John Archer Blankenship was my wife's great great grandfather. His wife was Hester Ann Lynch. Both, along with many of their descendants are buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg.

Don't get hung up on the spelling. It seems that it tended to be fairly interchangable. Lots of times it was recorded by a public official who probably wrote it as he thought it was. Also, literacy levels back then were not as high as today. In the 1900 census household of his widow children, it is "Blankingship".

I have seen his military record but did not keep a copy. It seems that he enlisted in the 11th VA mid-war or after. I don't know the circumstances of his discharge or surrender. I also don't know if he, or his wife, received a pension but that would be fairly easy to determine from online resources at the Va. State Library.

I do have a copy of his obit from the Lynchburg News of Wednesday November 22, 1899.

"Death of Mr. Blankenship" "He Passed Away Yesterday After a Long Illness" "Mr. John Archer Blankenship died yesterday morning at 11:15 o'clock at his home corner of Floyd and Twelfth streets after a lingering illness aged seventy-three years. For several weeks his condition had been so critical that all hope for his recovery was abandoned.

Mr. Blankenship was born in Campbell county and most of his early life was spent as a tanner near Castle Craig. During a part of the war he served in the Eleventh Virginia. After the war he resided near Marysville where he was for many years justice of the peace. About eight years ago he retired from active business and moved to this city where he made many friends by his courteous manner and genial ways. During his residence in this city he has been a consistent member and regular attendant of Memorial Methodist church. He was a man of sterling traits of character and was esteemed and respected by all who knew him.

Besides his wife, he is survived by nine sons and three daughters; Messsrs. E.A. Blankenship of the Lynchburg police force; Richard, Cosby, John, and Olin Blankenship of Lynchburg: Rev. P.B. Blankenship of the Virginia Conference; Edgar and Charles Blankenship who reside in the west, and Misses Alice, Ella, and Hattie Blankenship of Lynchburg."

They had one child - probably a daughter who died young. I think she was Sarah.

Also, the Rev. P.B. in the obit is actually Rev. Robert B. and he is the son through whom my wife descends.

My wife was born in Farmville and came to Lynchburg with her parents as an infant. Although (2GGF) John Archer had thirteen children, his son (GGF) Rev. Robert had only three - two of whom never married. Their son, (GF)Robert E., had only one child - who is my mother in law. Consequently, my wife grew up here thinking that she basically had no cousins. She just stopped looking one generation too soon.

I don't know what you might be interested in but I have lots more on Hester Ann Lynch's family. I also know where the three generations of Blankehship's who preceed John Archer are buried.

Mike Lee
Lynchburg, Va.