William McKesson Blalock (1837 - 1913)

Born 21 Jun 1837 in Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Jul 1913 at age 76 in Montezuma, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile managers: J. Salsbery [send private message] and Dottie Blalock [send private message]

Biography

His wife Malinda was a female soldier during the American Civil War. Despite originally being a sympathizer for the right of secession, she fought bravely on both sides. She followed her husband by joining the CSA's 26th North Carolina Regiment, disguising herself as a young male soldier named Samuel Blalock. The couple eventually escaped by crossing Confederate lines and joining the Union partisans in the mountains of western North Carolina. During the last years of the war, they were pitiless pro-Union marauders, tormenting the Appalachia region. Today Malinda is one of the most remembered female combatants of the Civil War.^[1]

At school, Keith and Malinda had became a close friends, though their families had been rivals for over 100 years. They married when Malinda was 17 (or19), at the Presbyterian Church in Coffey’s Gap. ^[1][2]

Keith Blalock enlisted in the North Carolina Regiment with his wife Melinda. When it became apparent that their regiment would not move close to Union lines, Melinda exposed herself as female and Keith rolled in poison sumac. Upon return to their home in the Grandfather Community, the Blalocks joined guerilla warfare against the Confederacy. Blalock claimed to fight for the 10th Michigan Regiment, Company T and sought a veteran's pension for both the Confederacy and the Union.^[3]

In the 1880 census William (age 48) was the married head of household in Grassy Creek, Mitchell, North Carolina, United States.^[4]

His wife died on March 9, 1903, at the age of sixty-four, in her sleep of natural causes and was buried in the nearby Montezuma Cemetery in Avery County. A heartbroken Keith Blalock subsequently moved in with his son, in nearby Hickory, North Carolina. Keith was killed in 1913 while operating a handcar on a mountain railroad. He was at the time a resident of Hickory. He was buried beside his wife. ^[2][5]

Before his death, Keith had been blinded in one eye, and his arm had been shot off at the elbow. On Aug. 11, 1913 he got into a fight with several men. His escape route from the men was an old railway hand-car. He was unable to control it, and was killed in an accident.^[6]

The Blalocks had at least four children: Columbus (b. ca. 1863), John (b. ca. 1869), Willie (b. ca. 1873), and Samuel (b. ca. 1877). ^[5]

More History on Keith Blalock

Excerpt from A History of Watauga County, North Carolina

Military Service Record

Enlisted in Company F, North Carolina 26th Infantry Regiment on 20 March 1862. Mustered out on 20 April 1862.^[7]

Alternative parents for Keith Blalock

1. "He was supposedly born about 1837 and is said to be the son of Mary BLALOCK and that he was born out of wedlock. The Mary BLALOCK being referred to is the daughter of John BLALOCK, born September 4, 1762 and Mary E. "Polly" DORMAN, born about 1782." ^[8]

2. "I am in contact with a direct descendant of Keith Blalock. Be careful what you read in these books about he and Malinda. I have read both of those books, too. The one (Ghost Riders by Sharyn McCrumb) is entirely fiction and the other (Rebels in Blue by Peter F. Stevens) is fairly true,but not entirely factual. Keith's father is an enigma at this time, but according to a book that was recommended to me by this descendant, The Making of Legends by Mark Dugan, Keith's father was likely Alfred Keith,a "rough and tumble fighter in North Carolina." End of quote. He was raised by a step-father, Austin Coffey. His mother was Mary Blaylock." ^[9]

3. "William, or Keith as he was known locally, was born a son of Mary A. Blalock, a single woman, on Nov. 11, 1837 in North Carolina, and probably in Watauga Co. Not much is known of his early years except that he was a brawler. The nickname Keith came from a renowned fighter of the day by the name of Alfred Keith."^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Malinda Blalock at Wikipedia
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Malinda at North Carolina History Project
3. ↑ Belk Library, Guide to the Keith Blalock Collection, 1895 - 1913
4. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880". Citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm . FamilySearch Record: MCXC-K79 (accessed 23 April 2022) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBK-9KBQ Image number 00083. William Blalock (48), married head of household in Grassy Creek, Mitchell, North Carolina, United States. Born in North Carolina, United States.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Keith and Malinda Blalock at NC Pedia
6. ↑ Arthur, John Preston. History of Watauga County, North Carolina. Richmond: Everett Waddey Company, 1915. Pg. 160
7. ↑ U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster.
8. ↑ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BLALOCK/2003-08/1062113305 Blalock Forum]
9. ↑ Blalock Discussion
10. ↑ Coffey Family Newsletter

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LCPH-8DF
• Stevens, Peter F. Rebels in Blue, The Story of Keith and Malinda Blalock; Dallas, Texas: Taylor Publishing Company, 2000.
• Keith and Malinda Blalock at Avery Museum
• Find A Grave: Memorial #18914225 Keith Blalock
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BW-FSS : 23 December 2020), Wm Blalock in household of Austin Coffey, Caldwell, North Carolina, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW82-T96 : 3 January 2021), William Blalock, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCXC-K79 : 11 September 2017), William Blalock, Grassy Creek, Mitchell, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district ED 144, sheet 39B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,973.
• 1900 United States Federal Census, Census Place: Linville, Mitchell, North Carolina; Roll: 1207; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0098; FHL microfilm: 1241207.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML3H-RGG : accessed 11 January 2021), William M Blalock, Linville Township, Mitchell, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 145, sheet 1A, family 6, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1109; FHL microfilm 1,375,122.