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Breathless Moon Site Contents
Part I: Family Tradition
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Part II: Transcriptions |
Part III: Parallel Dimensions |
Part IV: Odd Bits |
© 2001-2007
Vortex Creations, Inc.
Daniel K.
Burgess, Webmaster
Page last updated:
Thursday, 17 May 2007 11:33
William Warrick Blake
(and the legend of the Scottish Castle)
When I was a young boy, growing up in the mid-1960s, I patiently awaited visits
with my “Grandma Lucille”. Though she lived in Tucson, Arizona, it was always a treat to spend time with her and I
enjoyed listening to her relate my family’s history. While she never wrote down
much of anything she knew, she was always ready to weave her tale of my ancestry
with the fullness and clarity of her memory.
From the earliest recollections of my memory, Grandma Lucille kept a well-worn
book as sort of the family bible. To her, it appeared to be the written proof of
our family ancestry. The book I am referring to is “The History of
Fayette County, West Virginia”, by J. T. Peters and H. B. Carden. Published in
1926, by the Fayette County Historical Society, Inc., it details the history and
development of the county as well as the history the more prominent families of the
county. For my Grandma Lucille, this book held a special significance.
To her, it was a written record of her Scottish family ancestry and possible
ties to royalty. Perhaps the most vivid memories I have of Grandma Lucille’s
stories are those of her Scottish ancestors and the legend of William Warrick
Blake. I was always impressed with the idea that Grandma Lucille fancied the
notion that there was royal blood in the family and that we were heirs to a
castle and estate in Scotland. After all, she came from a
simple family that largely relied on farming for their livelihood.
The legend of William Warrick Blake remained with me for many years. In a way, I
believed the story my Grandma Lucille told me many times over the years.
However, I felt compelled to investigate the “Blake Legacy” when I began
researching my family ancestors. My perceptions changed in August 2002 when I
came into possession of the book my Grandma Lucille had kept all these years. As
I carefully read the book, page by page, the mystery of William Warrick Blake
and the Blake Legacy began to unfold.
On page 446 of “The History of Fayette County, West Virginia”, my Grandma
Lucille highlighted the following paragraph:
“…William Blake came here from Scotland, bringing his newly married bride,
seeking a place where he could enjoy freedom of thought and leaving in Scotland
a castle and large estate. The estate, valued at $6,000,000 is now and long
since has been in litigation and the only obstacle preventing the Blake heirs
from inheriting the estate is that the precise place and time of Mr. Blake’s
landing in America cannot be determined.”
The foregoing quote, generally accepted as family tradition, appears as adopted
historical fact by many Fayette County historians. Richard Blake, a direct
descendant of William Warrick Blake, researched the information offered up in
the book “History of Fayette County, West Virginia” in detail. While Richard
confirms the information contained in the book's paragraphs before and following
the above quoted paragraph, he indirectly describes the Blake Legacy as
“wishful” family legend.
Richard also states that William Warrick Blake and his first wife, Sarah Blake,
originally came from the Greenbrier Valley in present day Pocahontas and
Greenbrier Counties, West Virginia. William was born 22 February 1779 near
present day Cass in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Sarah Blake was William’s
first cousin and the daughter of John Blake. Their grandfather, Theophilus
Blake, migrated to Giles County, Virginia, from Chester County, Pennsylvania
around 1764.
It would also be helpful to point out that the ancestors of Theophilus Blake
entered this country many generations before and settled in New Hampshire before
migrating south. In my research, the Blake family name is Welsh and I have found
no indication that the family resided in Scotland – much less held or owned land
there.
Richard Blake continues by stating that William Warrick Blake and his wife,
Sarah, settled near present day Mount Hope. Peter and Isaac Blake, Sarah’s
brothers, accompanied the couple to Fayette County. While William Warrick and
Sarah Blake took refuge in an old abandoned Indian fort, while they built their
cabin, Peter and Isaac settled nearby in present day Glen Jean. Other family
members settled in and around Hill Top and Oak Hill, West Virginia. Isaac later resettled in
Cabell County, West Virginia, in 1820, north of Huntington along the banks of the Ohio River.
Special thanks to Mr. Richard Blake.
You can visit Richard Blake's Family Genealogy site at : http://home.adelphia.net/~ricblake/
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