Isaac worked as a laborer before enlisting in the army. 27 years old at the time, he was physically described in 1813 as 5' 9-1/4" tall with hazel eyes, black hair, and a dark complexion. He came to Mackinac Island as an artillery soldier around 1816. He re-enlisted in 1827 and became a sergeant in Company "I" of the 2nd Artillery at Fort Mackinac until November 1822, after which he remained on the Island and married Mary Babbeau, December 9, 1824. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church on the Island in 1823, and was the Mackinac County, Moran Township Justice of the Peace by 1859.

Gros Cap Cemetery Marker: In Memory of Isaac Blanchard Aged 79 years, 22 days (Block 2, Lot 4)

"Farewell, my wife and children all
From you a father Christ doth call
Mourn not for me It is in vain
To call me to your side again"

Mary, the wife of Isaac, was born to Louis & Josephine Anse Babbeau and her Indian name was Mis-An-Jean-Qua. She married Isaac Blanchard and they had eleven children, Mary, Susan, Joseph, James, Nancy, Lucy, Isaac, John, Phoebe, William & Elvira.

His son Isaac Blanchard Jr. was shot and killed by Augustus Pond. His tombstone has an inscription "murdered" which someone tried to remove from the tombstone.

Pond was convicted of manslaughter. His case went to the Michigan Supreme Court and the conviction was overturned as it was determined that Pond was defending his home.

Isaac Blanchard, Jr. is buried in the Gros Cap Cemetery and his gravestone bears the inscription, "In Memory of Isaac Blanchard, Jr. Born March 20, 1837 and murdered June 18, 1859"Source: Mrs. Emerson (Margaret) Smith, 1961 - Gros Cap Cemetery Records The story is that fishermen from here went to the fishing grounds near Seul Choix, pronounced Shiss-wa by the French fishermen, as it still is. Seul Choix is located on Lake Michigan. They set up housekeeping in small buildings. During a party some of the younger men drank too much and Isaac Blanchard made trouble at the Pond property. He was ordered off but refused to leave. In the encounter Augustus Pond shot and killed Blanchard. The trial was held in Mackinac County and Augustus Pond was convicted of manslaughter but the Michigan Supreme Court reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial and Augustus Pond was freed, as the ruling was that he had a right to defend his property This story has recently been publicized in news articles and this case set a precedent in law and is often quoted as the People vs Pond.Some time later, presumably after the Supreme Court decision, the word "Murdered" on his tombstone was partially obliterated by a chisel. About 1989 the entire gravestone disappeared but was later returned in November 1994 to the Moran Township Hall ---- no questions asked. It had been broken into four pieces.
Biography provided by Betty Joan Cogan