Sarah H (Blackburn) Long (1789 - 1855)

Born 23 Mar 1789 in Rutherford County, North Carolina [uncertain]

Wife of William Davis — married 12 Feb 1807 in Harrison County, Kentucky

Wife of Robert Long — married 20 Jan 1823 in Lawrence County, Illinois

Descendants

Died 20 May 1855 at age 66 in Jefferson County, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Bruce Porter [send private message] and Beverly Ahrens [send private message]

Biography

Sarah Blackburn's family had migrated from North Carolina to Bourbon County, Kentucky, by 1790.^[1]

Spouse 1. William Davis
On 10 January 1807 in Harrison County, Kentucky (created in 1794 from Bourbon County), William Davis applied for a license to marry Sally Blackburn. Her father James Blackburn gave his written consent, which was witnessed by William Blackburn and Thomas Blackburn. Surety on William Davis's marriage bond was William Blackburn.^[2] The couple married 12 February 1807.^[3]

An undocumented database states that Sally was the second wife of William Davis.^[4] William Davis and wife Sarah Blackburn are said to have had four known children born 1808, 1810, 1815, and 1817. All of these children and their vital statistics are not yet fully verified.^[5]

1. James B. Davis (23 April 1808 Harrison Co, KY-3 February 1885 Jefferson Co, Iowa).^[6] He may be the namesake of his maternal grandfather James Blackburn. In 1830, a James Davis, age 20-29, is in an adjacent household to Sarah and her second husband Robert Long.^[7]
2. Robert George Davis (8 April 1810 Harrison Co, KY-25 September 1891 Abingdon, Jefferson Co., Iowa).^[8]
3. John B. Davis (11 July 1815 Harrison Co., KY [or Posey County, Indiana]-18 February 1875 Wapello Co., Iowa, buried at Smith Cemetery (2 miles west of Abingdon), Jefferson Co., Iowa.^[9] In 1840 Jefferson County, Iowa, a John Davis, age 20-29, was a near neighbor to Sarah and her second husband Robert.^[10] Note: Descendants of William Davis gives conflicting information, stating that William Davis's son John was born 1790 and died 1818.
4. Thomas Jefferson Davis (23 June 1817 Harrison Co., KY [more likely Posey County, Indiana]-22 February 1861 or 1864 McDonough Co., Illinois.^[11]

The Davises and others migrated to Posey County, Indiana, in 1815.

Early Settlers of Smith Township. “The names of many of the early settlers are to found on the records of the land office but we are without records showing when they came to the township. It is fair to presume that there were settlers far in advance of any land entries.” [List of names from the land office include Robert Davis in 1815 and William Davis in 1816.] ^[12]

“The county board made the following [Smith] township appointments in 1817: William Davis, assessor and inspector of merchandise.” ^[13]

"Cynthiana. This thriving village is situated in the northeast part of Smith Township, in a rich agricultural district, embracing some of the finest lands of Black River bottoms. The town was laid out 6 March 1817 by William Davis, who with a colony of about forty persons, emigrated from the vicinity of Cynthiana, Kentucky, from which the town is said to have been named, although an authority at hand says it was named in honor of two daughters of Mr. Davis. Almost the entire colony settled in the neighborhood of Cynthiana." [Continues with more about Cynthiana and its residents.]^[14]

Posey County Circuit Court records reflect suits for collection of debts pursued by William Davis in September 1818, June 1820, March 1821, and September 1821. The September 1821 suit included Thomas Blackburn as a witness or surety; his relationship to Sally Blackburn has not been investigated. The records continue into later years; however, William Davis's last appearance is in September 1821.^[15]

Spouse 2. Robert Long
On 20 January 1823 in Lawrence County, Illinois, Sarah Davis married Robert Long.^[16] From Illinois, they migrated to Jefferson County, Iowa.

