The Blackmore brothers, Captain John and Joseph, probably came to Scott County from Fauquier County, VA, for George Blackmore, son of Captain John, says in his Revolutionary War pension claim that he was born in Fauquier County, May 14, 1763. Upon arrival on the Clinch sometime in the year 1773, they
settled on that river, near the mouth of Stoney Creek, and here, in the spring of 1774, they built a small fort known as Blackmore s Fort which served the early settlers of that area until the last Indian raid by Benge in the year 1794.
     The fort was many times attacked and under siege by the Indians, both Cherokee and Shawnee and many settlers were killed and taken captive in the area during the two decades of troubled times. Both Logan, the Mingo chieftain, and Benge, the half-breed Cherokee Chief, who lived both among the Cherokee and Shawnee nations, attacked the fork on more than one occasion. Just across the road from where the old fort stood is a graveyard with many rough stones as markers where rests the remains of those who died from natural causes and those who fell victim to the bloody tomahawk of the vanquished savage who was also fighting for his native land.

     In the year of 1779, Captain John Blackmore and his family, along with the families of Johnathan Jennings, Edward Douglas, and perhaps others, left the area and rafted down the Clinch and found the settlement of Nashboro, which later became the city of Nashville, TN, becoming the first family of that area. Prior to leaving Fort Blackmore, Johnathan Jennings had lost a son, the victim of an Indian attack as had Edward Douglas when his young son John Douglas was killed in Little Moccasin Gap. While rafting to Nashboro the convoy was attacked by Indians and the family of Johnathan Jennings was destroyed. After their settlement in Tennessee, John Blackmore, the son of Captain John, was also slain by the Indians.
     The families of Captain John Blackmore, Edward Douglas, and perhaps also the family of Johnathan Jennings were related through inter-marriage. Among the children of Captain John Blackmore was George who married Sarah Douglas, and he, George, was a Drummer for the militia troops while they were stationed in his father s fort. Almore (Elmore) Douglas who married a daughter of John Blackmore; John Blackmore, Jr., and Thomas Blackmore. Of the daughters I have no record, except the one who married Almore Douglas.
     Joseph Blackmore, brother of Captain John, lived on in the area after his brother moved to the Cumberland in Tennessee. He suffered more at the hands of the Indians than did the family of his brother John. He had a daughter Mary "Molly" Blackmore who had perhaps first married a Chadwell, for she had a daughter Cynthia Chadwell. She then married Jessee Adams and had twelve children by this marriage in the year 1782. Jessee Adams and ten of his children lived at the head of Stock Creek, two children Johnathan and Sally Adams somehow escaping massacre, as did their mother massacre and the escape of the mother and two children being unknown to this writer. Later Mary Adams married Henry Hamlin, whose first wife was also named Mary and had been killed by the Indians about 1783 in the Castlewood section. Mary Adams Hamlin was also killed by the Indians at Blackmore s Fort in 1790, and there has arisen much controversy and confusion about the killings of Henry Hamlin s wives, since both were named Mary and both killed by the Indians. Joseph Blackmore had another daughter Hannah, who married Richard Byrd and lived on Moccasin Creek near Gate City. This Richard Byrd was closely related to Col. William Byrd of Westover.
     On April 6, 1789, Joseph Blackmore had two other children, whose names are unknown to me, slain by the Indians. When Bishop Frances Asbury of the Methodist Church visited Fort Blackmore in 1790, he made the two following entries in his Journal: "1790, Wednesday, April 28. We have had cold weather and severe frosts for two nights past. We had a dreary ride down to the ford of Clinch, through a solitary plain. We rode down to Blackmore s Station, here the people have been forted on the north side of the Clinch. Poor Blackmore had a son and daughter killed by the Indians. They are of the opinion here that the Cherokees were the authors of this mischief.
     Friday, 30. Crossed Clinch about two miles below the fort. In passing along I saw the precipice from which Blackmore s unhappy son leaped into the river after receiving the stroke of the tomahawk in the head; I suppose by measure of my eye, it must be between fifty and sixty feet in descent; his companion was shot dead upon the spot; this happened on the 6th of April, 1789."
     There is also a confirming article published in the West Christian Advocate, November 1, 1859, by J. S. Hind
(Draper Mss 5 C 13).
     "One of the Blackmores resided on Clinch and the Indians attacked his family on April 6, 1789, killing a son and daughter, and another son who ran for the river, leaping into the stream some 50 to 60 feet. His companion with him was shot dead upon the spot."
     From the above quotes it may be that a third person, "the companion" might also have been killed, unless he was the brother.
     [Clinch Valley Times, September 30, 1965]