Helena Newton, born 1 Apr 1801 in Virginia 1869, daughter of William and Nancy Newton. She met John Blake sometime after he was discharged from the service of his country in the War of 1812. They married 24 Feb 1816 in Greenbrier County, Virginia. Their son, William Tennant Blake was born, 1818 near the mouth of Second Creek in Greenbriar County. "In the fall of 1819," writes John, "we gathered our little stuff and started to move to Ohio..." and arrived at Madison Township in Jackson County about the 16th of October and "ever after lived on free soil." John records his "spiritual birth" as May 3, 1829 and they joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, 24 Aug 1829, in Ohio. They lived in Ohio until 1847. All the remaining children were born in Ohio. They moved to La Porte, Indiana, only staying a short time and then proceeded to Wyanet, Illinois where they lived until John's death in 1878; his dear wife, Helena having died nine years previously from paralysis of a two week duration. From February 18, 1872 he drew a Pension of eight dollars a month for his service in the War of 1812.


They were the parents of William Tennent (1818-1879) Nancy (1820-1898) Jane Jerusha Warwick (1822-1900) Minerva (1824-1892)Beverly (1827-1884) Albert (1830-1894) Hiram (1832-1908) Ezra (1835-1918) John Wesley (1837-1864) Martha Helena (1840-1926) John Wesley (1841-1864) He died with spotted fever February 19, 1864, and Evaline (1845-1905).

Ezra, the 8th child, copied information [some of which is included above] from an old notebook of his father's in February 1898 and sent it to "relatives in Virginia". The notebook was John's, in which he wrote of his life with Helena until 6 years before his death. (Bio by Charlene Patton)