territories of United States west of Ohio, 1790; senator in congress from Tennessee, 1796; expelled from senate in 1797; member of the convention that formed state constitution of Tennessee. Died in Knoxville, 1810. He left one son, William Granger, who was in congress from Tennessee, 1815 to 1819, and who died in 1827, unmarried; and one daughter who was the first wife of General E. P. Gaines.*
* MSS. letter of Honorable
Case Johnson.
II. Ann, daughter of Jacob, married Henry.
III. John Gray Blount, son of Jacob, was born 1752. Married Mary Harvey; he was often member of the legislature, from 1782 to 1796, from Beaufort County. He was an extensive land owner and explorer. Often the companion of Daniel Boone. He died in January 1833, leaving six children, viz: (a) Thomas Harvey, son of John Gray; (b) John Gray, in war of 1812; (c) William Augustus, (for sketch of whom see Beanfort County,) who died in 1867, leaving a son William, and a daughter who is the widow of General L. O'B. Branch, resides in Raleigh; (d) Polly, who married Rodman; (e) Lucy, who married General Grimes; (f) Patsy Baker, (unmarried.)
IV. Louisa, who married to Richard Blackledge.
V. Reading, who married Lucy Harvey.
VI. Thomas, born 1759, died 1807, was in the revolutionary war, sent to England a prisoner. He was a member of the legislature from Edgecombe, 1798-'99, and a member of congress in 1793 to 1799, 1805 to 1809, and 1811, and 1812. He died at Washington, (without issue) leaving a widow, the daughter of General Jethro Sumner, named Mary Sumner Blount, who died near Tarboro in 1822, made liberal bequests to Christ church in Raleigh, from which chiefly funds were realized to build the beautiful stone edifice in that city. When the will was drawn, fearing that religious bodies could not hold real estate against the claims of heirs at law, a provision was inserted that in case of a contest over the devises intended for Christ church, of Raleigh, those devises should vest in Judge Cameron and Dr. Hooper in fee, to be disposed of as their consciences might dictate. The marble slab marking her grave had been broken by the fall of a tree, or as some say, by a stroke of lightning, and the vestry of Christ's church, of Raleigh, determined to replace it, but these praise worthy intentions were frustrated by the inexcusable carelessness in the preparation of the original epitaph. It is verbatim, as follows:
"Sacred to the memory
of
MARY SUMMER
BLOUNT
relict of genl thomas
blount
long a representative in
Congress
from this
district
and daughter of genl. jethro
blount.
Died the 18th Dec 1822 in her 45th year."
Mrs. Blount's father was General Jethro Sumner, not "blount." It must have been a difficult task to compress so many errors in so small a space.
VII. Jacob; born 1760; married Collins.
VIII. Barbara, born 1763.
IX. Willie, son of Jacob, born 1768, secretary to his brother William, while governor of territory west of the Ohio. Judge of the supreme court of Tennessee when only twenty-two years old, and the Governor of Tennesse from 1809 to 1815, (see Bertie County.) As governor he tendered to the United States 2,500 volunteers in the war of 1812. He died near Nashville, 1835, leaving two daughters; one married Dr. J. T. Dabney, and another to Dortch.
X. Sharp, who married Penelope Little, of Pitt County, who left two sons. William Little and George Little.
I have thus endeavored to present a genealogical diagram of a family whose members have been distinguished in the field, on the forum, and in legislative halls, as well as in social life.
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