The Joel Blackwell who was born ca 1737 is MY documented ancestor. For years I was told that he was Rev. Joel Blackwell and no distinction was ever made that there were TWO Joel Blackwells living in Rutherford Co. NC. People lumped them together as ONE person.

Finally, I was able to determine thru records at the NC State Archives that MY Joel was born ca 1737 while Rev. Joel was born ca 1753. My Joel lived on Green River and then moved to the Broad River. Rev. Joel lived on Green River as well which confused the issue.

My Joel died in 1821 and left a Will plus a lengthy suit followed when siblings sued their brother, Daniel, for his mishandling of the estate. Rev. Joel is written up in conference notes as having died ca 1739 I believe.

I want to find the RW service for both men. This has not been done to date. I have a statement of MY Joel's grandson, Sylvester Blackwell, that his grandfather fought in the Battle of Cowpens which was just down the road from where he lived. The Rev. Joel has his name on the courthouse lawn monument of the Henderson Co. CH as a soldier by the local DAR. Where is the documentation for either Joel Blackwell serving in the war? DAR does not have any records and NARA does not have any records of ANY person named Joel Blackwell from any colony having served in the RW.

There is so much misinformation in the books published from the past that it is a major issue in untangling these two separate men. I know the three wives of and the names of all of the issue of MY Joel Blackwell. I have him documented from Orange Co. NC to Mecklenburg Co. to Tyron Co. to Rutherford Co. NC. I can find NO family for Rev. Joel only that John, another preacher, was most likely his brother as they buy land together. Then the same problem arises with Rev. John as he has been confused with another John Blackwell. However, I will not get into that issue.

I do find it most interesting that even tho Rev. Joel Blackwell lived long enough to have gotten a pension for the RW he never applied. However, his name is found among the RW applicatations of numerous Rutherford Co. NC soldiers pension where he testified for them. This leads me to believe that Rev. Joel Blackwell was never a soldier afterall. None of these men ever mention having served with Rev. Joel.

Any questions will be answered by writing to me directly at genpics1968@att.net