My Blackwell Roots

"A family without origin is like a plant without seeds. Its identity is lost forever"

--Thelma Short Doswell: M.S.,,C.G. Blackwell famiy Historian & Genealogist

Thelma Doswell has traced the Blackwell's ancestral line to the ship "Doddington" that sailed into the York River in 1735, carrying a cargo of 165 West African slaves to the Virginia Colony. On board were Amar and Tab, the grandmother and mother of the "colored" Blackwell's first born African-American maternal grandmother.Lucy. (She was my ggggggg-grandmother).

Mrs. Doswell found that in 1735, Amar, a woman of the SONINKE tribe in what is now Senegal, was taken from her West African homeland and sold in a slave auction at Yorktown, now in the Southside of Virginia, to a white land owner named ROBERT BLACKWELL .

I have finally located the three books written by our family Historian, Thelma Short Doswell. I spent 7 hours in the Library of Congress reading and taking notes from her books. I plan to return to get more specific information.(May 8, 1999)Thanks to cousins in Pennsylvania, Alex Woodley and Dr. and Mrs. William Rodgers, I have information on three more of our slave ancestor's seven children. The three children are; Antoinette Blackwell, George Blackwell Rogers, William Blackwell Rodgers. I already have info on my great-grandfather, Thomas Burrell Blackwell. (July 12, 2003)

I have excerpts from Robert Blackwell and James Goodwin's wills on my BLACKWELL SLAVES PAGE The names of my ancestors are documented in these wills. I have also included other BLACKWELL slave names and references. (July 1, 2001)

First Generation

Tab like her mother, Amar(Ama), was a native African of old Ghana. Her tribe is currently located in BAKEL, SENEGAL. She grew up in York County, Virginia where she became a chamber maid, cook and housekeeper under the apprenticeship of her mother. Tab's owner, JAMES GLENN BLACKWELL, loaned her to his son, Robert Blackwell. Robert's will affirms that Tab was a woman in his household in Lunenburg county and valued at $30.00 in 1787.

(Will Book 3, pp.349-360, Lunenburg Court House, Virginia) Tab and some of her descendents named their children names for her African family clans and tribes.

Tab married Jack (Odofo),they had a daughter, Lucy born in 1775.Lucy's father Jack, an African, was an itinerant plantation preacher on the Brunswick county circuit of St. Andrews Parish in 1777. He was considered an outstanding speaker by both the colored and white congregations he lectured to. Lucy was born a slave to Jack and Tab in 1775, on Robert Blackwell's plantation, then in Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia.She was the first native bondswoman in this household referred to by other white people as a Blackwell servant. After being recognized by this last name for a long time she adopted the Blackwell surname. White people in the county of her birth call her descendents the Colored Blackwells.

Tab's owner, James Glenn Blackwell, loaned her to his son Robert Blackwell. Robert's will affirms that Tab was a woman in his household in Lunenburg County and valued at $30.00 in 1787. (Will Book 3, pp.349 and 360, Lunenburg County House, Virginia).
Tab was left without a husband after James Goodwin died in 1757. He willed Jack to his son Peter Goodwin who took Jack to King William County, joining Hanover County east of Richmond, Virginia.
"Tab was valued at $30.00 at the time of Robert Blackwell's death in 1787." "Jack became "free" in 1792"

TAB & JACK'S CHILDREN

Harry b. @ 1754
Lucy b. 1755
Will b. 1757
Siller b. 1758
Lucky b. 1760

TAB'S STEP FAMILY

AMY - JACK'S DAUGHTER AMY m. Caesar

Children

Suralso
Bitt
Billy
Caesar, Jr.
Tom

Suralso, Bitt, and Billy were owned by Robert Blackwell in 1787. Amy and Caesar, Jr. were owned by John Blackwell in 1832. Tom was owned by Joel Blackwell in 1849. Caesar was sold in 1829

