The first Youngblood found in this country was Andrew, who was here as early as June 1654. The second was Abraham, who came to America prior to 1660. He married Marie Bernard, one of the twin daughters of Maria (Bullock) and William Bernard (Barentz); the latter were married June 1, 1642 in the Dutch Reformed Church in New York. Abraham and Marie had three children: Cirina, baptized April 28, 1660; Alexander, baptized March 15, 1662; and Adam Johannes, baptized July 28, 1664. Abraham owned land on lower Manhattan Island. The date of his death is unknown.

We find nothing more of the Youngbloods until 1702, when Thomas Youngblood was on the tax list in Gun Powder Hundred, Baltimore County, Maryland as a single man. He paid taxes as a single man until 1708 when he paid as a married man. He owned property as early as 1706 in Baltimore County. He married about 1707 to Mary, surname unknown, but believed to be Miles. They apparently had only one child, John Miles Youngblood, who was baptized October 31, 1708 in St. George Parish, Baltimore County, in that section of Maryland that later became Harford County.

After Thomas' death, his widow married John Miles, presumed to be a relative. Mary died between 1733 and 1738. Her son, John Miles Youngblood, was married January 21, 1729 to Mary Coale. Their known children were: Henry Miles, born January 17, 1730; Mary, born September 7, 1732; John, born October 17, 1734; and Thomas, born December 11, 1736. The first three were baptized in St. George Parish; Thomas was baptized in St. James Church, Ann Arundel County, Maryland.

During the years John Miles Youngblood's children were being born in Maryland, one Johannes Jong Bloet and Gertraut Jong Bloet were in the Orange County section of New York state.

Records indicate that in the years following 1725, not only were Mary and her son John Miles Youngblood present in Maryland, but also Peter, Casper, Jacob and Derrick, all of who [sic] settled in the territory between Maryland Pennsylvania on land which was claimed by both provinces and which was referred to as the "disputed territory". It encompassed the area between Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Frederick County, Maryland. Because of the dispute between the two colonies, the Baltimores, proprietors of Maryland, and the heirs of William Penn arranged for Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, English surveyors, to establish a dividing line. The survey was completed in 1767 and has since been known as the "Mason-Dixon Line".

Peter Youngblood, the progenitor of the South Carolina Youngbloods, was born prior to the early 1700's in the Palatinate section of the Old German Empire. He arrived in this country prior to 1728, as he is found settled in the "disputed territory" in that year. Three years later, on April 6, 1731, this same Peter Youngblood sold a warrant (500 acres) of land on the West Branch of Cordous Creek to Michael Springle.

From the "Maryland Historical Magazine", Volume 26, page 167, we glean that in Annapolis in October 1749, Peter Youngblood was assigned to lay out several tracts of land by warrants (500 acres). On the same date: "To Peter Youngblood a Special Warrant to resurvey the tract of land called 'Cat Tail Marsh'", which was originally granted to Michael Risner on February 8, 1738 and by him conveyed to Peter Youngblood. From this it appears that Peter's occupation was that of surveyor.

In 1739 Peter Youngblood and his children, William, Peter, Sarah and Mary, were living in Prince Georges County, Maryland. They were naturalized and it was then that (father) Peter stated that he was born in Germany. It is assumed that his wife, name unknown, and mother of the aforementioned children, was dead, as she is not mentioned in the naturalization papers. Peter's second wife was Mary Wheals, whom he married November 26, 1750 in Hanford County, Maryland.

Records indicate that the Youngbloods of Maryland began to disappear from that state about 1745. On or near that date, Youngbloods by the names of Peter, Sr., Peter, Jr., John Thomas and Henry appeared in Orange and Johnston Counties in North Carolina. William Youngblood, presumed to be the son of Peter, Sr., settled in Anson County, North Carolina.

The Earl of Granville in 1761 granted land to Peter Youngblood of Orange County, which was deeded by Peter in 1763 to John Youngblood, who with his wife, Mary, sold it to Thomas Greave. It is possible that his grant was earlier than 1761, but not recorded until that time, because it is known that Peter was in Orange County as early as 1754, as land grants were issued to people in that year for land adjoining Peter Youngblood's. His grant was on the east side of Deep River at Great Shoals, which seems to be near where Rocky River empties into Deep River. This is a few miles south of present-day Pittsboro, near the town of Moncure. Peter, Jr. was granted 700 acres at the head of Meadow Creek, which empties into Rocky River and which is near the present-day Siler City. All of these sites are in present-day Chatham County, North Carolina. John Youngblood also owned land on Meadow Creek, probably adjoining Peter, Jr.'s land. Orange County, at its formation in 1752, encompassed the present-day counties of Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Orange and Person, and about half of Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham and Wake counties. The western boundary was Anson County, which had been formed in 1750.

