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Facts and Events
References
- William Blair, in Find A Grave.
- Biographical Annals of Cumberland Page 205
William Blair, the grandfather of Andrew, was a trustee of the Carlisle Academy as early as 1781. He was also a trustee of the Associated Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, and with two others, in 1796, purchased from the Penns the ground upon which to erect that church, a stone structure which is still standing on South West street, for L6. Afterward this was long known as the “Seceder church.” This William Blair died at Carlisle on Dec. 7, 1802, at the age of seventy-three years, and is buried in the family plot in the “Old Graveyard,” sacred ground, given by the Penns to Carlisle for a place of burial. It is not known when his wife, Mary Cowen died. She may be buried by the side of her husband, but there is no tombstone indicating that she is. William Blair’s son, Dr. Issac Blair [ie. Dr. Isaiah Blair], was a member of the first class that graduated from Dickinson College. He located in Washington, Pa., where he practiced his profession until his death. His son, Dr. Alexander Blair, succeeded him.
- Excerpts from A contribution to the history of the Presbyterian churches, Carlisle, Pa by Joseph Alexander Murray, 1905.
William was described as "a flaming Whig of 1776." It is a tradition in the family, that, if having come to his ears that some one had intimated that he might not be a Whig, he took the most direct method of that day to make public and emphatic contradiction, by going to the Court House on Saturday evening, taking his stand upon the steps, hat in hand, and awaiting an audience, sure soon to gather in response to such a notification that an important statement was to be made. He then simply said, with very decided brogue: "If ony mon says Wully Blair is not a Whog he's a liar," replaced his hat and went his way.
He was a trustee of the Carlisle Academy in 1781, and was one of three trustees of the Associated Presbyterian Church who bought of the Penns, in 1796, the lot on South West street on which the stone building was erected, still standing, long know as the "Seceder" church. His name occurs as William Blair, Senior, on the records of the Union Fire Company, of which Dr. Davidson was president, and that of his son as William Blair, Junior. He died in Carlisle in 1802 aged 73 years, and is buried in the Old Grave Yard.
- Wills: Abstracts 1795-1803: Will Book F: Cumberland Co, PA
BLAIR, WILLIAM, Carlisle.
January 24, 1800. January 17, 1803.
Wife.
House and lot in Carlisle adjoining lots of John Delaney and John
Cecigh. Son Mark.
Dau. Jane.
Children of decd. son William.
Dau. Rebecca wife of Charles McClure.
Son Isaiah.
Exs: Son Isaiah Blair and John Creigh.
Wit: Saml. McCoskry, Ja. Duncan, Robert Duncan. F. 338.
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