The Blakeney Gazette was originally an online newsletter which began in 2009 with the purpose of being a central location of information for descendants researching the life and family of Capt. John Blakeney of Chesterfield County, SC.
The intent was to provide a place for researchers to send any new information they uncovered, as well as encouraging researchers to actually visit archives when possible and start looking through any original source material that might be out there. Simply rehashing information that had been repeated in numerous online family trees (often incorrectly or without any documentation whatsoever) was not what the newsletter was about.
Some new information did come to me from researchers who had uncovered items or bits of information that had been previously unknown. The newsletter was intended to be a group project, reflecting the research of many of those looking into the life and family of John Blakeney. The number of submissions from others didn’t match expectiations, however, and soon became a mad dash to find enough information to fill a newsletter. The Gazette, in its original form, ended in 2011.
I believe the idea is still valid – providing a central location where information and theories can be exchanged, advancing our knowledge about this family. This is why I decided to reinvent the Blakeney Gazette. Taking it to a blog format, instead of a full, edited newsletter in PDF format, allows for ideas and information to be posted when it’s available, either one item at a time, or longer essays.
If you are researching Capt. John Blakeney, I hope you will share your research, and hopefully you will find useful information as well.
Please note, however, that I am NOT interested in receiving or publishing the following:
– the names of “parents” of Capt. John Blakeney, unless it is accompanied by original documentation (a copy of a will, etc.). Many theories have been published in numerous online family trees, but not one person has provided any documentation.
– the information copied from Capt. John Blakeney’s monument in Pageland, Chesterfield County, SC. Not only do I have that information, but it doesn’t count as original documentation, since the monument has only been there since about 1960. It is impressive, but it is not definitive.
– information copied from “The Blakeneys in America” by John O. Blakeney. I already have a copy.
Another thing this blog was not intended to be was “one-stop shopping” for items such as census records, military records, etc. relating to each and every branch of the Blakeney family.
It had been suggested to me at one point that I should download all documents from other sites, such as familysearch.org, etc., and have them available for download here.
There are several reasons why that is not a good idea. First, and not necessarily the most important, is that it could potentially open me up to copyright issues. While most items on familysearch.org are not necessarily copyrighted, and are available without a fee, I still don’t know all of the ins and outs of copyright laws to avoid all conflicts.
Other sites, like ancestry.com, and others, are fee-based sites, where the items available are only available when you pay the membership fee. How will I know where each and every item comes from that someone would potentially send me to upload to this site? I certainly don’t have the time necessary to make sure everything sent to me is not subject to copyright laws. It’s not worth the effort and potential problems.
The main reason why I am opposed to this idea, however, is that the newsletter, and now this blog, is meant to be a place where information is analyzed and some conclusions (although certainly not definitive) are made. I look at information, consider it in context, often with related information, and draw a conclusion about its importance, relevance and accuracy. If this becomes a place where people just come to download items totally out of context, they might either draw conclusions that are totally out of context or not accurate, and perpetuate that incorrect information to other researchers. That is something I do not want to be involved with. I want people to leave this site feeling that some thought has been put into the information presented, and that a genuine attempt has been made to come to a realistic, and hopefully accurate, conclusion.
Thank you, and I hope you will find this little blog useful.
The Blakeney Gazette 
I think this is an excellent idea, though it looks like I am the only person who has commented! My wife is a double-descendant of Capt. John Blakeney, tracing her ancestry back through both sons William and John, Jr. I worked on the family a lot abut 15-20 years ago, but haven’t looked at it in many years. In a recent reorganization of my files, I have not been able to find my material on the Blakeneys. So, I am starting over (at least for now). I think reading through the issues of the Blakeney Gazette will be a good place to start! Thanks so much, Best, Terry Cowan
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Dear Sir-
Is there any chance that I could ask you some questions regarding the William Blakeney line? I too am a descendent of William Blakeney and am attempting to find some information for my DAR application.
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Hello – I’m sorry, I only just found your post. I’m not sure how much I can help, since I haven’t researched William Blakeney’s descendants as much as my own, but if you have some specific questions, I can try, or possibly point you in another direction that might help.
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Just having some fun digging around through some geneology sites and found out I am a descendant of Capt John Blakeney! I’d love to hear more about what seems like the interesting life he lead! What is the best way to find out about him??? Thanks! Laurie
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Hi Laurie – which of his children are you descended from? My ancestor is his youngest child, Hugh. There was a book written back in the 1920’s called “The Blakeneys in America,” which documents his family, although copies are very hard to come by. There is quite a bit of information available on the internet, but be very wary of a lot of it. Much of it was posted with no documentation, and a lot of it is inaccurate – if anyone tells you they know exactly who his parents were, don’t believe it. No documentation has been found to prove it. A lot the information you will find is very general information, but should give you a basic idea of his life and family.
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Are there any connections with Texas or Oklahoma. I am related to Julia Lee Blakeney born in Texas and to the Blakeney family in Alabama.
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While I can’t say specifically in your case, in general, I can say that there are definitely connections that had moved onto Texas, although I’m sure there were descendants from more than one line that did. And yes, there were also connections to Alabama. From South Carolina, there were various lines that gradually moved south, through Georgia and Alabama, with some staying there. Others kept moving, including my branch, and at least one other branch, which settled in Mississippi. Some moved on from there to other places, including Texas. As for Oklahoma, I can’t say, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.
Have you tried using census records to begin tracing backward, from Texas and Alabama?
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Dear Mr. Hester: Given your expertise in Blakeney research, do you have a recommendation for source(s) I might consult to determine a relationship? Am trying to determine if and how the following is related to Captain John Blakeney’s sons Thomas or Hugh Blakeney, who resided in Montgomery Co., TN. I’m looking for the origins of: Robert John (R.J.) Blakeney, born c1820 in SC or TN (1850 & 1860 census’ differ) died before 1875. Confirmed to be living in Montgomery Co, TN from 1841, married there June 13, 1850 to Zilpha Donaldson. My only unique clue to a possible previous generation is that an Isabella “Blakney,” 83, born South Carolina is living with them in 1860 census. Any direction to reliable family trees or other sources would be appreciated!
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Unfortunately I don’t have any information relating to that particular line. With so many different family lines over the generations, I don’t have information on all of them, particularly once they left SC. Records for that period, early 19th century, can be very difficult if not impossible to find, especially in the south. Often, what little may have been recorded in the first place was lost due to courthouse fires, Civil War, etc. If you do have an Isabella Blakney born in SC in the 1860 census, I would think that would give you your best clue as to where they were initially from. If you think Isabella is likely R.J.’s mother, then Blakney is probably her maiden name, so it might be difficult to know who her husband would be. Perhaps search in the SC census records on familysearch.org for an Isabella Blakeney in 1830. Of course, if her husband is still alive and head of the household, that wouldn’t help, though. The records in SC are very scant, since Chesterfield County lost much of its records in the Civil War. I’m afraid I don’t have much more to help you with, unfortunately.
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Thanks, I know what you mean about records. When I get my hands on whoever started the fire that burned up the 1890 census …
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LOL! I’m sure there would be a very long line of people who would like to “have a word” with that person.
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Mr. Hester, my name is Robin Lee Blakney. In the 1960’s, my father, James Warner Blakney of DeQueen, AR, corresponde with a Blakney from Abilene, TX. My father was told he was a descendent of one of Capt. John Blakeney’s sons. We are traveling to Blakeney, UK in May, 2020. Do you know if the Blakeneys were from Blakeney, UK. Can you correspond to me at rblakney@sagu.edu? Thanks.
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