The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Maryland and Virginia. The first European settlers started arriving about 1730.
Hampshire County, Virginia (now West Virginia) was formed in 1754 from part of Frederick County, Virginia.
John Blue was born about 1691.
He married Cattron Van Meter. Cattron was born about 1693 and was the daughter of Joost Jans Van Meteren.
John and Cattron's clildren probably included:
John Blue (1713 married Mary Marshall and Margaret Keyser), Michael Blue (1720, married Martha Blackford),
Uriah Blue (1726, married Mary Jordan),
Abraham Blue (married Elizabeth Quick), and
Mary Blue (married Jacobus Heins).
The Blues were early settlers in, what is now, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
John's will was probated in August, 1770 in Hampshire County, Virginia which is now in West Virginia.
At that time, Abraham of Hampshire County relinquished his claim in his father's estate to Catherine Blue, widow of John Blue. The witnesses were Abraham Johnson and Jacob Reasoner.
Michael and Uriah made their homes near Shepherdstown (then Berkeley County, Virginia) while John went on to Hampshire County.
West Virginia is located in the Appalachians and was originally part of Virginia. The capital and largest city is Charleston. It became a state during the Civil War and was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863.
from Early Records, Hampshire County, Virginia: Now West Virginia,
Blue, John 7-20-1720;
pr. 8 -14 -1770.
W., Cattron
4 ch., John, Abraham, Uriah, Mical.
Exec., wife and son John Reasun
Sec. Garret Reasun and John Reasun
John Rutan, Sarah Johnson
West Virginia House Resolution 40
by Delegates Mezzatesta and Beach
Introduced February 18, 2004
referred to the
Committee on Rules
Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge on Route 28 near Romney, Hampshire County, the "John Blue Bridge."
Whereas, John Blue came to Hampshire County, Virginia, in 1725 from Somerset County, New Jersey, having allegedly received land from Lord Thomas Fairfax; and
Whereas, The acreage owned by John Blue was present day Route 28 north of Romney, Hampshire County, along the South Branch of the Potomac River; and
Whereas, John Blue and fourteen children who settled in the area and his great grandson, also named John Blue, is noted in numerous Civil War history books; therefore, be it Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia: That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways name the bridge on Route 28 near Romney, Hampshire County, the "John Blue Bridge" in tribute to an early settler along the South Branch of the Potomac River; and, be it Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge on Route 28 near Romney, Hampshire County, as the "John Blue Bridge"; and, be it Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
