Robert Blackwell (1643 - 1717)

Born 2 Jun 1643 in Westminster, London, England

Husband of Mary (Manningham) Blackwell — married 26 Apr 1676 in Manning's Island, New York

Descendants

Died Oct 1717 at age 74 in Newtown, Queens, New York

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Biography

Robert Blackwell was baptized 2 Jun 1643 in London, England. He and two brothers immigrated to New England. They are described as men of high standing and education and graduates of Oxford.

Shortly after his arrival in Long Island, Robert Blackwell settled amongst the founding settlers at Elizabeth-town, where he became a merchant. There is an early deed reference to Robert Blackwell as a merchant from Elizabeth-town. In early 1676, Robert Blackwell left Elizabeth-town and came to New York as a widower with two children whose names were Robert Blackwell, Jr. and Ann Blackwell.

Upon his arrival in New York, Robert Blackwell settled, with his two children, in Newtown, Long Island. On March 25, 1676, in contemplation of his marriage to Mary Manningham, daughter of Walter Manningham and step-daughter of Captain John Manning, Robert Blackwell entered a written prenuptial agreement with Mathias Nicolls, the trustee holding title to Manning's Island for Mary Manningham during the life of Captain John Manning. The agreement specified, among other terms, that in consideration of his marriage to Mary Manningham, Manning's Island would be devised by their wills only to children of Robert and Mary, not to Robert's previous children, and that if Robert and Mary bore no children, title to the island would go to whoever Mary choose, as she would designate in her will.

On April 26, 1676 Robert Blackwell married Mary Manningham and they settled down on Manning's Island, which thereafter was known as Blackwell's Island.

Robert and Mary had ten children, who they named Bridget, Thomas, Francis, Walter, Henry, Lydia, Robert Jr. Sarah, