**This is not the James Black from Tennessee. James Black, who passed away in 1789 in Madison County, KY, was not born in Maury County, TN in 1732. However, he did have a son, James, who was married to Mary Morrison, and moved to Maury County, TN. Also, it is still open for discussion as to whether this James Black was married to an Eleanor Shields. In the privately published book by Mrs. W. A. Porter, "Blacks and Other Families," Mrs. Porter claims that "James married Eleanor Shields and they sold out their landed estate on Stockton Creek of 600 acres in 1760..." and then moved from the area followed closely by his brother, John, and his wife. She does not furnish any documentation about the land sale, the marriage, or the move. There is also a claim that Eleanor's father is a man by the name of James Shields. However, this particular James Shields died intestate having only one son and wife, whom he left in the care of his brother. There was no surviving daughter mentioned in court records.

"Cowan" " Porter" "Boyle" and "Vaughn" are some of the other suggestions for Eleanor's maiden name. "Vaughn" seems unlikely as James was already residing in the Madison County area in 1784, (see "Marse Henry, An Autobiography", pp. 265-266, by Henry Watterson, great-grandson of James and Elinore Black and Lincoln County, VA court records, February 1783) so he most likely would not have traveled to Culpeper County, VA, in 1784 to marry another woman named Eleanor Vaughn.
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James Black is thought to have been born ca. 1741 in Pennsylvania, most likely Lancaster, Warren, or Chester Counties, to the Reverend Samuel Black, a well-known Presbyterian minister, and his wife, Catherine Shaw. As there is no definitive information for James' birth, only an approximation can be made based on his father's ministerial service to congregations. (See below) James was one of nine known children. Those included in Reverend Samuel Black's will, along with James, were Samuel, Margaret, William, Sarah, John and Mary. (There is no daughter "Jane" named, so she is most likely the sister of another James Black.)
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James' childhood can be somewhat documented by the travels of his preacher father.

In November, 1736, Reverend Samuel Black was installed as minister to the Brandywine congregation of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Reverend Black married his wife, Catherine, ca. 1740. He was released from the Brandywine obligation in July, 1741 due to the schism that was occurring in the Presbyterian Church between the "Old Side" and the "New Side." It was a tumultuous time in the Presbyterian Church. Reverend Black was one of only three "Old Side" preachers within the Hanover Presbytery and found himself caught in the vortex of the controversy. While supported by some, he fell under a veil of suspicion and was reprimanded for his behavior. After taking his lumps and apologizing for his egregious behavior (heaven only knows what he actually did to receive the reprimand) he was once again allowed to serve. In October of that same year, Reverend Black accepted a call from the people of Conewago Presbyterian Church in Warren County. He was installed as their first pastor in May, 1742. He soon requested to leave, but was denied. In April of 1745, the "Presbytery released Reverend Samuel Black from the charge at Conewago." (All of this can be found in the Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society 1901-1930) In 1747, he was called to Virginia to become the first pastor of the Rockfish congregation. He once again ran into trouble, despite having some ardent supporters. He served the community in a sporadic fashion until his retirement in ca. 1760.

According to Natalie K. Black's book, "Pioneer Preacher, Descendants to 1980 of the Rev. Samuel Black (1700-1770) of Pennsylvania and Albemarle County, Virginia," James grew up on his father's plantation "Quantity and Quality" in what is now Crozet, Albemarle County, VA. He then resided on a portion of the land his father had purchased from Richard Stockton.
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James married a woman named Eleanor in Albemarle, VA, in ca. 1765. (See U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Family Search.) They were the parents of at least twelve children, ten of which were sons. (He was, in fact, known around the county as "the man with a lot of sons.") The known children were as follows:

~John Black, b. 1766 d. 1844
~Thomas Black, b. 1767 d. 1855
~Andrew Black, b. 1768 d. before 7 May, 1850
~Sarah Black, b. 1769 d. ?
~Samuel Black, b. 1770 d. 1806
~Robert Black, b. ca. 1773 d. 1849
~William Black, b. ca. 1773 d. 1832
~Alexander Black, b. ca. 1778 d. ca. 1849
~James Black, b. ca 1778, in VA, d. ca. 1849 at Spring Hill, and was then buried at Theta, Maury County, TN
~Mary Black, b. 1782 d. 1833
~David Black, b. 1784 d. 1849
~Isaac Black, b. 1789 d. 1864
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Reverend Samuel Black's will was probated Jul 21, 1770, in Albermarle Co VA. "...to Son James, the remainder of the above named tract (referring to the land given to both he and his brother, Samuel) upon that side where he now dwells" and "twenty ponds Virginia money besides that he has already got."
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In 1773, according to Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Albemarle County, VA, Deed Book 6, September Court 1772-November Court 1776, James and Eleanor sold 150 acres on Stockton's Branch to his brother, Samuel, for 100 pounds current money.

