Piedmont, VA, Home of Joseph Blackwell's "Heartland"

Hello David Blackwell

I am working on an artical of Joseph Blackwell and his relationship with John Mosby, of Mosby's Rangers, any help or input from your end would be greatly appreciated. I saw on your web site where a Sandy Adams makes mention of Edmonds, and Mosby. I looked up Joseph Blackwell in the Civil War records in which he is listed as:

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLIII/1 [S# 90] AUGUST 9-OCTOBER 14, 1864.--Mosby's operations. No. 2.--Reports of Col. Henry S. Gansevoort, Thirteenth New York Cavalry, of operations September 8-15, September 24, and October 14. No. 2.--Reports of Col. Henry S. Gansevoort, Thirteenth New York Cavalry, of operations September 8-15, September 24, and October 14.HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, Near Falls Church, Va., September 28, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to state that the escort of 500 men under my command moved on the evening of the 24th of September through Centerville, and thence through Thoroughfare Gap, striking and following the line of the Manassas Gap Railroad through Rectortown to Piedmont. Near Piedmont the house of Joseph Blackwell was burned, as directed, together with the barns and extensive outhouses. A large quantity of ammunition, artillery harness, and equipments was destroyed, including a large quantity of pistols and carbines, which were concealed from search in the house, and whose destruction was only known by their reports. This evidently was Colonel Mosby's arsenal and headquarters, as was shown by some articles of clothing and equipments.

Mosby's Rangers by Jeffry D. Wert

South of Upperville, a mile or so north of Piedmont was "Heartland," the home of Joseph Blackwell. Here with increasing frequency Col. John Mosby spent his time, until by late 1863 or early 1864 his men designated it "Mosby’s Headquarters."

The Owner of "Heartland" Joseph Blackwell, became a favorite of Mosby and of a number of Rangers. Forty-three years old when Mosby Met him, Blackwell was a squat, "very corpulent" Man, who acquired the nickname "Chief" from his young boarders. John Munson and Johnny Edmonds, Blackwell’s brother-in-law, bunked at "Heartland," and Munson recalled the friendliness of the family and the good meals served by Lucy Blackwell.

I would be interested in pictures (if available) and any input you or anyone that has searched this line would care to contribute.

Much thanks

-- Joe Saylor

Recieved a reply from Sandy Adams

Hi, Joe;
Sorry to be late in getting back to you - I had to get Thanksgiving over and done before I could sit down and concentrate. Hope you had a great holiday. We certainly did, along with my dog that ate the pumpkin pie while it was cooling!

My interest in the Blackwell family is in regards to the area in which they lived, near Upperville in Fauquier County, VA.

I have two books regarding the region that mentions the Blackwell's - the first is "Maps and Notes of Upper Fauquier County, VA" by B. Curtis Chappelear. In this book Joseph is referenced thus: "(4) Site of the old dwelling house at Heartland in which Col. John S. Mosby made his headquarters, until it was burned in October, 1865, by the Federal soldiers engaged in rebuilding the railroad from Manassas to the Shenandoah Valley. The house at the time was the home of Joseph Blackwell. Heartland Farm is now owned by Lewis C. Chappelear of Marshall, Virginia" This was written in 1954 and the notation (4) refers to a location on a map that came with the book.

The second book is entitled "Journals of Amanda Virginia Edmonds, Lass of the Mosby Confederacy, 1857-1867" by Nancy Chappelear Baird. I believe that she is the daughter of Lewis C. Chappelear. This book consists of transcrips from her diary. She lived near Paris, VA at a house that I pass everytime I go home. Luckily she was a well educated young woman with a rather lively spirit and a great writing style. Joseph Blackwell is mentioned in this book as follows:

"Diary entry of October 3, 1864: Mr. Manger and Dr. Settle called and Clem joined them to meet the command. Mosby returned last week and was very much enraged to find the Yankees had burned his headquarters - Joe Blackwell's [Joseph Blackwell's "Heartland", 1 mile east of Piedmont Station]. He calls for every man to meet, as through he were going to do something rash." [pg. 207]

The book also mentions a Frances Jane "Fannie" Blackwell, 38, daughter of Elizabeth [Edmonds] Black and Joseph Blackwell, Jr. The beginning of the book has a pedigree chart. In it I find a Joseph Blackwell [b. 1788- d. 1850] who married Elizabeth Miller Edmonds in 1802. They are shown as the parents of "Fannie" in the pedigree. Also shown is a James "Bo" R. Blackwell who married Judith Emma Edmonds in 1857. I do not see a reference in this book to a Joseph Blackwell that would have been living during the Civil War years - only to the name connected to the "Heartland" homeplace that Mosby used. Possibly the homeplace still bore his name after his death, as often happens in this area. Are the birth and death dates of the Joseph listed the same as the one you are researching? Numerous other Blackwell's are listed as well, including an Elizabeth Blackwell that married into the Adams family. If you have any info on her I would be very appreciative.

Here are a few places that may be able to assist you in your research. One is the Fauquier County GenWeb site:
http://www.futureone.com/~burgess/fqva.htm

I see that they list several people researching the Blackwell's of Fauquier County in the Surname list. Also, the Fauquier County Heritage Society may be of help. They are listed at the bottom of the portion of the main page and are in Marshall, VA. Incidently, during Mosby's time Marshall was called "Salem" and you will find it referenced as that when reading about Mosby.

Another good Mosby site is:http://www.erols.com/jreb/mosby.html It lists the roster's of Mosby's men and a little additional Mosby information. I just get a kick out of reading the rosters - it reads like my high school yearbook. The names are the same - just 110 years later! It seems that the families that were here then are very much here now. I haven't checked to see if Blackwell shows up but you may want to look.

My father was here for Thanksgiving and he pretty much knows of everyone who lived in the area for the past 75 years or so and I asked him if he remembered any Blackwell's. He didn't - but that could mean that they relocated from the immediate area or to the next county over after the house was burned. The area is such that Loudoun County backs up to Upperville, VA and many families moved from one county to the other. Possibly the Fauquier County GenWeb site has a link to Loudoun.

Well, wish I had more real information for you. I'm sure that the Fauquier Historical Society can help you. Best of luck and let me know how it turns out!

Regards~
Sandy Adams
Manassas, VA

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