Revolutionary War Militia Officer. The eldest of two brothers (the other being Col. Isaac Bledsoe), who helped to establish what is now Sumner County, Tennessee. Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, he moved to the wilderness of south-western Virginia - north-western North Carolina. Becoming a prominent citizen in Fincastle County, he became a member of Virginia's House of Burgesses and justice of the peace, and served as a military leader in the French and Indian Wars. At the beginning of the Revolutionary he was commissioned by the Virginia Commission of Safety, under Governor Patrick Henry. He led a force to rescue Ft. Watauga from the British led Indian force. Governor Caswell of North Carolina promoted him to Colonel in his state's militia. With his brother Isaac, the Shelby and Desha families they settled the Holston River Area. During the struggle for Independence he was sent to defend the Wyoming Valley against the Indians, who allied themselves with the British and might cause another slaughter of the defender's families. At the same time he sent a subordinate, Capt. Isaac Shelby on to King's Mountain. Colonel Bledsoe moved to Greenfield in 1781, following his brother's, Isaac, in 1780. In 1781 at his daughter's wedding to Robert Desha he met and later married Susan Hart, daughter of General Nathaniel Hart, Jr. In 1785 Col. Anthony was elected as Sumner's Representative to the North Carolina Legislation. During 1787 the natives began attacks on the settlers along the Cumberland. Many wished to move back to the Holston. In defense of staying he was reported to say: "If we perish here others will sure to follow to avenge our death and complete the wok which we have begun. If they find not our graves nor our scattered bones, they will at least revere and lament our memories as having deserved a better fate." On July 20th, 1788 he and his friend, John Campbell, spotted a party of Indians near Bledsoe's Lick, in the evening. Rushing to warn their fellow settlers, a stampede was creating - either by the Indians or the noise of both parties - rushing towards the settlement. Trapped in the open both men were shot.