William Augustus Blount was born 1792 in Washington, Beaufort County, NC, believed to be the 6th of 10 known children born to wealthy planter and landowner, Gen. John Gray Blount and his wife, Mary Harvey. (Some sources indicate there may have been as many as 14 children born to John and Mary Blount.)
He is descended from both sides of his family tree from early North Carolinians who were some of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens in the state. He was the paternal grandson of Col. Jacob Blount and Barbara Gray of "Blount Hall" in Pitt County, NC; and the gr-grandson of Thomas Blount Jr. and Anne Reading of Beaufort County, NC. He is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Capt. James Blount (1634-1686) who immigrated from Astley, Worcestershire, England ca. 1655 and established himself in Isle of Wight, VA, later removing to Edenton, Chowan Co, NC, where he established "Mulberry Hill" Plantation. On his mother's side, he was the maternal grandson of Col. Miles Harvey & Elizabeth Baker of Perquimans County, NC.
William spent most of his life in Beaufort County where he was a very wealthy land and slaveowner, having inherited greatly from his father, who was one of the largest landowners in the history of the United States, owning and controlling vast tracts of land in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In 1812, at the age of 20, William volunteered for service in the army in the War of 1812 and 3 years later was elected Major General of the 6th Division, North Carolina Militia. At war's end, he returned to Beaufort County. On October 4, 1817, the 24-year old war veteran married 20-year old Nancy "Ann" Hawkins Haywood, daughter of Sherwood Haywood & Eleanor Howard Hawkins of Raleigh, Wake County.
The couple resided on their plantation "Meadowview" in the Chocowinity, Beaufort County area, and would become parents to 2 known children: Nancy "Ann" Haywood Blount (1817-1903), and William Augustus Blount Jr. (1823-1900).
William was widowed in 1825 when his bride of only 8 years died at age 29. Shortly thereafter, he removed to the capital city of Raleigh where he represented Beaufort County in the Legislature (1825-1827), advocating the most liberal system of public improvements, and was for years a member of the Board of Internal Improvements. He was the devoted friend of public schools, and became a trustee of the University of North Carolina in 1826, a position he held until his death. He was intensely southern in his whole course of life; the active opponent of all protection and class legislation; the devoted advocate of free trade and the rights of the States.
On January 27, 1835, the 43 year old widower married (2nd) to Nancy "Anna" Blount Littlejohn, the 22-year old daughter of John Wilson Littlejohn & Elizabeth Blount of Edenton, Chowan County, NC. All resources published indicate this union was childless.
William was 69 years old when Civil War broke out, and he was ardently devoted to the Southern Cause, spending his entire fortune supporting the Confederacy. He died in June 1867, about 3 years after North Carolina's surrender. He was 74 years old.
At the time of his death, William Augustus Blount was well known in North Carolina, and much esteemed for his genial qualities, his extended and varied abilities, and his public services. His contemporaries remembered for his kind, open-handed charity, as an affectionate parent, an obliging and sympathizing neighbor, and a sincere and uncalculating friend. None that knew him can ever cease to remember his genial manner, his commanding presence, and his knightly bearing. His conversational powers were unrivaled; though often incisive, pointed and witty, they were never coarse or offensive. These qualities made him always a welcome guest, and "the flashes of his wit often set the table in a roar."
William is buried in Old City Cemetery near his (1st) wife and daughter, Nancy Ann Blount Branch, widow of Gen. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch.
His son by his (1st) wife, William Augustus Blount, Jr. married Mary Bond Washington of Kinston, Lenoir County, and was father to 6 known children. He died in 1900 in Chocowinity.
He is descended from both sides of his family tree from early North Carolinians who were some of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens in the state. He was the paternal grandson of Col. Jacob Blount and Barbara Gray of "Blount Hall" in Pitt County, NC; and the gr-grandson of Thomas Blount Jr. and Anne Reading of Beaufort County, NC. He is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Capt. James Blount (1634-1686) who immigrated from Astley, Worcestershire, England ca. 1655 and established himself in Isle of Wight, VA, later removing to Edenton, Chowan Co, NC, where he established "Mulberry Hill" Plantation. On his mother's side, he was the maternal grandson of Col. Miles Harvey & Elizabeth Baker of Perquimans County, NC.
William spent most of his life in Beaufort County where he was a very wealthy land and slaveowner, having inherited greatly from his father, who was one of the largest landowners in the history of the United States, owning and controlling vast tracts of land in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In 1812, at the age of 20, William volunteered for service in the army in the War of 1812 and 3 years later was elected Major General of the 6th Division, North Carolina Militia. At war's end, he returned to Beaufort County. On October 4, 1817, the 24-year old war veteran married 20-year old Nancy "Ann" Hawkins Haywood, daughter of Sherwood Haywood & Eleanor Howard Hawkins of Raleigh, Wake County.
