Leonin Beauchamp Blanchan born in 1578 in France, married Isabelle LeRoy about 1598. They had two sons, Mathieu Blanchan (Blanshan) and Anthoine Blanchamp (Blanshan). Leonin died before 1649.
Mattheus Blanshan, born in 1606, is the immigrant ancestor (at least as far as is known) of all of the Blanshan in America. He was born in the former province of Artois, France and baptised in the village of Neuville-au-Cornet in Artois. He married Magdeleine Joire (born October 27, 1611) from Armentieres (Remember the song “Madamoiselle from Armentieres, Parlez Vous?”) on October 15, 1633. Magdeleine was the daughter of Petrus (Pierre) Joire and Jacoba LeBlanc or Le Blan. Magdeleine was baptised Catholic, but Mattheus was a Huguenot. The Huguenots were French Protestants from the 16th and 17th centuries, many of whom migrated to other countries due to religious persecution in France. Some time before 1647, Mattheus and Magdeleine moved to England. By 1651 they were in Mannheim, in what is now Germany, probably persuaded to go there by the new tax laws and provisions made to induce Huguenot merchants …Gilded Otter. Mattheus is listed on the passenger list as an agriculturist (farmer). He was granted a Deed of Confirmation by Governor Nicholls on June 18, 1664 “for a house and lot of ground lying and being at Wilwyck, at Esopus.” Wyltwyck is now the city of Kingston. He acquired considerable property at Esopus. Sometime prior to April 25, 1663 the family helped to establish the village of New Dorp, which was destroyed by the Esopus Indians in June of 1663. (New Dorp is now the city of Hurley.) Mattheus’s married daughter Catherine, who had also come to America on the Gilded Otter, was carried away into captivity by the Indians and was rescued months later. Mattheus died April 30, 1688 in Kingston, Ulster, New York at about age 82. Ulster County is in the Catskill Mountains. (Children: Anna Blanshan Freer, Catherine Blanshan Dubois Cottin (163X-1713), Marie Blanshan Crispell, Maximillian Blanshan, Magdalena Blanshan Jansen (1647-…), Elizabeth Blanshan Louw (or Low), and Mathieu Blanshan Jr.
Mathieu Blanshan, born April 18, 1655 in Mannheim, Germany, married Margrietje Claaes Van Schoonhoven on March 30, 1679 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York. He died in Kingston in 1692. (Children: Matys Blanchan, Nicolaus Blanshan, Cornelia Blanchan Lefever, Magdalena Blanshan Bevier, Catheryne Blanchan LeFevre, Daniel Blangea, Elizabeth Blansjan Cantine, Nathaniel Blanschan and Margriet Blansschjan.
Matheus Blanshan was born June 10, 1716, and baptised on September 28, 1718 in Kingston, Ulster County, New York. He married Annatjen Freer on March 17, 1738. (Children: Jacob Blanshan, Brechje Blanshan Burhans, Johannes Blanshan…)
Jacob Blanshan was baptised January 11, 1747 at Kingston, New York. He married Jacomyntie Smedes on June 17, 1768.
Mattheus Jacob Blanshan was baptised April 3, 1774 in Ulster County, New York. He married Anny Turk, birth date unknown, in Kingston, New York. (Children: Jacob Smedes Blanshan, Daniel Isaac Blanshan, Catharine Blanshan LeFever…
Jacob Smedes Blanshan was born May 11, 1814, in New Paltz, Ulster County, New York. He was baptised June 25, 1814. He came to Wisconsin in October, 1847, only a year after the first white settlers. He had to follow a blazed trail to locate the eighty acres which he had taken up. He married Anna Mariah (known as Maria) Travice (or Travis) on November 3, 1839. Anna was born September, 1820 in New York, and she died January 29, 1902 at age 81. Jacob died August 15, 1893 at age 79. Both are buried in Junction Cemetery, Grand Junction Township, Greene County, Iowa.
Mathew J. Blanshan was born January 14, 1847. He married Ada Della Anderson, born August 18, 1862 in Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Albert and Clymena Tubbs Anderson. Matthew died January 4, 1929 in Paton, Green County, Iowa at age 81. He is buried in Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction Township, Greene County, Iowa.
Chester Ralph Blanshan was born September 5, 1880 in Green County, Iowa. He married Alvina (Belle) Buck.
Ralph J. Blanshan was born August 1, 1904. He married Edith (Fern) Pearson. He died August 27, 1987 and is buried with Fern in Minneopa Cemetery in Mankato, Minnesota. Their children were Donna, Robert, Jim, Harvey, Garry, Albert, and Sandy.
Robert Chester Blanshan was born February 4, 1926 in Mankato, Minneosta. He married June Esther Colebank, born January 29, 1926 in Fertile, Minnesota, on August 20, 1947 in Madelia, Minnesota. June’s parents were Lester and Linda Colebank. They have the following children and grandchildren:
Barbara Blanshan Lamm: Married Paul Lamm. Children: Christine Lamm Wilder, Duane Lamm, Bonnie Lamm Randolph.
Dale Blanshan: Married Linda Jean Bobo. Children: Jessica Blanshan Lyons, Elizabeth (Betsy) Blanshan Cradic, Catherine (Carrie) Blanshan Howard, Robert (Bobby) Blanshan, Paulina (Polly) Blanshan Miller, Margaret (Peggy) Blanshan Jorde, Lawrence James (Jimmy) Blanshan, William (Billy) Blanshan.
Rebecca Blanshan Colebank: Married Wayne Hinrichs. Children: Aaron Hinrichs, Gillian Hinrichs Beach, Emily Hinrichs. Married Wayne Hinrichs.
Nancy Blanshan Erickson: Married Dennis Erickson. Children: Mandelin (Mandy) Erickson Rowland, Crystal Erickson Egland.
Suzanne Blanshan Larson. Married Curtis Olafson: Children: Renata Olafson Selzer, Drew Olafson. Married Jon Larson.
David Blanshan: Deceased
Amy Jo Blanshan Davis: Married Boyd Eser Children: Ferminda (Mindy) Eser Arkell, Jocelyn (Joci) Eser, Blaine Eser, Sterling Eser. Married Rodney Davis. Children: Eliana Davis.
Brenda Blanshan: Married Richard Prochazka