinsop
Ralph Blakinsop, came to “James Cittie” Co., VA in 1640; m. ca. 1640, either in England or Virginia. to Martha (Unknown).Since there is no record that he claimed his “Head right”, he most likely forfeited to the ship owner to pay for his passage. Ralph followed the James River to the present city of Richmond, then turned Southwest and settled on Clearwater Run, in present day Chesterfield Co., VA. He cleared the land with the available farming tools, and built his home. (Farm tools in those days were both scarce and crude.) Ralph created an estate from the lands he owned
Martha Blankinship apparently m2nd after 1714 to ______ Stanley.
Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinsop had two (2) sons:
1. Ralph
2. Richard, never married. No issue.Ralph Blankinship
Ralph Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinsop, d. 1714, Henrico Co., VA; m. Martha (Unknown).Ralph Blankinship became a planter and raised his own family on his father’s old home place. Ralph applied for additional land, which was granted to his wife on 9 Jul 1724 (10 years after his death).
Martha Blankenship, 250 acres (N.L.), Henrico Co., S. side of James Riv., beg in Mr. Henry Walthall’s line to E. side of the main road; 9 Jul 1724, p. 15, 20 Shill., & Imp. of Francis Clappe.
On 7 Aug 1723, Martha Stanley deeded each of her two sons a parcel of land (about 100 acres each).
Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship had six children:
1A. William, b. ca. 1694; not a minor in 1714; received land in 1727 - 200 acres - located on Coldwater Run and Winterpock Creek in what is now Chesterfield Co., VA.
1B. John, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723; m. Elizabeth (Hudson??).
1C. Ralph, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723.
1D. James, b. minor in 1714.
1E. (unknown), b. minor in 1714.
1F. (unknown), b. minor in 1714.William Blankinship
1A. William Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. ca. 1694; not a minor in 1714;
received land in 1727 - 200 acres - located on Coldwater Run and Winterpock Creek in what is now
Chesterfield Co., VA.1A1. William, served in Virginia militia.
John Blankinship
1B. John Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. minor in 1714; received land in 1723; d. ca. 1751, will dated 9 Apr 1751; m. Elizabeth (Hudson??). John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship had children:1B1. William, d. 1802, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Mary (Unknown
1B2. Joseph
1B3. Elisha
1B4. Isham(Isam)
1B5. Norvell moved to Amherst Co., VA; d. Amherst Co., VA
1B6. Henry
1B7. Matthew
1B8. Hudson
1B9. Amy, m. _____ Turner.
1B10. Elizabeth, m. _______ MorrisettRalph Blankinship
1C. Ralph Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. minor in 1714; received land in
1723; d. ca. 1754; will dated 20 Dec 1754, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Elizabeth (Unknown) (mentioned in
will). Ralph Blankinship had children:1C1. Ephraim received land & plantation in fathers will.
1C2. Joseph received tract of land - upper part above Deep Creek and 1 shilling in father’s will.
1C3. Jeremiah received the plantation on which his parents lived after the death of his mother (1754 - will).
1C4. William, served in Colonial Navy. Received 1 shilling from his father’s estate. He was
named the executor of his father’s will.
1C5. Francis received a cow and calf from his father’s estate.
1C6. Frederick received a bed and furniture from his father’s estate.
1C7. John, received 1 shilling from his father’s estate.
1C8. Ralph, received 1 shilling from his father’s estate.
1C9. Matt, received 1/3 of remaining estate after his mother’s death (1754 - will)
1C10. Sarah, m. _____ Cobb. Sarah Cobb received 1 shilling from her father’s estate.
1C11. Womack, served as a Corporal and served in 1st and 10th Virginia Regiments of the Continental Line. Not mentioned in father’s will.James Blankinship
1D. James Blankinship, son of Ralph & Martha (Unknown) Blankinship, b. minor in 1714. James
Blankinship had children:1D1. David, no unit in which he served is identified. His record is registered with the War
Department.
1D2. James, m . 1797, Chesterfield Co., VA to Ainey RaileyWilliam Blankenship
1B1. William Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, d. 1802, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Mary (Unknown). William received 128 acres, (the plantation on which he lives) from his father’s estate on 9 Apr 1751. He was also named as co-executor with his mother, Elizabeth. William & Mary (Unknown) Blankinship had children:1B1a. William. He served as a gunner, artillery and listed in Army register as one who did not receive bounty land.