At about the same time that the Youngbloods began their migration from Pennsylvania and Maryland to North Carolina, 3600 German immigrants were transported from Germany to Ireland. Most of these people continued on to America as soon as they found themselves to be no better off in Ireland than they had been in Germany. This accounts for why some Youngbloods indicate their heritage as being Irish.

The Youngbloods were a peace-loving people at heart, but Fate seemed to be against them and their living according to their beliefs. First, they had left Europe to escape intolerance imposed on religious sects. They lived along the eastern seaboard in Maryland and Virginia for more than 100 years before joining the migration southward. They settled in North Carolina in time to become involved in the "War of Regulation" in that state. The Regulation Movement was organized about 1768 by Protestants, whose center was in Orange County, as a protest to the oppression of corrupt British officials. Some historians refer to this movement as the forerunner of the American Revolution and consider those who took part in it as martyrs to the cause of American independence. Others compare their efforts to the "Sons of Liberty" in New England, whose protests against unjust taxation culminated in the "Boston Tea Party", and ultimately the American Revolution.

Peter Youngblood was one of the signers of the Petition to the British officials by the Regulators in 1768, according to Colonial Records of North Carolina, Volume 7, pp. 733-736. Three other Youngbloods were also signers of the Petition: John, James, and Thomas.

Still seeking an opportunity to live in peace, Peter Youngblood moved to South Carolina. Here we find grants listed to Peter Youngblood, Jr. on Chavious Creek and Colleton Youngblood for 350 acres in Colleton County on February 11, 1773. We also find tax returns for the year 1783, dated June 24, 1784, in St. Bartholamew's Parish for Peter Youngblood listing 1660 acres, 23 slaves, and wheeled carriages. Also listed is Isaac Youngblood with 415 acres, 35 slaves, and 2 wheeled carriages. December 24, 1787 records for St. Bartholamew Parish show Peter Youngblood listed with 1050 acres on Welches Creek, 23 slaves, and 2 wheeled carriages. Also listed is David Youngblood with 330 acres at "Round O" and 23 slaves. All of these locations are near the present-day town of Walterboro, South Carolina.

It has not been determined where or when Peter Youngblood, Sr. died, but it is assumed that it was sometime between 1770 and 1774, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. A further presumption is that Isaac and David Youngblood are the sons of Peter, Sr. by his second wife, Mary Wheals. Records on individuals from 1740 to 1770 are incomplete, as many were destroyed by fire. The following records were found in the South Carolina Archives, Department of Memorial Tax Returns, Book 8, page 456:

"Youngblood, Peter--300 acres situated in Granville [sic] Co. on Beverdam [sic] Creek, a branch of the Savannah River, all sides bounded by vacant land at the time of survey, originally granted to John Lamar and conveyed by his Memorialist by lease and release, dated 8/2/1764--final 6/27/1796. Signed by John Fairchild D.S. for Memorialist." (Note: It is believed that this Peter is the son of Peter who was naturalized in 1739 in Maryland. He had sons by now and has dropped the "Jr." from his name).

There are several Peter Youngbloods in early South Carolina history and the records show that this one became a wealthy man before the Revolutionary War. The records also show that he did not learn to read and write English well, as he still made his "X" on legal papers--yet he kept personal records in German. This was true of many people in those early years--even the church records of Orangeburg, South Carolina were kept in German. These early people held on to their customs, language and religious faith. Records show that Peter gave generous sums of money to help the War and that he had many children, most of which were sons.

With the coming of the Revolutionary War, we find the Peter Youngblood family heavily involved. Peter, Jr. was not only beneficent monetarily to the cause for freedom, but he served as a captain in the South Carolina Militia. Many Revolutionary War soldiers mentioned having served under Captain Peter Youngblood. Peter also had two sons, Lewis and Samuel, who served in the War. We also find Isaac and David Youngblood serving under Captain Peter Youngblood.

After the Revolutionary War, Peter, Jr. seems to have taken a land grant in Georgia and settled down in Richmond County in that state. Many Revolutionary soldiers accepted land grants in lieu of money for their services, as the new country was rich in land, but very short of hard cash.

When his estate was settled in 1788, Peter was living in Richmond County (Augusta Deed IG-58, 1788). The deed mentions that the children were living across the Savannah River in Edgefield County, South Carolina and were named as Samuel, Joseph, Lewis, Sarah, Susanna, Margaret, Rebecca, and Liddy. Samuel, the oldest son, was married to Jane McMillan; Joseph married Mary Lipscomb; Lewis married Rachell [sic] Martin; Rebecca married William Wilson; and Liddy married Cain Gentry. It is not known who Sarah, Susanna and Margaret married.