Southwestern Region

There appears to have been no established family of the name in Cornwall. Or little record of. They appear at intervals. The earliest mention on the I.G.I being a Mrs Blackston proposed D.o.B. 1481 Cornwall. There are also mentions of Blackstones associated with a Blaxton Hall in the late 1500's. There are non on the 1851 Census or 1881.

By and large the surname traditionally has been seen infrequently in the Southwestern Region. The one area that this does not hold true is Devon. The following is an isolated very early reference to the name contemporary with the early Blakiston's of Durham and Yorkshire.

(1154.)

207. At Westminster, 3 weeks from Easter day, 19 Ed. II (15 Apr.. 1326). Before 1105]. Between Richard de Horsham, claimant, and John de Blakeston, deforciant; as to messuage, 1 mill, 1 ploughland, & 5 ferlings of land & 12 acres of wood in BLAKESTON (Blackstone in Tamerton Foliot), LYNETWORTHY, HORSHAM (Horsham in Tamerton Foliot) & KYNGESTAMERTON (Kingstamerton in St. Budeaux). Plea of covenant was summoned. John acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Richard & gave the messuage, mill, 1 ploughland & 2 ferlings of land & the wood up to him at the Court. To have & to hold to Richard & his heirs of the chief lords of that fee by the services which belong to those tenements' for ever. Moreover John undertook for himself & his heirs that 1 ferling of land which Thomas Uphill held for his life, and 1 ferling of land which William de Middeton held for his life, & that a moiety of 1 ferling of land which Robert Brode & Robert his son held for their lives, & also that a moiety of 1ferling of land which William atte Halle held for his life, of the inheritance of the said John in the said township on the day this agreement was made & which after the deaths of the said Thomas, William de Middeton, Robert Brode & Robert his son & William atte Halle ought to revert to the aforesaid John & his heirs should then remain in their entirety to Richard & his heirs. To hold together with the tenements which remain to him by this fine of the chief lords of that fee by the services which to that land belong for ever. And John & his heirs shall warrant to Richard & his heirs the said tenements, as is aforesaid, against all men for ever. For this Richard gave to John 100 marks of silver. 6).

The next records I have in Devon are the Subsidy Rolls 1524-7 by T.L Stoate. DE/G46:

Clyst Fomisham parish (Sowton) p.73: John Blakyngston.
Cliston Hundred, Broad Clyst Parish p.80: William Blakyngston.
Hundred of Stanborough, Sth Brent Parish, Baston Blayknstone.
Hundred of Exmister, Netherton Tithing, p.219: 1525 add William Blackston.
Hundred of Teignbridge, Bovey tracey p.226: add 1525 Robert Blakynston.

Fosters' Alumni Oxiensis mentions:

BLAXTON, John B. Cau.L. 17 Feb. 1532/3 one of this name preb. of Crediton, Devon 1541. V. of Bishop's Nympton 1541 of Thorverton 1548, subdean of Exeter 1546 Canon 1551 treasurer 1558, Archdeacon of Brecon 1554.

The Devon Muster Roll 1569. S.o.G. DE/G34 lists the following:

Hundred of Cliston: Brode Cyste Parish p.15: James Blackenston, Billman.
Hundred of Wonford: Cheriton Bishop Parish p.79: James Blackden, Billman.
Hundred of Black Torrington, Clawton Parish, p90: Presentor Sworn, John Blackdon, Archer, John Blackdon junior, Billmen, Richard Blackdon & John Blackdon Miller.
Hundred of Hartlond, Hartlond Parish p.138: Presentor sworn, John Blackdon, Billman, William Blackdon.
Hundred of Lifton, Bratton Clovelly Parish p.189: Sworn, Margaret Blackdon.
Hundred of Haytor, Churston Ferrers Parish, p.271: Billman, David Blackston.

The earliest reference on the I.G.I is of Edmond Blackston who married Joan Churchwood at Paignton Devon in 1567. By the early 1600's families start to appear around West Teignmouth. They seemed to flourish in the area until the early 1800's. A branch of whom went to Liverpool. It is also very likely that the Blackstone's of Kent herald from this family. ( see www.angelfire.com/goth/chani/blackstone.htm) The 1851 Census lists only two families. That of Jonathan Blakestone at South Molton but from Filleigh & that of James Way Blackstone at West Teignmouth. By 1881 the only Blakiston's in the area are both descendants of Durham stock.

Infrequent mention. Though in 1641 William Blakestone of Etton, East Yorkshire was buried at Bath Abbey.

First mention is the baptism of William Blackstone in 1595 Salisbury. During the 1600's there are a few marriages. In the early 1800's a few isolated families crop up.