"The Christian Church of Abingdon [Polk Township] was organized in 1843 with fifteen members; present membership, 210; first Preacher Robert Long; church edifice built in 1851; frame church built in 1856."^[17]

1830 U.S. census, Schuyler, Illinois, p. 97, line 7, Robert Long; NARA M19, roll 23.
Male 50-59
Male 15-19
Male 15-19
Male 0-4

Female 40-49
Female 5-9

1840 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Iowa Territory, p. 15, line 13, Robt Long; NARA M704, roll 1011840.
Male 60-69
Male 15-19
Male 10-14

Female 50-59
Female 10-14
Female 5-9
Female 5-9

1850 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Iowa, p. 115A; NARA M432, roll 185.
Robt Long age 75 born Tennessee
Sarah Long age 63 born North Carolina
[Dtr.] Polly A. Long age 19 born Illinois [circa 1831]
[Son] William K. Long age 26 born Indiana
[Dtr.-in-Law] Cyrene Long age 24 born Illinois
[Grandson] Robt Long age 5 born Iowa
[Grandson] Saml F Long age one month born Iowa

Robert Long died 12 December 1850, age 75, and is buried at Smith Cemetery, Locust Grove, Jefferson County, Iowa.^[18] Sarah (Blackburn) Long died 20 May 1855 and is buried near her husband Robert Long.^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave memorial for Rev. Robert Long, created 27 April 2011 by Bill Hahn.
2. ↑ Marriage bond and parental consent, “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954,” database with images, FamilySearch, 004542766 > image 1001; Harrison County Courthouse, Richmond.
3. ↑ “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954,” database with images, FamilySearch, 004542910 > image 264; Harrison County Courthouse, Richmond.
4. ↑ Compiler is unknown, Descendants of William Davis
5. ↑ The children's names and statistics are according to Find A Grave memorial for Rev. Robert Long, created 27 April 2011 by Bill Hahn; citing Smith Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa. Note: Tombstone photographs are original sources; however, Find A Grave memorial narratives are derivative sources created by the contributors.
6. ↑ Find A Grave "James B. Davis, son of Sarah Blackburn Davis," created 16 March 2012 by Warren Smith; citing Smith Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA.
7. ↑ 1830 U.S. census, Schuyler, Illinois, p. 97, line 8, James Davis; NARA M19, roll 23.
8. ↑ Find A Grave created 16 March 2012 by Warren Smith; citing Smith Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA.
9. ↑ Find A Grave created 11 February 2010 by William "Ernie" Connell; citing Smith Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA.
10. ↑ 1840 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Iowa Territory, p. 15, line 15, John Davis; NARA M704, roll 1011840.
11. ↑ This memorial is a possibility. Find A Grave created 17 August 2005 by Bev; citing Glade City Cemetery, Old Section plot, Blandinsville, McDonough County, Illinois, USA
12. ↑ History of Posey County, Indiana (Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1886), 294; ‘’Internet Archives’’. Also mentioned in John C. Leffel, editor, History of Posey County, Indiana (Chicago: Standard Publishing Company, 1913), p. 49.
13. ↑ History of Posey County, Indiana (Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1886), p. 303; Internet Archives.
14. ↑ History of Posey County, Indiana (Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1886), 407; ‘’Internet Archives’’. See also, The Lincoln Country of Southwestern Indiana (Boonville, Indiana: Southwestern Indiana Civic Association, circa 1935), p. 15; digital edition, Internet Archives.
15. ↑ Indiana Archives and Records Administration Posey County Circuit Court Index.
16. ↑ Lawrence County, Illinois; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.
17. ↑ Chas. H. Fletcher, County Historian, Jefferson County, Iowa, Centennial History 1776-1876 (Fairfield, Iowa: Printed at the Ledger Office by Authority of Board of Supervisors, 1876), p. 25; Internet Archives.
18. ↑ Iowa Cemetery Records (Washington, D.C.: Works Project Administration), p. 246.
19. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 June 2019), memorial page for Sarah Blackburn Long (23 Mar 1789–20 May 1855), Find A Grave Memorial no. 69491089, citing Smith Cemetery, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by Richard K Thompson (contributor 46900770).

• Research, documentation, and biography contributed by Kathy Gunter Sullivan.