Susan Rebecca Blakeman (abt. 1848 - bef. 1860)

Ancestors

Biography

Susan Rebecca Blakeman was born about 1848 in Galveston, Texas, the third of three daughters born to Elijah Blakeman and Maria White.^[1]

Sujsan (age 2) lived in Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States where her parents Elijah Blakeman and Maria A.L. White owned and operated the Palmetto House, a hotel for boarders. Elijah advertised in New Orleans, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, as well as Galveston. The ad stated that "nothing shall be wanting on the propieror's part" to keep it as one of the most popular hotels in Texas. A porter was provided to bring luggage to and from arriving ships.^[2]

In the 1850 census Elijah and Maria had three daughters, Mary Frances, Maria Louise and Susan Rebecca living with them at the Palmetto House, along with boarders from nine states plus Germany. The boarders' reported occupations reflects the the skills needed to build Galveston, a city barely twenty years old.^[3]

1 Jun 1850: Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States

Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
E Blakeman	M	33	Inn Keeper	Connecticut
Maria Blakeman	F	25		Mississippi
Mary F Blakeman	F	5		Texas
'Maria L Blakeman	F	3		Texas
Susan R Blakeman	F	2		Texas
Charles Fowler	M	30	Inn Keeper	Connecticut
Thomas Van Alsdel	M	18		New Jersey
H W Broadway	M	22	Retail Trade	Connecticut
S L Fowler	M	25	Law Student	Connecticut
Mike Wheet	M	24	Carpenter	New Jersey
Sam Perry	M	24	Carpenter	New York
J A Anderson	M	24	Boatman	Tennessee
William Burgett	M	30	Merchant	Virginia
Jno B Roche	M	35	Mariner	Louisiana
Charles Hoome	M	35	Mariner	Alabama
Richard Carnell	M	30	Tinnet	Alabama
Frank Aeve	M	35	Tinner	Illinois
J W Ross	M	35	Artist	Illinois
P B Danley	M	30	Laborer	Kentucky
Frank Danley	M	20		Kentucky
M V Merkison	M	45	Speculator	Louisiana
Mary Merkison	F	25		Louisiana
Joseph Reakey	M	40	Laborer	Germany

Susan's father Elijah Blakeman died 19 May 1856 in still undiscovered circumstances - see Space:Blakeman_Family_Mysteries. Elijah was the 8th generation of descendants of Rev. Adam Blakeman, early immigrant to New England and a founder of Stratford, Connecticut. As a child he traveled with his parents Elijah Phineas Blakeman from Connecticut to Illinois, following his uncle, Curtiss Blakeman , pioneering to settle in Illinois Territory. Capt. Curtis was one of a dozen sea captians retiring from the sea to settle land. Capt. Curtis made over 34 ocean voyages traveling as far as Canton, China; Calcutta, Valisparo; Argentia; Lima, Peru. Following in their family legacy of adventure into new territory, Elijah and two of his brothers emigated to Texas around 1840 to become first citizens of Galveston.^[4]

Widowed Maria moved to Thibodaux, Louisiana where her parents had settled. She was a schoolteacher and lived next door to her sister Mary Polly Dickerson and her family. Susan Rebecca was not listed in this 1860 census. Maria, two daughters and three young sons lived in the 7th Ward Thibodaux City, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States..^[5]

Susan Rebecca likely died before 1860, possibly in one of the yellow fever outbreaks that took place during the 1800s in Louisiana, United States. She does not appear in any records after 1860.^[6]

Research Notes

What happened to Susan Rebecca? Did she die with her father in 1856? Were they traveling back to Galveston from their 1854 trip back east, where Elijah's family lived? Did they die aboard a ship of an infectious disease, like Captain George?

Or did Susan die after her father, between 1856 1860? What did Maria do with the Palmetto House?

Sources

1. ↑ Citation needed
2. ↑ https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:10EEA62CDA4CF8A0@GB3NEWS-156A531A1D49F1FD@2397442-156A0742436D2A68@7-156A0742436D2A68
3. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
   citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Record: MXLK-F46 (accessed 13 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-XXZS-TX4 Image number 00492
   Mary F Blakeman (5) in Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States. Born in Texas.
4. ↑ Passenger List: "U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s"
   Place: Galveston, Texas; Year: 1839; Page Number: 20
   Ancestry Record 7486 #994331 (subscription required, accessed 11 January 2023)
   Name Elijah Blakeman, Arrival Year 1839, Arrival Place Galveston, Texas, Primary Immigrant Blakeman, Elijah, Source Publication Code 9728.4, Source Bibliography WHITE, GIFFORD. First Settlers of Galveston County, Texas. St. Louis, Mo.: Ingmire Pub., 1985. 54p.,
   Household Members (Name)
   Elijah Blakeman.
5. ↑ 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860"
   citing Page: 15; Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Affiliate Film Number: 413; FHL microfilm: 803413; Record number: 2513;
   FamilySearch Record: MFP6-VR7 (accessed 13 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9B9J-CP6 Image number 00071
   Fanny Blakeman (14) at 7th Ward Thibodaux City, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States. Born in Texas.
6. ↑ Citation needed