Second Generation

Lucy was a woman valued at $50.00 in

Robert Blackwell's will 29 February 1787. (W.B. 3, p. 349), Lunenburg Court House. Lucy's early training was under her devoted father, a Christian gentleman, moralist and preacher. She like her mother met and r/r1 Jack, an ASHANTI who was kidnapped when he was about seventeen years old. The boat landed at Osborne's Wharf on James River in Virginia during the American Revolution. He was a knowledgeable man with ability, courage and determination to preach. He was placed under the guidance of REV. Dr. SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH , a Presbyterian Minister and founder of HAMPDEN-SIDNEY COLLEGE in Prince Edward County, Virginia.
Jack was converted, ordained and licensed to preach and teach. He became a well-known speaker for both races, traveling to many plantations of adjoning counties preaching.
Garretson, a white Methodist minister, wrote of his tour on the Brunswick circuit in 1777. "I there met a black boy who was happy in the Lord; and I thought he exceeded all the youth I had ever seen for a gift and power of prayer." (Mc Colley, p. 149). The white people raised a subscription, purchased " UNCLE JACK'S (supposedly title of respect for the famous ante-bellum Nego preacher), freedom gave him a home and a small tract of land for his support. He was also a pioneer of the Christian doctrine in the Baptist Church in 1792. (Negro Year Book, p.200 by Monroe N. Work 1922, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama).
The Reverend John H. Rice interviewed Jack in 1862 and called him "one of the most remarkable men I have ever seen". When Negro preachers were banned from preaching from 1830-1835, exception was granted Uncle Jack.

Lucy Blackwell married with a r/r-1 Jack and bore:

Jack, Jr.

Lucy married 2-James a slave from the Goodwin's House-York Hampton Parrish, York County, Virginia. Elizabeth Goodwin married Robert Blackwell.
James III,the son of Phyllis, a slave, and James Goodwin, Jr., a mulatto (said to be the natural son of his master James Goodwin of Hampton Parrish, York county, Virginia.)
James was willed to Elizabeth Goodwin his teenager mistress, by her father, James Goodwin, Sr., in his will of 1757. James was valued at $50.00. Dowery, chattel proerty were taken to Luneburg County when his mistress, Elizabeth Goodwin married Robert Blackwell in 1765.
James was hired out as a waggoneer during the American Revolution of 1772. Three shillings (36 pence) a day was paid for his service to his master, Robert Blackwell, Captain of the Lunenburg Militia.
James adopted his mistress's married last name"Blackwell", thus making his last name Goodwin-Blackwell. Instead he dropped Goodwin and retained Blackwell that was his wife's last name. James was valued at $70.00 and listed as Jim in the Inventory of Robert Blackwell's estate (29 February 1787. W.B. 3, pp.349, 360 ).

Lucy and James' marriage was recognized in the Inventory and Appraisement of the estate of John Blackwell (deceased) dated 3 February 1832.

Lucy and James had 6 children:

Children

Oney (My gggggg-grandmother)
Sork
Sowney
James IV
Cseacy
Lewis

Third Generation

Oney Blackwell had a daughter named Sophia Si( My ggggg-grandmother)

Oney was listed as a girl valued at $30.00 in the Inventory of Estate (Valuation of Slaves) of Robert Blackwell in 1787. (Will Book 3, p. 360 Clerk's Office Lunenburg Court House, Virginia).

Cseacy Blackwell had a daughter namedCreacy

Cseacy Blackwell's daughter Creacy was sold to the Fflower family. Creacy was a servant for the Fflower's family for whom the Flowers Church was named. It was one of the churches opened between the Nottoway and Blackwater rivers in 1735 in the St. Lukes Parish in Southampton County, Virginia. (F.R. Johnson, p.5)

Jim (James) Blackwell IV, the son of James (Goodwin) Blackwell III. Jim married Hannah. Marriage rcofnized in the Inventory & Appraisement of the estate of John Blackwell (deceased) Feb. 3, 1832. Recorded March Court 1832. Both Jim and Hannah valued at $150.00 (Will Book 10, p. 164, Lunenburg County, Virginia.)

JIM AND HANNAH

Children

Jam (James) V m. Nancy Brigforth
Edward b. 1798
Tony b. 1801
Alen b. 1803 - owned by Louis Blackwell 1822

Fourth Generation

SOPHIA, Si m. BUCK

Children

SOPHIA, Sa( My gggg-grandmother)
MARIA
TEMPREY

Maria Blackwell owned by Robert Blackwell listed in the Inventory and Appraisement and recorded 25 July 1860. ( Fiduciary Order Book 3, p. 96), the daughter of Buck and Sophia, Si., a girl valued at $150 was willed by Robert Blackwell to his daughter Mary Reps Blackwell 15 November 1822. ( Will Book 8, p. 284 ),
Maria married Ole Sam valued at $150 by John Blackwell 1832.
Temprey, the daughter of Buck and Sophia, Si. was willed to Jane Jones by her owner John Blackwell in his will 15 November 1822, ( Will Book 10, p. 141 A, p. 164 ).

