James Blanchard (abt. 1753 - 1817)

Born about 1753 in Canterbury, Province of New Hampshire

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Nov 1817 at about age 64 in Chazy, Clinton, New York, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Blanchard Name Study.

James Blanchard was born about 1753, the son of Benjamin Blanchard and Bridget Fitzgerald of Canterbury, New Hampshire, where James was very likely born. His father is credited with being the first settler of the "north fields" area of Canterbury, later known as Northfield, New Hampshire. He built a log cabin there in 1760 and moved his family there in 1763 (based on his younger brother David's 1832 declaration in support of his Rev. War pension^[1]) with all 9 children including James^[2]. James never knew his Blanchard grandfather, who was tragically killed by Indians in 1746.^[3]

In 1776, James Blanchard appears in the New Hampshire census (Canterbury), along with three Benjamin Blanchards (one his father), and a David Blanchard and Edward Blanchard, likely his brothers^[4]. Though they were living in the "north fields" of Canterbury since 1760, the town of "Northfield" was only set off from Canterbury in 1780. In fact, James was one of the petitioners requesting in 1780 for this division to take place^[5]. James was on the tax lists for Canterbury for the years 1774 through 1780 inclusive^[6].

Although James was of the prime age to take part in the Revolutionary War, we have not found evidence of military service. In fact he was a signer along with 196 others from Canterbury/Northfield of the "Association Test" pledging to oppose the British^[7][8]. Presence on this list implies that he was probably not in the army.

During the latter stages of the Revolutionary War, James married Mercy Shannon, on 20 Feb. 1777.^[9][10] They started their family in New Hampshire. In 1787, James made a big move, along with his brother David and his family, to the young town of Cabot, Vermont. It is not known whether his wife Mercy was still with him, or whether he had by then married his second wife Phebe. So far, Phebe's maiden name has not been discovered.

In fact the second child ever born in Cabot, was James' daughter Mercy^[11]. It is not known whether Mercy was the child of Mercy Shannon, or of Phebe, and in the latter instance was presumably named in memory of James' first wife.

Both James and his brother David were listed on the 1790 census for Cabot^[12]. Then James appears on the 1800 census for neighbouring Walden, Vermont^[13]. Perhaps the boundary between Walden and Cabot was re-aligned when carved away from Orange County into Caledonia.

James and Phebe had 8 children, some born in Vermont and the youngest in Lower Canada (birth sequence uncertain for Susanna and Masey):

1. Susanna, b. bef 1790 (age 10-16 on 1800 census)
2. Mercy b. 1 Apr 1788, Cabot, Vt., d. 14 Apr 1788
3. Masey, b. abt 1793 (under age 10 on 1800 census)
4. Benjamin b. abt. 1792, prob. Cabot, Vt.
5. Daniel b. 19 Oct 1798, prob. Walden, Vt.
6. Ephraim b. 12 Oct 1799, Walden, Vt.
7. Phebe b. aft. 1800, prob. Walden, Vt.
8. James b. 1812, Mansonville, Lower Canada; d. 28 Feb. 1885 (Derby).^[14]

The first evidence of James Blanchard north of the border (in Brome County) is in July of 1807 when he signed a petition to Governor Craig (a copy is at the National Archives in Ottawa as well as online)^[15]. James' signature is on page 32487^[16]. HIs brother David was also a signatory. The essence of this petition is that the settlers are asking relief in the amount and timing of payments of rent for the crown lands they are occupying.

It appears that James and his family lived in Potton for five years or so (1807 to 1812) or perhaps a bit longer (after all, Curtis Elkins of Potton in his deposition later for James' son' Benjamin's pension application, testified Benjamin was the same he had known "since our boyhood") before returning south of the border, choosing to settle in Chazy, Clinton County, New York. It was fairly common for former Americans to retreat south away from Canada at the onset of the 1812 war, since their alligances would be in question, especially if they refused to take the oath in favour of the British.

James never was able to return to Potton after the war. Perhaps he was in declining health on 20 May 1817 when he wrote his will, a copy of which survives^[17]. In that will, he leaves major bequests for his wife Phebe and oldest son Benjamin, named executor, as well as minor bequests to other children Daniel, Susanna, Masey, Phebe, Ephraim and James Jr.. James passed away on or before 21 November 1817, on which day Benjamin appeared before the court to assert his role as executor of the estate.

Sources

1. ↑ 1934 Letter from Veteran's Administration, Revolutionary War Pension Files, David Blanchard from Canterbury, Northfield and Potton, attached by David Blanchard's original declaration of 20 Dec. 1832 - see attached images
2. ↑ Pg. 111, History of Northfield, New Hampshire, 1780-1905, Part I, by Lucy R. H. Cross, Concord, 1905| Page 111
3. ↑ History of the Town of Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1727-1912, Volume I, by James Otis Lyford, Concord, 1912| Page 33
4. ↑ Inhabitants of New Hampshire, 1776, Emily S. Wilson, 1983
5. ↑ Pg. 4, History of Northfield, New Hampshire, 1780-1905, Part I, by Lucy R. H. Cross, Concord, 1905| Page 4
6. ↑ History of the Town of Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1727-1912, Volume I, by James Otis Lyford, Concord, 1912| Page 62
7. ↑ Pg. 111, History of the Town of Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1727-1912, Volume I, by James Otis Lyford, Concord, 1912| Page 111
8. ↑ Pg. 71, History of Northfield, New Hampshire, 1780-1905, Part I, by Lucy R. H. Cross, Concord, 1905| Page 71
9. ↑ Vital Records of New Hampshire, 1777| Marriage Blanchard - Shannon
10. ↑ Canterbury Records| Marriage, Blanchard - Shannon
11. ↑ The History of Washington County, in the Vermont Historical Gazetteer, collated by Abby Maria Hemenway, Montpelier, 1882| Page 86
12. ↑ 1790 United States Federal Census, Cabot, Orange County, Vermont, Pg. 185
13. ↑ 1800 United States Federal Census, Walden, Caledonia County, Vermont, Pg. 289| 1800 US Census, "Benjamin Blanchard"
14. ↑ Vermont Death Record, Derby, 1885| Death, James Blanchard
15. ↑ Lower Canada Land Papers Vol 65 pp. 32486-89| Petition
16. ↑ Lower Canada Land Papers Vol 65 pp. 32486-89| Page 32487
17. ↑ New York, Wills and Probate Records, Chazy, Clinton County, New York, 1817, Pg. 82-83