Benjamin Blackledge
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Blackledge was an American
educator
and public official. He was the first teacher of English language
in Closter, New Jersey
, and rose to become "the most prominent man in the northern part of Bergen County". In recognition of his contributions to society, the borough of Closter, in 1998, named a street, Blackledge Court after him.
, to Philip Blackledge (1716–1806) and Sarey Woodruff (b. 1718). As a very young man, he came to Closter on foot to teach the Dutch
citizens the King's English
. A schoolhouse was built for him by subscription; the house consisted of one instruction room and one room serving as the teacher's quarters. After Blackledge married on April 20, 1770, he and his sixteen year old bride lived in this schoolhouse room.
Blackledge's extraordinary skill at penmanship was instrumental in his later appointment to civic office. In 1775, he became the first clerk of Harrington Township, New Jersey. Subsequently, he served as Justice of the Peace and Judge of the County Court of Common Pleas, and was also was elected to the assembly of Bergen County, New Jersey
. His activities in the legal life of Bergen County were so prolific that many area documents of the late 18th and early 19th century bear his name in some connection.
Blackledge is also said to have built the original (southern) portion of the Blackledge-Kearney
House, a site on the National Register of Historic Places
located in Palisades Interstate Park. The house was saved from destruction and registered as an historic site in the early 20th century, thanks to the prevalent local legend that the house briefly served as the headquarters of General Charles Cornwallis
after his crossing of the Hudson River
on the night of November 19–20, 1776. (Modern scholarship, however, has placed the probable landing site over a mile to the south.) While there is no indication that Blackledge himself ever lived in the house, the property was occupied by his daughter, Maria Blackledge, and her husband Daniel Van Sciver (a DAR
Patriot) as early as 1802.
Benjamin Blackledge died on November 27, 1815, and was buried in Saucher Tave's Regraven Ground in Demarest, New Jersey
, which is also known simply as "Demarest Cemetery", where many members of his family are also interred.
. As told on his monument in Saucher Tave's, at the age of 89, Dowe Tallema was bayonetted by a raiding party of Tories
, who attacked his farm on May 11, 1779.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and public official. He was the first teacher of English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in Closter, New Jersey
Closter, New Jersey
Closter is a Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,373. After the turn of the century, Closter changed from being sprawling estates and farms into a middle and upper middle class suburban town...
, and rose to become "the most prominent man in the northern part of Bergen County". In recognition of his contributions to society, the borough of Closter, in 1998, named a street, Blackledge Court after him.
Life
Benjamin Blackledge was born in Elizabeth, New JerseyElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, to Philip Blackledge (1716–1806) and Sarey Woodruff (b. 1718). As a very young man, he came to Closter on foot to teach the Dutch
Netherland
Netherland is a critically acclaimed novel by Joseph O'Neill. It concerns the life of a Dutchman living in New York in the wake of the September 11 attacks who takes up cricket and starts playing at the Staten Island Cricket Club.-Plot summary:...
citizens the King's English
King's English
King's English may refer to:*Received Pronunciation, a form of English language pronunciation sometimes known as the Queen's English or the King's English*The King's English, a book on English usage and grammar, first published in 1906...
. A schoolhouse was built for him by subscription; the house consisted of one instruction room and one room serving as the teacher's quarters. After Blackledge married on April 20, 1770, he and his sixteen year old bride lived in this schoolhouse room.
Blackledge's extraordinary skill at penmanship was instrumental in his later appointment to civic office. In 1775, he became the first clerk of Harrington Township, New Jersey. Subsequently, he served as Justice of the Peace and Judge of the County Court of Common Pleas, and was also was elected to the assembly of Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
. His activities in the legal life of Bergen County were so prolific that many area documents of the late 18th and early 19th century bear his name in some connection.
Blackledge is also said to have built the original (southern) portion of the Blackledge-Kearney
Blackledge-Kearney
Blackledge-Kearney House, also known as Cornwallis' Headquarters, is located within the Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine, New Jersey. The house was built in 1750 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1984...
House, a site on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
located in Palisades Interstate Park. The house was saved from destruction and registered as an historic site in the early 20th century, thanks to the prevalent local legend that the house briefly served as the headquarters of General Charles Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
after his crossing of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
on the night of November 19–20, 1776. (Modern scholarship, however, has placed the probable landing site over a mile to the south.) While there is no indication that Blackledge himself ever lived in the house, the property was occupied by his daughter, Maria Blackledge, and her husband Daniel Van Sciver (a DAR
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
Patriot) as early as 1802.
Benjamin Blackledge died on November 27, 1815, and was buried in Saucher Tave's Regraven Ground in Demarest, New Jersey
Demarest, New Jersey
Demarest is a Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,881.Demarest was formed by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1903, from portions of Harrington Township and Palisades Township. The borough was named...
, which is also known simply as "Demarest Cemetery", where many members of his family are also interred.
Family
Benjamin Blackledge married Cathalyntie Tallema (April 1, 1754 - October 5, 1836), who was also known by her Anglicized name, Caroline Tallman. They had nine children, most of whom survived to adulthood and had families of their own. Cathalyntie's grandparents, Maritie Haring and Dowe Hermanszen Tallema, also had some local fame. Her grandmother was of the Haring family for whom Harrington Township was named, and her grandfather has been given DAR Patriot status by special distinction, namely through being perhaps the oldest recorded combat fatality of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. As told on his monument in Saucher Tave's, at the age of 89, Dowe Tallema was bayonetted by a raiding party of Tories
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
, who attacked his farm on May 11, 1779.