The couple resided on their plantation "Meadowview" in the Chocowinity, Beaufort County area, and would become parents to 2 known children: Nancy "Ann" Haywood Blount (1817-1903), and William Augustus Blount Jr. (1823-1900).
William was widowed in 1825 when his bride of only 8 years died at age 29. Shortly thereafter, he removed to the capital city of Raleigh where he represented Beaufort County in the Legislature (1825-1827), advocating the most liberal system of public improvements, and was for years a member of the Board of Internal Improvements. He was the devoted friend of public schools, and became a trustee of the University of North Carolina in 1826, a position he held until his death. He was intensely southern in his whole course of life; the active opponent of all protection and class legislation; the devoted advocate of free trade and the rights of the States.
On January 27, 1835, the 43 year old widower married (2nd) to Nancy "Anna" Blount Littlejohn, the 22-year old daughter of John Wilson Littlejohn & Elizabeth Blount of Edenton, Chowan County, NC. All resources published indicate this union was childless.
William was 69 years old when Civil War broke out, and he was ardently devoted to the Southern Cause, spending his entire fortune supporting the Confederacy. He died in June 1867, about 3 years after North Carolina's surrender. He was 74 years old.
At the time of his death, William Augustus Blount was well known in North Carolina, and much esteemed for his genial qualities, his extended and varied abilities, and his public services. His contemporaries remembered for his kind, open-handed charity, as an affectionate parent, an obliging and sympathizing neighbor, and a sincere and uncalculating friend. None that knew him can ever cease to remember his genial manner, his commanding presence, and his knightly bearing. His conversational powers were unrivaled; though often incisive, pointed and witty, they were never coarse or offensive. These qualities made him always a welcome guest, and "the flashes of his wit often set the table in a roar."
William is buried in Old City Cemetery near his (1st) wife and daughter, Nancy Ann Blount Branch, widow of Gen. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch.
His son by his (1st) wife, William Augustus Blount, Jr. married Mary Bond Washington of Kinston, Lenoir County, and was father to 6 known children. He died in 1900 in Chocowinity.
William Augustus Blount was born 1792 in Washington, Beaufort County, NC, believed to be the 6th of 10 known children born to wealthy planter and landowner, Gen. John Gray Blount and his wife, Mary Harvey. (Some sources indicate there may have been as many as 14 children born to John and Mary Blount.)
He is descended from both sides of his family tree from early North Carolinians who were some of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens in the state. He was the paternal grandson of Col. Jacob Blount and Barbara Gray of "Blount Hall" in Pitt County, NC; and the gr-grandson of Thomas Blount Jr. and Anne Reading of Beaufort County, NC. He is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Capt. James Blount (1634-1686) who immigrated from Astley, Worcestershire, England ca. 1655 and established himself in Isle of Wight, VA, later removing to Edenton, Chowan Co, NC, where he established "Mulberry Hill" Plantation. On his mother's side, he was the maternal grandson of Col. Miles Harvey & Elizabeth Baker of Perquimans County, NC.
William spent most of his life in Beaufort County where he was a very wealthy land and slaveowner, having inherited greatly from his father, who was one of the largest landowners in the history of the United States, owning and controlling vast tracts of land in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In 1812, at the age of 20, William volunteered for service in the army in the War of 1812 and 3 years later was elected Major General of the 6th Division, North Carolina Militia. At war's end, he returned to Beaufort County. On October 4, 1817, the 24-year old war veteran married 20-year old Nancy "Ann" Hawkins Haywood, daughter of Sherwood Haywood & Eleanor Howard Hawkins of Raleigh, Wake County.
The couple resided on their plantation "Meadowview" in the Chocowinity, Beaufort County area, and would become parents to 2 known children: Nancy "Ann" Haywood Blount (1817-1903), and William Augustus Blount Jr. (1823-1900).
William was widowed in 1825 when his bride of only 8 years died at age 29. Shortly thereafter, he removed to the capital city of Raleigh where he represented Beaufort County in the Legislature (1825-1827), advocating the most liberal system of public improvements, and was for years a member of the Board of Internal Improvements. He was the devoted friend of public schools, and became a trustee of the University of North Carolina in 1826, a position he held until his death. He was intensely southern in his whole course of life; the active opponent of all protection and class legislation; the devoted advocate of free trade and the rights of the States.
