John Black qualified as a Patriot because he was a civil servant and overseer of roads in Montgomery County.

John Black’s father, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Black, had purchased 600 acres along the “Allegheny Divide in the eastern boundary of the 7,500 acres called Draper.” Samuel apparently lived in Albemarle County because John was born there in 1755. Samuel never lived on the property he purchased in what is now Montgomery County.

Upon his death, he left the Draper property to his sons, William and John.
William gave some of his portion to establish the town of Blacksburg. The town, with a size of 16 blocks, was incorporated by the General Assembly of Virginia in 1798.

John was appointed to serve as an overseer of the road as marked by the court from glade to foot of Sinking Creek Mountain.  

John Black lived to the age of 94 and is buried in Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. In 2016, Alleghany Chapter NSDAR placed a DAR Patriot plaque on his tombstone.