Creacyhad a daughter named Maria Blackwell (Fflower). Maria of Stoney Creek, Virginia was sold to CAPTAIN JOHN OTEY. Capt. Otey was a soldier in the American Revolution, who moved from New Kent to Bedford, abut 1775. (Buford Family in America, pp. 133,139).

I am indebted to Thelma Doswell for the above information. Sources:

Blackwell Coat-of-Arms Brochure, December 27, 1972.-Heritage of a Living Legacy,Re-uniting Missing Links.
Doswell, Thelma Short: Grow Your Family Tree: the do-it-yourself guide, c1982. xvi, 310p. : ill
Doswell, Thelma Short: Heritage of a living legacy / 2nd ed., 1982. viii, 39p. : ill.
Doswell, Thelma Short: Re-united missing links that bind our present with our past: a genealogy/history sketch of the Blackwell kinsfolk, 1735-1979 / c1979(xxi, 756 p.) : ill.

Fifth Generation

Sophia Sahad a son,Burrell.( My ggg-grandfather) He was listed as a child in 1816. Sophia and Burrell were owned by Maria Blackwell and valued at $260. (26 Dec. 1816- Will Book7, p. 295. Lunenburg Co., Va.)
Sophia Sa was sold to Robert Blacwell who listed her as a girl valued at $150.00 15 November 1822. (Will Book 8, p.284, recorded 12 May 1823)

MARIA m. OLE SAM

Children

MARIAH
ANDREW
HARRIETT b. 1862
JAMES HENRY b. 10 Aug. 1879, (B. R. p. 15)
LAWNEY

Maria Blackwell owned by Robert Blackwell listed in the Inventory and Appraisement and recorded 25 July 1860. ( Fiduciary Order Book 3, p. 96), the daughter of Buck and Sopjia, Si., a girl valued at $150 was willed by Robert Blackwell to his daughter Mary Reps Blackwell 15 November 1822. ( Will Book 8, p. 284 ), Maria married Ole Sam valued at $150 by John Blackwell 1832.

Sixth Generation

Burrell had four children:

Children

-Maria, b. 1838 (owned by Wm. Blackwell-1857)
-Ishum b. 1840
-Margaret Priscilla (Priss) b. 1842: My gg-grandmother
-Ada born 1844

ANDREW m. HARRIETT A.

Children

FANNIE b. 1852

SAM II

HARRIETT m. MONK JONES

Children

MARY JANE b. Aug. 1869, ( B. R. p. 15 )

PATRICK

LUCY

ANDREW

LAWNEY m. EMILY

Children

BETTIE

JOHN

NUNKS

Mariah, the daughter of ole Sam and Maria was willed by Joel Blackwell to his daughter Jane Williams 11 August 1852, ( Will Book 14, p. 58 )
Andrew, the son of ole Sam and Maria was valued at $300 with his mother Maria by John Blackwell in is 1832 Estate Inventory ( Will Book 10, p. 164 ).
Harriett Blackwell, the daughter of ole Sam and Maria Blackwell m. Monk Jones, a laborer, 28 July 1881 of Brunswick County, the son of David and Adeline Jones. C. Johnson performed the ceremony
Lawney Blackwell, the son of ole Sam and Maria Blackwell m. Emily

Seventh Generation

Margaret Priscilla (Puss) Blackwell had seven children. There is no record of a marriage and the children stated in their marriage records "no father".The family stories say that the father of her children was a Capt C.B. Rogers of Brunswick County, Virginia. A tree supposedly fell on Captain Rogers and on his deathbed, he told his children they could use his last name. Two of his sons did. Margaret's children were born slaves but freed during their childhood. My g-grandfather always claimed that he never was a slave.

Children

Antoinette Blackwell b.1859
- John Blackwell b.1860
-Hattie Blackell b.1861
-Margaret Blackwell
-Thomas Burrell Blackwell II b.1864: My g-grandfather
-George Blackwell: George later changed his name to Rogers
-William Blackwell: William also changed his name to Rogers

Antoinette married Sandy Woodley, a laborer, on June 3, 1876.