On January 27, 1835, the 43 year old widower married (2nd) to Nancy "Anna" Blount Littlejohn, the 22-year old daughter of John Wilson Littlejohn & Elizabeth Blount of Edenton, Chowan County, NC. All resources published indicate this union was childless.
William was 69 years old when Civil War broke out, and he was ardently devoted to the Southern Cause, spending his entire fortune supporting the Confederacy. He died in June 1867, about 3 years after North Carolina's surrender. He was 74 years old.
At the time of his death, William Augustus Blount was well known in North Carolina, and much esteemed for his genial qualities, his extended and varied abilities, and his public services. His contemporaries remembered for his kind, open-handed charity, as an affectionate parent, an obliging and sympathizing neighbor, and a sincere and uncalculating friend. None that knew him can ever cease to remember his genial manner, his commanding presence, and his knightly bearing. His conversational powers were unrivaled; though often incisive, pointed and witty, they were never coarse or offensive. These qualities made him always a welcome guest, and "the flashes of his wit often set the table in a roar."
William is buried in Old City Cemetery near his (1st) wife and daughter, Nancy Ann Blount Branch, widow of Gen. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch.
His son by his (1st) wife, William Augustus Blount, Jr. married Mary Bond Washington of Kinston, Lenoir County, and was father to 6 known children. He died in 1900 in Chocowinity.
He is descended from both sides of his family tree from early North Carolinians who were some of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens in the state. He was the paternal grandson of Col. Jacob Blount and Barbara Gray of "Blount Hall" in Pitt County, NC; and the gr-grandson of Thomas Blount Jr. and Anne Reading of Beaufort County, NC. He is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Capt. James Blount (1634-1686) who immigrated from Astley, Worcestershire, England ca. 1655 and established himself in Isle of Wight, VA, later removing to Edenton, Chowan Co, NC, where he established "Mulberry Hill" Plantation. On his mother's side, he was the maternal grandson of Col. Miles Harvey & Elizabeth Baker of Perquimans County, NC.
William spent most of his life in Beaufort County where he was a very wealthy land and slaveowner, having inherited greatly from his father, who was one of the largest landowners in the history of the United States, owning and controlling vast tracts of land in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In 1812, at the age of 20, William volunteered for service in the army in the War of 1812 and 3 years later was elected Major General of the 6th Division, North Carolina Militia. At war's end, he returned to Beaufort County. On October 4, 1817, the 24-year old war veteran married 20-year old Nancy "Ann" Hawkins Haywood, daughter of Sherwood Haywood & Eleanor Howard Hawkins of Raleigh, Wake County.
The couple resided on their plantation "Meadowview" in the Chocowinity, Beaufort County area, and would become parents to 2 known children: Nancy "Ann" Haywood Blount (1817-1903), and William Augustus Blount Jr. (1823-1900).
William was widowed in 1825 when his bride of only 8 years died at age 29. Shortly thereafter, he removed to the capital city of Raleigh where he represented Beaufort County in the Legislature (1825-1827), advocating the most liberal system of public improvements, and was for years a member of the Board of Internal Improvements. He was the devoted friend of public schools, and became a trustee of the University of North Carolina in 1826, a position he held until his death. He was intensely southern in his whole course of life; the active opponent of all protection and class legislation; the devoted advocate of free trade and the rights of the States.
On January 27, 1835, the 43 year old widower married (2nd) to Nancy "Anna" Blount Littlejohn, the 22-year old daughter of John Wilson Littlejohn & Elizabeth Blount of Edenton, Chowan County, NC. All resources published indicate this union was childless.
William was 69 years old when Civil War broke out, and he was ardently devoted to the Southern Cause, spending his entire fortune supporting the Confederacy. He died in June 1867, about 3 years after North Carolina's surrender. He was 74 years old.
At the time of his death, William Augustus Blount was well known in North Carolina, and much esteemed for his genial qualities, his extended and varied abilities, and his public services. His contemporaries remembered for his kind, open-handed charity, as an affectionate parent, an obliging and sympathizing neighbor, and a sincere and uncalculating friend. None that knew him can ever cease to remember his genial manner, his commanding presence, and his knightly bearing. His conversational powers were unrivaled; though often incisive, pointed and witty, they were never coarse or offensive. These qualities made him always a welcome guest, and "the flashes of his wit often set the table in a roar."
William is buried in Old City Cemetery near his (1st) wife and daughter, Nancy Ann Blount Branch, widow of Gen. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch.
His son by his (1st) wife, William Augustus Blount, Jr. married Mary Bond Washington of Kinston, Lenoir County, and was father to 6 known children. He died in 1900 in Chocowinity.
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