Submitted by Descendant: Lynda Blanton WILSON
James A. Blanton was probably born in Sampson County, North Carolina on 07 August 1813. He died 12 September 1894 in Taylor County, Florida. On 09 December 1835 he married Catharine McDonald.
He was a member of Bethany and Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Churches in then Lowndes County, now Brooks County, Georgia. After moving to Florida, he transferred his membership to Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church in present day Shady Grove, Taylor County, Florida. He was pastor of Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church at the Time of his death. He and his wife, Catharine are buried in the cemeteries at Fellowship.
It has been said that James and Catherine moved to Madison County in 1842 but he is first found on the 1850 Madison County, Florida census. He owned several small to medium parcels of land in Taylor County; the first is recorded as September of 1852. At the time of this purchase it was that part of Madison County that Taylor would later be formed from.
On the 1850 Madison County Census Agricultural Schedule he is shown owning forty acres, livestock and several crops. He was a farmer, working the land to support his family and a Minister of the Gospel in the Primitive Baptist Church.
He and wife Catharine were the parents of five sons and three daughters. All five of their sons served the Confederate States of America during the War Between the States and all five returned home at the end of the War.
James A. provided his children with an early education. The children would live in town during the week in order to attend school and return home on the weekends.
He was known by many in the community as “Old Uncle Jimmie”.
James A. Blanton was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2004