The Blackledges of Bergen County are descended from John Blackleach, of Boston, and his second wife, Elizabeth (daughter of Benjamin Herbert), One of their three children, Philip Blackledge, came, it is said, from Wethersfield, Conn., to New York, in 1709, and on November 29, 1710, married Willempie Conwell, born in England in 1680.
Philip Blackledge removed from New York to Elizabethtown, N. J., early in 1723, and there remained until his death in 1761. His will was proved and recorded at Trenton, N. J., July 11, 1761. He was a man of some means and wrote the title “Gentleman” after his name. By his will he gave his children each five shillings and the balance of his estate, lands and money, to his wife absolutely. His issue were eight children, four baptized at New York and four at Elizabethtown, N. J.: Annatie, 1713; Philip 1716; Zacharias, 1718; Philip 1720; Catharine, 1730; Jacob, 1735; Sarah, 1740; and Benjamin.
Benjamin Blackledge (2) was born at Elizabethtown, N. J., August 25, 1743. While still a young man he went on foot from Elizabethtown to Closter and taught school there, the first one in the northern part of Bergen County. Here he married, April 20, 1770, Cathelyntie Tallman. He became the most prominent man in the northern part of Bergen County, was the first Town Clerk of Harrington Township in 1775, a Justice of the Peace, a Judge of the County Count [sic] of Common Pleas, and filled other township and county offices. He was a splendid penman, of which fact hundreds of old deeds and other documents still extant bear witness. He died at Closter, November 27, 1815, and his wife died October 5, 1836. His issue were Benjamin, 1770; Maria, 1772; Cornelius 1774; Sarah, 1776; Jacobus, 1779; Peter, 1782; Henry, 1784, Jacob, 1786; and Elizabeth, 1788. These married as follows: Benjamin, Deborah Westervelt and Lea Powless; Mria, Daniel Van Sciver; Cornelius, Rachel Powless; Sarah, Seba P. Bogert; Peter, Elizabeth D. Naugle; Henry, Catharine Manning; and Elizabeth, Cornelius Van Valen. Their descendants are still numerous throughout Bergen County.
Source: Harvey, Cornelius Burnham, Editor; Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, New York: The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900.