Jacob Blackwell (1785 - 1861)

Born 24 Mar 1785 in Queens, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah E (Lawrence) Blackwell — married 30 Apr 1803 in New York City, New York County, New York, United States

Husband of Mary P (Unknown) Blackwell — married about 1836 in New York, United States

Descendants

Died 27 Jul 1861 at age 76 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Robert Clark [send private message]

Biography

Jacob Blackwell was born on 24 Mar 1785 in Queens County, New York^[1][2] He was the eldest child of Samuel Blackwell and Mary Whitehead (Field) Blackwell^[3].

Jacob married Hannah E Lawrence on 30 Apr 1803 at the Trinity Church in New York City, New York, New York^[4][5]. Jacob and Hannah had the following children in/near New York, New York:

• Caroline Blackwell
• Josiah Vail Blackwell, born on 4 Jul 1806
• Thomas Lawrence Blackwell, born on 13 Sep 1806
• Ellen M Blackwell, born about 1815

In 1810, Jacob lived in Newtown, Queens, NY with his wife and children (2 males <10, 2 females <10)^[6]. In 1830, Jacob lived in New York Ward 14, New York, NY with his wife and children (1 male 20's, 3 females 20's)^[7].

On 12 Oct 1835, his wife Hannah passed away, and between then and 1840 he married Mary P (see Research Notes). Jacob and Mary had the following children:

• Clara Blackwell, born about 1831
• Emma Blackwell, born about 1837
• Anna "Annie" Blackwell, born about 1839
• Mary Blackwell, born about 1845

In 1840, Jacob (male 50's) lived on 756 Greenwich in New York Ward 16, New York, NY (worked at 144 Front as a gauger^[8]) with his wife (female 30's) and his children (1 male 10-14, 2 female <5, 1 female 5-9)^[9].

In 1850, Jacob was living as a gauger in Williamsburg, Kings, NY with his wife Mary and his 4 daughters Clara, Emma, Ann, and Mary^[10]. In 1855 and in 1860, Jacob was living as a gauger in Brooklyn, Kings, NY again with his wife Mary and his 4 daughters Clara, Emma, Ann, and Mary^[11][12].

On 9 Dec 1858, Jacob made out his will in Brooklyn, Kings, NY with his wife Mary P and his daughters Clara, Emma, Ann, and Mary as his beneficiaries^[13].

On 27 Jul 1861, Jacob was working in his office on 10 Burling Slip, Manhattan, New York, NY when a fire broke out and he was burned to death. The account of his demise states,

• "The most melancholy incident of the fire was the burning to death of Mr. JACOB BLACKWELL, a man 76 years of age, whose body was received from the ruins a charred and unrecognizable mass. He was a gauger by occupation, and conducted his business in a small office on the second floor of the building. When the flames burst from the cellar, egress from the building had already been barred by the stairway in consequence of the smoke, and Mr. BLACKWELL was seen entreating help at the front window. Before assistance could be rendered, he was driven from his position, and the second time sought exit by the stairs. He was, however, overtaken by the flames and burned to a cinder. His remains were recovered during yesterday afternoon by Capt. MACKEY, of the Insurance Patrol. They were taken into the adjoining store of Messrs. HALLEY & Co., where Coroner GAMILE held an inquest upon them. The deceased has left a large family."^[14][15].

The probate of Jacob's will took place on 6 May 1862 in Kings County, NY ^[16].

Research Notes

The DAR application of Edythe Blackwell Field lists the birthdate of Jacob Blackwell as 23 Jul 1785, but unable to find primary source.

As Clara Blackwell was born in 1831 before the death of Jacob's first wife Hannah E (Lawrence) Blackwell in 1835, it is possible/likely that Clara is not his biological daughter and Jacob and Mary P were married about 1836. No evidence has been yet found of the marriage record between Jacob and Mary.

There is little evidence of an overlap between the two families of Jacob Blackwell, other than his occupation as gauger; a gauger would measure and inspect liquid goods that were entering Manhattan. His occupation was listed as a gauger in censuses and other sources from 1840 onward, but his son Thomas Lawrence Blackwell from his first marriage was also a gauger. Jacob's mother-in-law listed only Caroline Blackwell and Ellen M Blackwell (called Eleanor) as beneficiaries in the 30 Jun 1836 codicil of her will (not Clara Blackwell)^[17]. Similarly, Jacob's sister Patience Ann Blackwell listed only Josiah Vail Blackwell, Thomas Lawrence Blackwell, and Ellen M Blackwell in her very lengthy 14 Aug 1884 will^[18]. Perhaps Jacob's 4 youngest daughters had all passed away by 1884; great effort was taken to deliver the proceeds of Patience's will to her 69 nieces & nephews.

Sources

1. ↑ Vital Records, 1758-1903. New York City Municipal Archives; New York, NY, USA; Manhattan Vital Registers; Source Record Group: RG 095 Vital Records.
2. ↑ Riker, J. Historical Notes of Newtown. database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLL-TSQ1-X : 8 December 2023), Jacob Blackwell, p.428
3. ↑ Newspapers and Periodicals. American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. New York Evening Post, 29 Jul 1861, 77 y/o.
4. ↑ "New York Marriages, 1686-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1V-68T : 21 January 2020), Jacob Blackwell, Trinity Church Parish, New York, New York, New York, United States, 1803.
5. ↑ Ohio, Church Records, 1762-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGGQ-3ZXP : 15 October 2019), Jacob Blackwell and Hannah Lawrence, ; citing Marriage, New York, United States, multiple educational, religious, and private organizations.
6. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Newtown, Queens, New York; Roll: 34; Page: 287; Image: Nym252_34-0151; FHL Roll: 0181388, Jacob Blackwell
7. ↑ Year: 1830; Census Place: New York Ward 14, New York, New York; Series: M19; Roll: 98; Page: 501; Family History Library Film: 0017158, Jacob Blackwell
8. ↑ Longworth's American Almanac, New-York Register and City Directory for 1839. 118 Nassau Street, New York, NY, USA: Thomas Longworth, 1839.
9. ↑ Year: 1840; Census Place: New York Ward 16, New York, New York; Roll: 309; Page: 125; Family History Library Film: 0017198, Jacob Blackwell
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCYT-3S5 : 23 December 2020), Jacob Blackwell, Williamsburg, Kings, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
11. ↑ "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6W3-KSF : 3 March 2021), Jacob Blackwell, E.D. 1, Ward 13, Brooklyn City, Kings, New York, United States; citing p. , line #15, family #785, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 1,930,199.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC7T-J8D : 18 February 2021), Jacob Blackwell, 13th Ward Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, 1860.
13. ↑ Wills and Indexes, 1787-1923; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Kings County); Probate Place: Kings, New York: Wills, Vol 025, 1861-1862, Jacob Blackwell, pp.187-190.
14. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W45-878 : 11 May 2022), Jacob Blackwell, 1861.
15. ↑ Disastrous Fire at Old-slip. The New York Times, 28 Jul 1861. https://www.nytimes.com/1861/07/28/archives/disastrous-fire-at-oldslip-a-man-burned-to-death-25000-worth-of.html
16. ↑ Letters Testamentary, 1830-1865; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Kings County); Probate Place: Kings, New York: Letters, Vol 0005-0006, 1858-1863, Jacob Blackwell, p.205
17. ↑ New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Records of wills and probates, 1787-1879; Series Number: J1043-92, Eleanor Lawrence, pp.130-133
18. ↑ New York, Queens County, Probate Records; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Queens County); Probate Place: Queens, New York, Patience Ann Blackwell