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Pigeon Valley Circa 1955

Etheldred Harrison Blalock (1817-1896) was first married to Mary Anderson (1820-1849) on September 8th, 1838 in Haywood Co., North Carolina.

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North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1741-1868

Mary Anderson (1820-1849) was born on December 24th, 1820 in Haywood Co., NC, USA to John W. Anderson (1797-1877) and Elizabeth Dier-Anderson (1798-1878).

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John Anderson Find a Grave Profile Page

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Elizabeth Dier-Anderson Find a Grave Profile Page

We find <NAME> in the Federal Census of 1840 living in Haywood Co., NC, UDA. Other than himself and his wife there is 1 male aged 15 to under 20 and 1 female under 5 living in his household. I assume the child is his daughter Eliza Jane Blalock who was born in 1840.

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United States Census, 1840

From Etheldred Harrison Blalock (1817-1896) marriage to Mary Anderson (1820-1849) at least 8 children were born: Eliza Jane Blalock, Sarah "Sallie" Ann Blalock, Joseph Manning Blalock, Nancy Elizabeth Blalock, Mary "Polly" Caroline Blalock, James L. Blalock, Rebbecca Adeline Blalock and 1 infant who died at birth. This family is commonly referred to as the "First Family". For more detailed information about each child and their family; see the "Descendants of The First Family".

On January 9th, 1840 their first child Eliza Jane Blalock (1840-1884) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.


On August 4th, 1841 their second child Sarah "Sallie" Ann Blalock (1841-1823) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.


On August 23rd 1842 their third child Joseph Manning Blalock (1842-1910) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.


On December 29th 1843 their fourth child Nancy Elizabeth Blalock (1843-1883) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.


On June 13th 1844, their fifth child Mary "Polly" Caroline Blalock (1844-1919) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.


On August 6th 1846, their sixth child James L. Blalock (1846-1853) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.. James L. Blalock did not make it to an adult age and died just shy of this 7th birthday on July 19th, 1853 in Haywood Co., NC, USA. His cause of death is at the moment unknown. He is buried in Betel Community Cem., Canton, Haywood Co., NC, USA. The inscription on his grave marker reads: "James L. Blalack born 6 Aug 1846 DC 29 July 1853".

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James L. Blalock Findagrave.com Profile Page

On August 13th, 1848 their seventh child Rebbecca Adeline Blalock (1848-1939) was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.


On November 28th 1849 their eighth and last child was born in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.. It died only a few days later on December 1st, 1849 in Pigeon Township, Haywood Co., NC, USA.

Mary died a few days after giving birth and was laid to rest along with the baby on December 1, 1849 in what is today Betel Community Cem., Canton, Haywood Co., NC, USA.. She was 23 days shy of her 29th birthday. The grave marker inscription reads: "In Memory of Mary Blalock was born 24 of December 1820 DC 1 DC 1849"
 
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Mary Anderson-Blalock Find a Grave Profile Page

The cemetery was originally known as "Graveyard Hill" and at the time of Mary's death was a common burial ground for the Bethel community. It was officially founded in 1854 by Elijah Deaver Sr. on a hill at the foot of Cold Mountain between Canton and Waynesville, in North Carolina. Today it is located behind Bethel United Methodist Church on Sonoma Road and in front of Bethel Baptist Church on Pigeon Road.

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The plaque reads: Memorial Elijah Deaver Sr., founder of Bethel Cemetery, Sept 30th, 1779 - Feb 19 1859, In remembrance of his donation to the Bethel Community the original two acres known as "Graveyard Hill" for a common burial ground.

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Bethel Community Cemetery
5852 pigeon Road (US Hwy 276), Canton, North Carolina, 28716

After Mary Anderson (1820-1849) death, Etheldred Harrison Blalock (1817-1896) was left to care for his 7 children, their home and the gist mill. 1849 was a busy time for Dred. Not only was he managing the gist mill but he was also building houses.

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Burton and Lucinda Moore-Cathey House Circa 1849

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Burton and Lucinda Moore Cathey House

He constructed the original portion of his house in Cathey Cove. Almost 6 and a half months after the death of his first wife and their last child, Etheldred Harrison Blalock (1817-1896) took another wife and was married Mary Ann Campbell (1820-1902).


Sources
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North Carolina Marriage Index 1741-2004. Digital image. Etheldred Harrison Blalock. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2007. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

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Reynolds, Linda. "John Anderson (1797 - 1877) - Find A Grave Memorial." John Anderson (1797 - 1877) - Find A Grave Memorial. Findagrave.com, 26 June 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

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U.S Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880. Ditial Image. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 1999. Web. 25 Apr 2016.

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Long, B. "Mary Anderson Blalock (1820 - 1849) - Find A Grave Photos." Mary Anderson Blalock (1820 - 1849) - Find A Grave Photos. Findagrave.com, 19 Mar. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

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Holbrook, Bill. Burton and Lucinda Moore Cathey House. Digital Image. Bethel Rural Community Organization, http://www.bethelrural.org, n.d. Web. 25 Apr 2016. http://www.bethelrural.org/art.html