1B1b. Archibald.
1B1c. Mary
1B1d. DorothyJoseph Blankenship
1B2. Joseph Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, received 110 acres from his father’s estate on 9 Apr 1751; migrated to Bedford Co., VA in his later years. Joseph had two (2) sons:1B2a. Stephen, soldier in the 1st Virginia Regiment of Regulars raised during the late war and continued in said Regiment until taken prisoner by the enemy with whom he continued until the end of the war.
1B2b. DanielElisha Blankenship
1B3. Elisha Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, migrated to Bedford Co., VA then to North Carolina. Not mentioned in father’s will.Isham (Isam) Blankenship
1B4. Isham(Isam) Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, migrated to Bedford Co., VA then to North Carolina and later to Tennessee. Received approximately 124 acres from his father’s estate.Norvell Blankenship
1B5. Norvell Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, moved to Amherst Co., VA; d. Amherst Co., VA. Received 100 acres from his father’s estate. Norvell had sons:1B5a. Able
1B5b. Noel
1B5c. Arthur M. (probably)Henry Blankenship
1B6. Henry Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, settled in West VA, he had many descendants in West Virginia. He received 124 acres from his father’s estate.Matthew Blankenship
1B7. Matthew Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, served in Revolutionary War. He received 100 acres and the plantation in which his father lived, from the estate in 1751.Hudson Blankenship
1B8. Hudson Blankenship, son of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, b. bef 1730, Chesterfield Co., VA; m. Edith (Archer?). Hudson received 124 acres from his father’s estate. Hudson & Edith Blankinship had many children:1B8a. Henry, m. Nancy Potter
1B8b. Archer
1B8c. Jesse, entered service in Campbell County, Virginia. Served in the 6th Regiment of
Continental LineAmy Blankenship
1B9. Amy Blankenship, daughter of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, m. _____ Turner. Amy Turner received 5 shillings from her father’s estate.Elizabeth Blankenship
1B10. Elizabeth Blankenship, daughter of John & Elizabeth (Hudson??) Blankinship, m. _______ Morrisett. Elizabeth Morrisett received 5 shillings from her father’s estate.
Arthur M. Blankenship
1B5c. Arthur Blankenship , most likely the son of Norvell Blankenship, b. 1770, Chesterfield (or Amherst) County, Virginia; d. 1865, Lee County, VA; m.1st- 6 Sept 1794, by Edward Morgan in Montgomery Co., VA to Mary Muncy , daughter of Skidmore & Mary (Scott) Muncy, b. ca. 1775, Augusta Co., VA; d. 1826-1827, Lee Co., VA; m2nd- 1827-1828, Lee Co., VA to Lavina (Munsey) Woodward, widow of William Henry Woodward, daughter of William & Elizabeth Munsey, d. ca. 1833, Lee Co., VA, a young woman; m3rd- 13 July 1834, Lee Co., VA by Henry Thompson (Methodist Minister) to Lavina Jane Burgin/Burgen, daughter of James & Nancy (Ledington) Burgin, b. 1819.Arthur followed this path of migration to Lee County, Virginia (based upon land transactions):
Lynchburg to ...
Bedford and Botetourt Counties to ...
Montgomery and Tazewell Counties to ...
Russell County to ...
Lee CountyArthur Blankenship, was a colorful individual. Marrying thrice and rearing three large families. His age at his death has been speculated to be anywhere from 93 to 112 years. Arthur settled in Lee County and raised his families. He and his wives are buried there. Arthur was a hunter and trapper, a framer, a wheelright, a blacksmith, tanner, and a miller. He seems to have been a jack of all trades and gifted in all areas of endeavor. He was a God-fearing and generous man; shrewd in business yet helpful and kind to his neighbors.
As other settlers passed by, his home, as they headed west, Arthur found himself in advantageous business position. Settlers reaching his establishment were able to re-stock with meat, have their horses shod, wheels of their wagons were repaired for the journey ahead. The pioneers heading to and through the Cumberland Gap were able to obtain information and advise from Arthur. Those travelers who had tired of traveling were able to purchase available pieces of real estate from Arthur, which he seemed to always have available.
