Michael Blackwell (abt. 1620 - 1710)

Husband of Unknown (UNKNOWN) Blackwell — married about 1642 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 6 Jan 1710 at about age 90 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts

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Biography

MICHAEL BLACKWELL OF SANDWICH MASS. (c. 1620-1710), By Lydia B.(Phinney) Brownson, of Duxbury, Mass.and Maclean W. McLean, of Pittsburgh, Pa. From: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 117

"One of the early Sandwich settlers who has failed to enlist the serious attention of genealogists is Michael Blackwell. This lack of attention is probably largely due to the fact that the female descendants who matured and left issue greatly outnumbered the males. But whatever the cause, the absence of printed data on this Sandwich family causes unnecessary confusion to many persons who have attempted to work with the many families which have intermarried with the Blackwells. No attempt has been made by the present writers to investigate possible connections between Michael Blackwell and others of the name in England or America. It certainly would be interesting to know whether the Sandwich family was in any way related to the Ruling Elder Francis Blackwell of the Separatist Church whose recantation William Bradford criticized. Actually it is by no means certain that the family name was originally Blackwell. The Sandwich list of men between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in 1643 includes one Myles Black. James Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers in New England, 1860, vol., 1, p. 191, says "hardly can I doubt that this man [called by Savage "Michael or Myles Blackwell"] is he designated in the Col. list of those able to bear arms 1643, as Miles Black" (THE REGISTER, vol. 4. p. 257, July 1850). This question puzzled also Thomas Spooner, the compiler of the Memorial of William Spooner, 1871, who corresponded with the Rev. Frederick Freeman, author of The History of Cape Cod, 1858. Spooner quotes Freeman as saying: "The Blackwells of Sandwich were generally called Black. Even since my remembrance the latter name was used for those who wrote the name Blackwell and in some early instances of record, the same Liberty was taken. The progenitor himself is in one instance at least on record as Black" (p.60-61 footnote).

It seems to us that the evidence, while not conclusive, strongly suggests that Miles Black and Michael Blackwell were one and the same person. The reader may speculate for himself from the data available. Conclusive proof of identity doubtless would have been found in the Barnstable County land records, but these were destroyed in the 1827 fire. Fortunately Michael Blackwell and his sons and grandsons left wills and probate records which are unusually complete.

The earliest reference we find has to do with Miles Blacke who was a creditor in the amount of 7 Shillings due from the estate of William Swift, Sr., 29 Jan. 1642 (Plymouth Colony Probate, Liber 1. p. 44, in May. Des., 3: 170, December 1900). This first reference, by the way, poses a second problem of confusion of identities, namely the fact that there was in New England at an early date a gentleman of some wealth and influence called "Mr. John Blackwell." This complication will be discussed under the account of John2 Blackwell. For the moment it is enough to point out the really extraordinary coincidence that the Swift estate should have been indebted to both Miles Black of Sandwich and to "Mr. Blackwell," since so far as we can find the latter was of Boston and co. Middlesex, England, and had no interest in Sandwich.

In 1643 Miles Blacks name appears on the list of Sandwich men aged between 16 and 60, able to bear arms (THE Register, op. cit.), but Michael Blackwell's name does not appear. Yet 7 June 1648 "Mycaell Blackwell" served on the grand inquest; and the following October "Micaell Blackwell" served as grand juror in the infanticide case of Alice Bishop (Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth . . . , 2:134. cf. p. 124, where his name appears as Mycaell Blackwell). An agreement was made 17 Jan. 1652 by the town of Sandwich "with Daniel Wing & Michael Blackwell for the taking of fish in Herring River" (Frederick Freeman, "Annals Of Sandwich" in his History of Cape Cod, 1855, 2:50).