He was the son of Samtee and Peggy Woodley of Brunswick Co. H.B. Pettigrew performed the ceremony.John Blackwell, a farmer, married Frances Watkins, Sept. 26, 1888.She was the daughter of Yonks(Sonk) and Eliza Watkins of Brunswick County. A. Chavis performed the ceremony. Hattie Blackwell married Richard Watkins, June 22, 1878.

He was the son of Henry and Sally Watkins. A. Chavis performed the ceremony.

Eighth Generation

Thomas Burrell Blackwell II, a laborer married Emma Jane Kidd 5, August,1885,the daughter of Edward and Anne Kidd of Brunswick County. A. Chauvis peformed the ceremony.( Marriage Register 4, p. 294 Line 1 -Lawrenceville, Brunswick Co., Va.)

Children

Benjamin James b. May 11, 1886 d. March 5, 1956: My Grandfather
-George Drumgold b. Nov.1888
-Thomas Prudent b.Oct. 1891
-Edward Bryant b.May 20, 1894
-William Mcinley b. Dec. 1896
-Maggie: Maggie died at age 9 or 10. mos.

William H. Blackwell Rodgers, Sr. m. Dovie Cornelia in High Point, North Carolina.

Children

William Henry Rodgers, Jr. b.May 31, 1900 d.July 15, 1968
Guy Rodgers, Sr.
Clagg Rodgers

George Blackwell Rogers, Sr. married Minnie

Children

Whitney
Sara
George, Jr.
Charles Dewey

Ninth Generation

Benjamin James Blackwell married Martha Elizabeth Pelham Dec. 28, 1904. Martha was the daughter of Reginald and Lucy Pelham. She was born Oct. 1884, d. Mar. 1941 in Brunswick County, Virginia. Benjamin and Martha were my grandparents. (Grandpop Benny and Grandma Lizzy)

Children

Robert Wilbert b. December 21, 1908, d. Feb. 1968 in Homestead, Pennsylvania.: MY FATHER
Charles Alexander b. July 5, 1915, d. Mar. 4, 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland
Lucy Jane b. February 6,
Mary Elizabeth b. April 1, 1920, d. Sept.,1951 in New York

George Drumgold Blackwell married Sallie Mitchell.

Children

William
Thomas Jefferson
John Bunyan
George
Eli Whitney
Sallie Pauline
Maggie Lee

Thomas Prudent Blackwell married Mary__?__. They had no children.

Edward Bryant Blackwell married Helen--?--.

Children

Mary
John

William McKinley Blackwell married Nannie Mae Kidd on May 23, 1917.

Children

Rosa Lee

William Mckinley, Jr.

Ruby

Hattie

Ethel

Emma

James

John

Tenth Generation

Robert Wilbert Blackwell married Rosa Walker, daughter of Nannie Barner Walker and Robert Walker.(Rosa's siblings, Anderson Walker, Sam Walker, Frank Walker, Mary Tucker, Malinda Walker Clary (1907-1999), and Martha Gaines.) Rosa Walker was born in 1915. They had two children. A son who died at birth and a daughter.

Child

Frances Louise b. June 20

Charles Alexander married Frances Stokes and they had three children.

Children

Charles Alexander, Jr. died at age of three
Tanya b.August 22
Reuben b. December 6

Lucy Jane married John Howard Brown on December 2, 1938.

Children

Jeanette
John, Jr.

Mary Elizabeth married Roscoe Lee Thomas in September,1944.

Children

Laverne Elizabeth
Robert Lee

Eli Whitney Blackwell married Agnes Lee Walker, 26 February 1946. Agnes Lee Walker, born 21 February 1925 at Merchant, Virginia. Daughter of John and Sarah Harris Walker.

Children

Eli Whitney,Jr. b. 30 Oct.
Linda Ann b. 15 Feb.
Arthur Louis b. 13 June
Ray Anthony b. 15 May
Lawence Reginald 20 May

Eli Whitney,son of George Blackwell was born at Brodnax, Brunswick County, Virginia. He joined Meherin Baptst Church at 12 years of age. He attended Meherrin Elementary School. He was inducted into the U.S. Army, 22 March 1943 and was honorably discharged as T-4, February 4, 1946. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, Eame Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal. Eli m/1 Agnes Lee Walker, 26 February 1946. Agnes Lee Walker, born 21 February 1925 at Merchant, Virginia.

Source: THE BLACKWELL KINSFOLK - SEQUEL TO: REUNITING MISSING LINKS - 1735-1982-by Thelma Short Doswell

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