Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Edward Blacklock
MSA SC 3520-17431

Biography:

Edward Blacklock was from Prince George’s County, Maryland. He enlisted into the First Maryland Regiment on February 10, 1776 as a private in Captain Patrick Sim’s Second Company. [1]

After enlisting, Blacklock traveled to Annapolis alongside the rest of his company before marching to New York in August to face the British in the Battle of Brooklyn (otherwise known as the Battle of Long Island) on August 27, 1776. Although the battle was a defeat for the Americans, the defense provided by Blacklock and the other soldiers of the “Maryland 400” held off the British long enough to allow much of the trapped American army to escape. Blacklock was one of the lucky soldiers who survived that day, his company losing fewer than ten men.

Blacklock probably left the Army after his initial enlistment ended towards the end of 1776. After his service, he moved back to Prince George’s County for a brief period of time. Towards the end of the 18th century, the growth of tobacco in Maryland had depleted the soil and farms were beginning to decline. At the same time, states such as Kentucky and Tennessee were opening up for settlement. This caused a large migration of smaller farmers and those struggling financially to move to Kentucky in droves in search of land. During this migration, Blacklock moved to Ohio County, Kentucky alongside his friend and fellow revolutionary solder Benjamin Burch from the Third Maryland Regiment. By 1840, Blacklock moved once again to the neighboring county of Grayson, Kentucky. [2]

There is no further definitive information about Blacklock’s life.

-Taylor Blades, 2017

Notes:

[1] Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 8.

[2] John M. Murrin, Paul E. Johnson, et al, Liberty Equality, Power: A History of the American People Volume 1: To 1877 (Cengage Learning, 2011), p. 254; 1820 United States Federal Census, 1830 United States Federal Census; Pension of Benjamin Burch, National Archives and Records Administration, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, NARA M804, W. 4137, from Fold3.com.

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