"Myles Blacke" was appointed, 3 June 1656, constable of Sandwich (Shurtleff, op. cit., 3:100). On the 1658 list of Sandwich Iand holders the name of Michaell Blackwell appears, but not that of Miles Black (Freeman, op. cit., 2:59). Yet it would seem unlikely that the town's constable was not a land owner. It is interesting to note here that this Miles Black or Blackwell held the post of Constable in Sandwich immediately preceding the inauguration in 1657 of what Amos Otis called "a system of terrorism" there, under the enthusiastic leadership of the notorious Sandwich Marshall, George Barlow, to whom the Colony Court gave "full power to act as constable in all things in the town of Sandwich" (C. F. Swift, Genealogical Notes of Barn stable Families, 1888, 258-259). No reference is made anywhere that we have seen which would indicate that Black or Blackwell was involved in persecution of the Quakers in this period, though the Blackwell family seems to have been active members of the Sandwich Congregational Church, and not to have had family connections with the Quaker element.

On 13 June 1660 "A parcell of meadow was granted to Myles Blacke att Mannomett.” And in the following March he and Thomas Burges, Sr., were brought to court for fraudulently obtaining meadow land there (Shurtleff, op. cit., 3:194, 208). These entries are perhaps significant in view of the fact that Michael Blackwell's will refers to land adjoyning Jacob Burges, principal heir to Thomas Burges, Sr. We come now to two entries which refer to "Myles Blackwell" The first shows that "Myles Blackwell" served on the Grand Jury 4 Oct. 1664 (Shurtleff, op. cit., 7:119). The second shows that Myls Blackwell was chosen surveyor of highways in Sandwich 3 June 1668. Oddly enough the same source shows that Miacaell Blackwell served on the Grand jury 5 June 1667 (ibid., 4:148, 181). Micaell Blackwell served 5 June 1671 on a committee "to view damage done to the Indians by the horses and hoggs of the English" (ibid., 5:62).

In 1672 "Mr. Edmund Freeman Senr., William Swift, Thomas Wing Senr., Thomas Dexter Senr., Michaell Blackwell & William Newland were constituted a committee to go forward in settling & confirming the bounds of the township with the Sachem of Mannomet . " (Freeman, op. cit., 2:67). Joseph Burges petitioned the Court, 3 June 1673, regarding "a way that goes through lands of Myles Blackwell . . . att Sandwich" (Shurtleff, op. cit., 5:116). The list of "all those who have just rights to the priviledges of the Town" in 1675 shows Michaell Blackwell and his son John Blackwell, and does not show a Miles Black (Freeman, op. cit., 2:68). In 1680 Michaell Blackwell served once more on the Grand Inquest and in 1672 he took the inventory of the estate of Edmund Freeman. His will shows that he deeded land in 1705 to his son Joshua and it is to be inferred that he had done the same for his elder son.

The will dated 29 Nov. 1709, of "Michael Blackwell of Sandwich" gives "lmprimis: . . . unto my grandson John Blackwell, the eldest son of my son John Blackwell, deceased, all those lands, marsh and meadow ground . . , in the town of Sandwich, lying on the Northeasterly side of Skusset River . . . on part of which upland ye dwelling house of my sd grandson now standeth . . . adjoyning in part upon the messuage in ye tenour or occupation of Jacob Burges . . . as well as one parcell of meadow lying adjoyning Jirch Swift . . . and by the lands of Irish Swift . . . on condition that my said grand son John Blackwell dye leaveing a male heire surviving, lawfully begotten of his own bodie. And that he do also pay unto Caleb Blackwell his naturall brother, the sum of £5 . . . And if it shall so happen" (that said John dies without said male heir, then Caleb and his heirs to inherit, but if Caleb, too, die without proper male heir, then the testator directs that the youngest brother, Nathaniel, shall inherit). The will then provides that if John Blackwell should survive his brothers, Caleb and Nathaniel, and finally die without male issue, then the "male children of my son Joshua Blackwell shall inherit all." Item: . . . unto my grandson Benjamin Gibbs, one half part of all upland at Waynonsett, . . lands in Sandwich adjoyning land formerly belonging to John Gibbs and other lands in Sandwich and lands I formerly bought of Robert Bartlett in Plymouth township. Item: . . . unto my grandson Samuell Blackwell, son of my son Joshua Blackwell, the other half of my lands before given to Benjamin Gibbs. Item; . . . unto my grandson Michael Blackwell, son of my son Joshua Blackwell £15, 7s, 6d. Item:... unto my daughter Jane Gibbs, that £ 9 which her husband formerly borrowed of me & which he yet oweth to me. Item: . . . unto the three sons and six daughters of my son Joshua Blackwell or to so many of them as shall survive mee, all that shall remain of my personal estate . . . to be equally divided between them. Item: . . . to my said son Joshua Blackwell the other hall of my land that I bought of Robert Bartlett....and l do confirm unto him and unto his son Michael Blackwell all those lands, swamp & meadow ground which I have given by deed of gift, dated 3rd Aug. 1705, only that he to pay to my grandson Nathaniel Blackwell £10 and to each of the sisters of ye said Nathaniel Blackwell, being the daughters of my said son John Blackwell, deceased, the sum of 40s, in current passable pay within one year after my decease." The son, Joshua Blackwell was named sole executer. The will signed by a mark, was witnessed by: William Bassett, Sr., William Bassett, Jr. and Nathan Bassett. The witnesses were sworn 26 Jan. and administration ordered 29 Jan. 1709/10 ^[1].

