I was just minding my own business, skimming through several books looking for references to my surname, when I came across a book by a Doctor Edward Blackmore of Plymouth. It appeared to be a dry and outdated medical treatise, and didn't appear to be interesting from a family history perspective. I was about to move on when the words, "my relative Sir Richard Blackmore", caught my eye:

... The question is important; for I have seen, and my relative Sir Richard Blackmore observed, 'purulent matter from the larynx while the lungs were uninfected; which imposed on undistinguishing observers, and made them conclude that the patient was in consumption.' ...

From page 198, 'A Practical Treatise on the Forms, Causes, Sanability, and Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption', by Edward Blackmore, M.D., Physician to the Plymouth Public Dispensary, published in 1832.

Sir Richard Blackmore died in 1729 and Edward published this particular book just over 100 years later. My understanding is that Sir Richard didn't have any children so Edward couldn't be a direct descendant, but obviously knew of a link between himself and the knighted physician and poet.

This is only the second reference I've see to a relation of Sir Richard's family and I have not heard from anyone who has direct links.

My own research does not appear to link to Edward so I hope someone can make use of this information.