Arthur & Mary Blankenship had (8) eight children:
1. Jeremiah Wilkerson, b. 1795, Wythe Co., VA; d. 1873, Missouri; m. 1818, Lee Co., VA to Naomi Munsey. Went to Missouri at the age of 60, and settled in Polk County.
2. Hezekiah, b. 1797; d. prior to 1866. Migrated and settled in Polk County, Missouri.
3. Lydia, b. 1799; d. 1884; m. John McElroy.
4. Elizabeth, b. 1802-1803, Tazewell Co., VA; d. Lee Co., VA; m. Elias Harber, son of Jeremiah & Elizabeth Harbour.
5. Mary, b. 4 Apr 1807, Tazewell Co., VA; d. 2 Mar 1870, Lee Co., VA; m. George R. Ely.
6. Josephus, d. aft. 1884, mentally retarded and died unmarried. or Lived in Idaho and reared a family?
7. Charles Campbell, b. 27 Oct 1820; m. 28 Jul 1838, Claiborne Co., TN to Susannah Little. Charles C. Blankenship = was a Baptist Circuit Rider Preacher and a Lee County farmer. He is listed as the first pastor of Cornith Baptist Church in Ben Hur, VA.
8. Sarah “Sally”, b. abt. 1824-1826; m. John Pennington.By her first marriage: Lavina (Munsey) & William Henry Woodward had three (3) children:
- Jesse Shelton Woodward, d. 1880, Jamestown, IN; m. 25 Feb 1838 to Susan Bray.
- Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Woodward, b. ca. 1814; m. abt. 1830-31 to Gassoway Carroll.
- William Pressley Woodward, b. 30 Sept 1816; d. 26 Jul 1899, Mooresville, IN; m1st 1 Apr 1816 to Keziah Bray; m2nd Ellen ThompsonArthur & Lavina (Muncy Woodward) Blankenship had (4) four children:
9. Hettie, b. abt. 1829; d. Union Co., TN; m. John Green, son of Robert & Ely Ann (Drake) Green.
10. Levisa (Louisa), b. abt. 1830; d. bef. 1866; m. ______ Munsey.
11. Benjamin F., b. 1832; m. abt 1856, Elizabeth ________. Joined the Union Army and served in the West as a captain.
12. Nancy, b. abt. 1833-4; m. aft. 1850 Mitchell BarkerArthur & Lavina Jane (Burgin) Blankenship had (8) eight children:
13. Lavina, b. 1835; m1st 1856-60 to Joshua Deeds; m2nd to Hiram Jones.
14. Elisabeth A., b. 1838, Montgomery Co., VA
15. Louisa, b. 4 Aug 1839; d. 26 Mar 1922; m. 1857 to Marquis Lafayette Yeary, b. 9 May 1837; d. 26 Mar 1922. Marquis & Louisa Yeary died within hours of one another.
16. John, b. 24 Dec 1840, Lee Co., VA; d. 8 Dec 1866, killed in Kentucky; m. Ann Dees. He served in the Union Army.
17. Lettisha (Louvinia/Lorene), b. 31 Jan 1843, Lee Co., VA; d. 23 Mar 1940, Arapaho, OK; m. 28 Mar 1867 to James Smith, b. 22 Sept 1841; d. 31 Aug 1919, Lee Co., VA. Lettisha
(Blankenship) Smith moved to with some of her children to Oklahoma after her husbands’ death.
18. Catherine, b. 22 Nov 1846, Lee Co., VA.
19. Leitia, b. 30 Jan 1849, Lee Co., VA; d. 23 Mar 1940, Clinton, OK; m. 24 Mar 1867 to James Smith, son of Elisha & Cynthia Smith, b. 1843.
20. Elvira, b. 5 Jul 1853, Lee Co., VA; d. 15 Jan 1859, 5 yr., 6 mos., 10 days, killed by a cow.The mother/s of these two (2) additional sons are unknown:
21. Archibald.
22. George. Nothing further is known about him.James Burgin , father of Lavina Jane Burgin, was one of the signers of the petition to form Lee County, Virginia in 1792.
Last Updated 3/98
