The Blackwood Baronets (1763)

The Blackwoods, represented by the noble house of Dufferin, are of Scottish extraction, and can be traced in the public records of Scotland to a very early period. One branch migrated to France, of which was the celebrated Adam Blackwood (1539-1613), privy counsellor to MARY, Queen of Scots (whose marriage with the Dauphin of France he had negotiated), and senator of the Presidial Court of Poitiers.

He died there in 1613, leaving ample proofs of his talents as a civilian, a poet, and a divine; and was there interred with great pomp under a marble monument, inscribed with a long epitaph, styling him "Nobilis Scotus, inclytorum majorum, in Caledonia notus." 

The male line of the French Blackwoods became extinct at the death  of SIMON XAVIER DE BLACVOD, Chevalier, Seigneur des Frozes in Poitou, whose eldest daughter and co-heiress, MARIE THÉRÈSE BLACVOD, married, in 1776, Jean Philippe Bellin de la Bontadière, Chevalier, Seigneur des Cotes. A scion of the Fifeshire family (from which Fifeshire family also derived the Poitou branch) was

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Bangor, County Down, born in Scotland in 1591, who became possessed of considerable landed property in Ulster, which he settled on the marriage of his son. 

He died in 1663,  and was interred at Bangor Abbey.

His grave-stone reads:

HERE LIES [JOHN] BLACKWOOD, MERCHANT, LATE PROVOST OF BANGOR, WHO DEPARTED THIS LYFE THE 22 OF MAY 1663 AND OF AGE 72. 

HERE LYES A MAN WHO LIV'D OF LATE INTO A FLOORISHING ESTATE YET WAS IT HIS GLORY THAT THERBY HIMSELF HE DID NOT MAGNIFY A SOBER IVST [Just] AND ..... MAN AND THOVGH HIS LIFE WAS BVT A SPAN YET IT SO BLAMELESS WAS THAT HE DESERVES A LASTING MEMORIE.

John Blackwood wedded Janet Clerke, and had, with three daughters, a son and successor,

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Ballyleidy, County Down, who was attainted by JAMES II.

He espoused Anna Wauchope, and died in 1698, leaving, with three daughters, an only son,

JOHN BLACKWOOD, of Ballyleidy, also attainted by JAMES II's parliament. 

He married Ursula, daughter and co-heir of Robert Hamilton, of Killyleagh, and by her had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;

James, ancestor of the Blackwoods (now PRICES) of Saintfield;

Ursula.

The elder son,

ROBERT BLACKWOOD (1694-1774), of Ballyleidy, married firstly, in 1721,  Joyce, sister of JOSEPH, 1ST EARL OF MILLTOWN, and had issue,

Leeson, d 1773;
JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Margaret.

He wedded secondly, Grace Macartney, and had further issue,

William;
Grace; Sarah; Elizabeth; Ursula Harriot; Dorcas.

Mr Blackwood was created a baronet in 1763, designated of Ballyleidy, County Down.

He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JOHN BLACKWOOD, 2nd Baronet (1721-99), who married, in 1751, DORCAS, 1ST BARONESS DUFFERIN AND CLANEBOYE, eldest daughter and heiress of James Stevenson, of Killyleagh, and had issue,

Leeson;
Robert;
JAMES STEVENSON, his successor;
John (Rev);
HANS, succeeded his brother;
Price;
Henry, Vice-Admiral; cr a baronet, designated of the Navy;
Anne; Sophia; Dorcas; Margaret Catherine.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

SIR JAMES STEVENSON BLACKWOOD, 3rd Baronet (1755–1836), who inherited the barony at the decease of his mother and succeeded, in 1807, as 2nd Baron Dufferin and Claneboye.

Sir James married, in 1801, Anne Dorothea, daughter of John, 1st Baron Oriel, though the marriage was without issue.

He was succeeded in the family honours by his brother,

HANS, 3rd Baron and 4th Baronet (1758-1839), who espoused firstly, in 1784, Mehetabel Hester, daughter of Robert Temple, and had issue,

Robert Temple (1788-1815);
Hans;
PRICE, 4th Baron;
Henrietta.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1801, Elizabeth, daughter of William Henry Finlay, and had further issue,

William Stear (Rev);
Henry Stevenson;
Anna Dorothea; Elizabeth Dorcas; Henrietta Catherine; two other daughters.

The 3rd Baron was succeeded by his son and successor,

PRICE, 4th Baron and 5th Baronet (1794-1841), who married, in 1825, Helen Selina, daughter of Thomas Sheridan, and had issue,

FREDERICK TEMPLE, 5th Baron and 6th Baronet (1826–1902), who was created, 1871, Earl of Dufferin; and advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1888, as MARQUESS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA.

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John Francis Blackwood, 11th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye (b 1944), would be the 12th Blackwood Baronet of Ballyleidy, and the 8th Blackwood Baronet of the Navy; the baronetcy, however, remains dormant.

The Blackwood Baronets' London residence was 13 Cavendish Square.

First published in June, 2012.