John Blunston Sr. (1644 - 1723)

Born 1644 in Hallam, Darby, Derbyshire, England

Husband of Ellinor (Branton) Blunston — married 23 Sep 1669 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England

Husband of Margaret (Pulford) Lightfoot — married after 25 Aug 1699 in Chester, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 22 Aug 1723 at about age 79 in Darby Township, Delaware, Pennsylvania

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Biography

John Blunston Sr. was born in England.

John Blunston Sr. migrated from England to Pennsylvania.

A Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania, Blunston/Blinston was born in Little Hallam, Derbyshire, England and came to Pennsylvania in October of 1682 with hist two daughters^[1] and his personal friend Lord William Penn (cf. research notes)^[2] after receiving a land grant from him in April.^[3] He helped found Darby, Pennsylvania, donated the land for a burial ground and meeting house, and helped establish the Darby Friends Meeting. Blunston served on the Governor’s Council, as an Assemblyman from Chester County, and as Justice of the Peace. As settlement of Pennsylvania increased, he sold off some of his grant. In 1715, he joined fellow Friends in protesting against slavery and the slave trade in the colony.^[4]

As the Sherif, he, along with his son Samuel Blunston who was also sheriff for Cumberland County, issued licenses to those people living on the land. These "Blunston's licenses" were in effect promissory documents acknowledging that the said person or persons were living on the specific piece of land and had first rights to buy it. These licenses are in the archives at Harrisburg. Before the Indian title to the lands west of the Susquehanna had been extinguished, the Government authorized Samuel Blunston, of Lancaster County, PA to issue to the settlers licenses allowing them to go and improve the land, a title to which should be granted as soon as the land office should be opened. These documents were known as "Blunston's licenses," and many of the earlier settlers held them previous to 1736.^[5][6]

John died on 22 Aug 1723.^[7]

Biographical Sketch of John Blunston (1644-1723)

Research Notes

There is no surviving manifest for the "Welcome." and in spite of reports that he arrived on the Welcome along with Penn, it appear that he was actually on the second sailing of the Bristol Factor, which had left England and arrived in Pennsylvania on roughly the same dates.^[8][9][10]

There are various spellings of the surname /BLUNSTON/. John signed his will with /BLUNSTONE/ and it has also been spell /BLINSTON/.

Sources

1. ↑ John's wife and two youngest daughters died within days of each other five years earlier.
2. ↑ Darby and the Liberty Bell
3. ↑ A letter from William Penn, poprietary and governour of Pennsylvania in America, to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders of that province
4. ↑ John Blunston's 1715 protest against slavery
5. ↑ The Blunston License Book - Contains the names of the earliest settlers in the Cumberland Valley , York, and Adams counties. Also contains earliest recorded place names in the territory west of the Susquehanna River.
6. ↑ Blunston Licenses
7. ↑ John Blunston Find A Grave: Memorial #26461289
8. ↑ Welcome Society
9. ↑ Welcome sails from 1 Sep 1682 to 27 Oct 1682 Welcome sailing
10. ↑ Bristol sails from loading July 26 - August 26 and arriving the last week in October, 1682. Bristol second sailing

• See also:

http://kenoauctions.com/highlight/william-penn-grants-1500-acres-founding-member-colony/