Blackledge/Blacklidge surname
| Blackledges in
America: From the 1620
arrival of John Blackleach in Boston to the present, Blackledges
and their descendants have participated in every major facet of
American history. Blackledges served in local militias protecting
the expanding colonial settlements, fought in the War for Independence,
War of 1812, on both sides of the Civil War, and in every 20th century
call to arms. The Nation’s westward expansion can be traced by
examining the lives of individuals representing the various roots and
branches of Blackledge family trees. Today there are some 1200 Blackledge and 150 Blacklidge families in the United States alone, found in forty-six different states and the District of Columbia, in addition to those found in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and scattered elsewhere throughout the world. The trades and professions represented run the gamut from doctors, educators, clergymen, appointed and elected officials, judges and lawyers, farmers and ranchers, industrialists and small-businessmen, tradesmen and craftsmen to the new vocations meeting the needs of this rapidly changing technological and electronic era. |
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Blackledge Book:
In 1996, three
long-time researchers of the Blackledge/Blacklidge surname met in
Gathersburg, MD and agreed to take on the challenge of combining their
individual genealogical records, requesting the assistance of other
contributors and family members, and ultimately publishing the
resulting collection in a hard copy format available to all. Six
years
later, they accomplished this goal. The resulting book Blackledges in America (ISBN 0-9722704-0-X ) is a genealogy of Blackledge/Blacklidge descendants with family roots in the United States of America. It is the most extensive genealogy and history ever of the Blackledge/Blacklidge family in the USA. The book represents over 30 years of research captured in 900 pages: some 9000 descendants, most with genealogical narratives. This work represents the compilers’ collaboration with numerous contributors, both genealogists and descendants. The reader will find bibliographical notations throughout to support and authenticate the research. The work includes derivation of the name and English roots to include Blythe Hall – the Blackledge ancestral home. Numerous family stories of interest have been provided by descendants. |
| First Edition
(2002): To make this
genealogical information available to as many as possible, the
compilers have placed a copy of the book in many of the nation's
leading genealogical libraries, to include the Family History Center in
Salt Lake City, UT, the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, IN,
the Mid-Continent Library in Springfield, MI, the Library of Congress
in Washington, D.C., and (with many Blackledges residing in
Mississippi) the Jones County Public Library in Jones County, MS.
A complete list of libraries holding a copy of the book is found here. Many researchers requested their own copy of the "Blackledge Book" (as Blackledges in America is referred to within the community). The compilers published some 260 copies and genealogists have purchased most of them. Libraries hold other copies. After March 2011, no additional copies of this First Edition are available. No additional printings of the First Edition will occur. We invite interested genealogists to order the Second Edition, which will be produced as PDF files on Compact Disc (CD), available to the public in 2012. If you desire more information, see below or e-mail Info@BlackledgeBook.org |
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| Second Edition
(2012):
The compilers of Blackledges in
America were thrilled with
the response to this most extensive genealogy ever of the
Blackledge/Blacklidge family in America. After the first
edition was printed in November 2002, all copies were sold or placed in
less than a year. Five genealogy libraries purchased one or more
copies, and the sales permitted the compilers to place additional
copies in other select libraries. One
of the expected outcomes of the book was a collection of errata for the
book: some additions, some corrections. Many purchasers offered
not only additional text, but also photographs of ancestors and family
members. The compilers are currently developing a Second
Edition. This effort has been a Work in Progress ever since the
original book was published in
2002. The Second Edition is expected to be published in 2012 as a collection of Portable Document Format (PDF) files on Compact Disc (CD). The Second Edition will add over 4000 descendants to those listed in the First Edition, and will be more than 1800 pages, more than doubling the page count of the First Edition. Second Edition, recent status (June 2011): the Team continues its work toward producing the Second Edition of "Blackledges in America." We have an agreed baseline database for Chapters 4 and 5, and are working toward same for Chapter 6. Background and links to some current chapter drafts and some Photo Pages can all be found below: Some individual chapter drafts are linked from here in PDF format for contributor review. Additionally, each substantial lineage chapter will have its own set of Photo Pages. Information will be posted here when the Second Edition is available for release on CDs to the public. The compilers appreciate your support and thank you for your assistance in this ambitious project. Contact them at the e-mail addresses below. |
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MaryAnn@BlackledgeBook.org
David@BlackledgeBook.org
Mike@BlackledgeBook.org
Linda@BlackledgeBook.org Blackledge DNA Project  :
This world-wide group, recently established under FamilyTreeDNA.com, is
for those desiring to supplement their 
genealogy research with a simple DNA test for the surname Blackledge,
Blacklidge, or Blackleach,
in order to overcome seemingly insurmountable brick
walls. For the goals of our DNA test, we prefer males to be
tested, however anyone can become a member of the project. The goal is
to link some English Blackledge families with Blackledges in
America. DNA testing is easy, a simple swab on the inside of the
cheek and mail it in for your results. However, you
do not have to participate in DNA testing to be a member. This project
was launched on 25 Oct 2010, so you can be one of the first members to
join. Click here
for the web site for the Blackledge surname project. |
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BlackledgeBook.org web page last updated on 9 June 2011 To home page of Editor, "Blackledges in America"