His inventory was taken on 28 January 1709/10 with his death date, 6 January 1709/10 recorded in the heading.^[2]

This will is of considerable genealogical value. Firstly, it proves that Michael1 Blackwells wife had predeceased him. It seems strange that, there is not the slightest reference to the wife of either Miles Black or Michael Blackwell. Secondly, the testator in his intense desire to be the founder of a dynasty patterned upon the model of the landed gentry of old England gives proof of one or two relationships which otherwise would have remained obscure, as will be seen. The Sandwich vital records in the town hall are copies of the originals. The entry of Michael Blackwell's death reads 6 January, the date of the year having been torn away, but the careful copy made by the late George E. Bowman of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants notes that 1710 was added in pencil, and as we now see, this notation is correct. (May. Des., 29: 22, footnote, January; 1931).

With the exception of the son Michael,2 no dates of the births or baptisms of Michael Blackwell’s children have been found. The order of birth of the sons is clear from the father's will, although the daughter Jane (whose husband was born in 1644) may have been older than Michael."^[3]

Children:

1. John, b. about 1646.
   
   
2. Michael, b. 1 June 1648 ("Plymouth Colony Vital Records" in May. Des. 15:28, January 1913); d. 28 May 1673 (ibid., 14:111, April 1912).
   
   
3. Jane, b. about 1650; d. probably in Sandwich after 2 April 1711 and before 9 Nov. 1716; m. about 1669 John Gibbs (Thomas1), b. in Sandwich 12 Sept. 1644, d. there 30 April 1725. John Gibbs m. (2), 9 Nov, 1716, Elizabeth (_______) Swift, who survived him. She may have been the widow of William3 Swift. A receipt, dated 2 April 1711, by "John Gibbs of Sandwich" reads: "received of my brother-in-law Joshua Blackwell Senr., of Sandwich in full of bequest under the will of Michael Blackwell, deceased, my father-in-law due to me John Gibbs and Jane my now wife" (Barnstable County Probate, 3:86). Children (surname Gibbs),[3] b. in Sandwich: 1. John, b. 28 July 1670; m. about 1689 Hester3 Swift (WiIliam,2 William1). 2 Benjamin, b. in December 1673; d. testate in 1757; m. Anne3 Tupper (Thomas,2 Thomas1). 3. Job, b. 27 April 1676; m. Judith3 Bates (Samuel, 2 Clement1) of Agawam. 4, Joshua, b. in April 1679. 5. Caleb, b. in August 1681. 6. Barnabas, b. 24 June 1684; m. Abigail3 Smith (Shubael, 2 Rev. John1).
   
   
4. Joshua, b. about 1653.

Sources

1. ↑ Barnstable County Probate. Book 3, p. 82-84, At Family Search
2. ↑ Barnstable County Probate. Book 3, p. 85-86, At Family Search
3. ↑ MICHAEL BLACKWELL OF SANDWICH MASS. (c. 1620-1710),By Lydia B.(Phinney) Brownson, of Duxbury, Mass.and Maclean W. McLean, of Pittsburgh, Pa. From: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 117