They than removed themselves to Fincastle County, VA. The discovery of this documentation further substantiates the positing of Natalie K. Black that James and Eleanor left Albemarle County and traveled to the Washington County, VA area "where James is said to have owned land at Cassell/Castle Woods and later to Fincastle County, VA." There is a James Black, ca. 1772, on a piece of property purchased from a William Burney on Cassells Run. In September 1882, a James Black sells the said property (108 acres) to Edward Stapleton.
Also, Fincastle County Militia rosters at the Library of Virginia, feature a James Black serving in the Militia. One of particular interest is that of a company of men serving under Captain William Russell. Names of particular note are William Russell, David Gass (whose family members married into the family of James Black), William and James Cowan (William is said to be the brother-in-law of David Gass), and the names Bush, Snoddy, and Porter, who can later be found in the Madison County, KY area and court records. A James Black is also found driving 225 head of cattle for approximately 10 days during Dunmore's War, 1774. (Augusta, Bedford, Culpeper, and Fincastle payrolls and public service claims, 1775.)
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It appears that James and his family most likely arrived in the Madison County area around 1782-83. He appears in the Madison County Court records on two occasions in 1783. During the month of February he appears as a plaintiff against John Chadwick, and then as an appointed appraiser for the estate of William Hicks. It should be noted that Hicks' land bordered the land eventually purchased by Black on Silver Creek. (Lincoln County KY Order Book, Vol. 1, page 32 and 34.)

James appears as a member of the Lincoln County Militia in August and October- November, 1782. The record of his service can be found in Margery Heberling Harding's Payroll Records for "George Rogers Clark and His Men." published by the Kentucky Historical Society.

According to his great-grandson, Henry Watterson, in his autobiography, "Marse Henry," Black occasionally worked as a clergyman and served as Chaplain at Old Fort Harrodsburg ca. 1784. This is plausible, although not confirmed, as his father was a well known minister in Virginia. According to Watterson, James' son, James (who was Waterson's grandfather), remembers and spoke of being present at the birth of Mary "Polly" Morrison, the woman who would later became Watterson's grandmother. She reportedly lived at Fort Harrod with her family.

In 1785 James Black purchased 390 acres of land on Taylor's Fork of Silver Creek, in the County of Lincoln. This property would eventually be part of Madison County, KY. The property purchase was finalized in 1787.

He was appointed by the Madison Court of Quarter Sessions, in 1787, to survey the land "from the Courthouse to the fork on Silver Creek leading to the Hazel Patch." (Hazel Patch earned its name because the hazel nut tree abounded in the area and produced a fruit on which small animals fed and attracted plentiful game. Historical Marker #53 in Laurel County commemorates the famous "fork in the road.")
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In 1833, James' and Elinor's son, John Black, stated in a court deposition (James and Eleanor McKinney vs David Black, et al) that he had lived near Milford in Madison County since 1785. We know that the majority of James Black's land on Taylor's Fork of Silver Creek (390 acres) was actually acquired through a land grant dated October 15, 1781, between he and a Philip Bush. The land was then surveyed on 14 Nov 1785.
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James Black died at his home on September 22, 1789, as recorded in a family bible held by his son William. (See " Natalie K. Black; Pioneer Preacher, Descendants to 1980 of the Rev. Samuel Black (1700-1770) of Pennsylvania and Albemarle County, Virginia; privately printed, Williams Printing Company, Nashville, Tenn., 1981)

Black passed intestate. At the time of his death, he owned 552 acres of land in Madison County, KY on both sides of the Lancaster Pike, about three miles from Richmond. A long and protracted disbursement of property ensued. In Will Book "A" of the Madison County KY Court records, an Inventory and Appraisement of his estate was ordered and recorded in November, 1790. John Black, his eldest son, was named administrator. His estate included 37 cattle, 9 sheep, 12 calves, 6 horses and 2 colts, a stock of hogs, a Bible, old books, 4 beds and some furniture, 2 churns, 1 big plow, 1 grand stone, 1 loom and tackling, 1 old spinning wheel, and a rifle and shot pouch. He had no slaves. (Abbreviated listing provided by Natalie K. Black in her book "Pioneer Preacher.")

In that same Will Book "A" of the Madison County, KY Court, "Robert, James, Alexander, Mary, David and Isaac Black, orphans of James Black, deceased, with the approbation of the Court, made choice of John Black for their guardian who together with David Gass his security entered into and acknowledged their bond in penalty of 500 L for securing said orphans' estate."

In April, 1809, the property of James Black split for the final time between his children and their spouses. (See Will Book A, County Court, Madison County, KY) Sons John and Andrew bought out their brothers' and sisters' shares.

James Black was buried on his property in what was later known as the John Black Cemetery, along with other family members. According to Vockery's "Cemeteries of Madison County, Vol. 2" the cemetery was located on the Old R E Baker farm (now Robt Cornelison Farm) about 400 (?)yds east of Hwy 52 and on a hill above "Black's Branch" Creek. Inscriptions for some graves were recorded by family in 1929 & 1973. During the inspection of 1973, a number of graves were either not marked, illegible, or lost below ground. Seven stones were seen that had no inscriptions. The cemetery is approximately 40 feet square.
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***In November, 2022, James was re-granted patriot status by the DAR for his service in the Lincoln County Militia. Documentation for that service can be found in the Margery Heberling Harding book "George Rogers Clark & His Men, Military Records, 1778-1784, published by The Kentucky Historical Society.