Blount, John

1671–1726

John Blount, member of the council and justice of the general court, was the son of Captain James Blount of Chowan County and his first wife, whose name is not known. The elder Blount came to Chowan County in 1669 from Isle of Wight County, Va. John Blount inherited 640 acres on Albemarle Sound, Chowan County, from his father in 1686—a tract that came to be known as Mulberry Hill. He expanded his holdings in 1714 and 1717 to over 1600 acres. Blount was appointed vestryman at the organization of the first vestry of St. Paul's Parish, Chowan County, on 12 Dec. 1701 and served until 1709; he again served during the period 1713–15. He became a justice of the general court in 1703 and served at least into 1704; he was again a member from 1718 to 1722. He was also appointed a justice of the peace for Chowan County in 1716. In June 1722 he became a proprietary deputy with a seat on the council to represent Joseph Blake; he continued to serve until his death, which was announced at a meeting of the council in Edenton on 28 July 1726.

Blount was married to Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John and Mary Burton Davis of Henrico County, Va., by Captain John Fendall on 11 June 1695. Blount's will was drawn up on 27 Jan. 1726 and probated on 18 May. In it he named twelve children: John, who married Sarah E. Vail and inherited Mulberry Hill; Thomas, who married Elizabeth Whitmel, widow of George Pollock; Charles Worth, who married first Mary Clayton and second Martha Anne (family name unknown); James; Mary, who married Jonathan Jacocks; Martha, who married first Dr. Thomas West and second a man named Worseley; Hester, who married John Worley; Elizabeth, who married Dr. Samuel Padgett; Sarah, who married John Lovick; Ann, who married a Worley; Rachel; and Joseph, who married first Sarah Durant, second Elizabeth Hatch, widow of both William Reed and McRora Scarborough, and third Sarah Whedbee, widow of William Hoskins.

Elizabeth Davis Blount died probably during February 1733, as her will was made on the eighth of that month and probated in open court on 12 Mar. Both John and Elizabeth Blount were buried at Mulberry Hill, as was Captain James Blount and other members of the family.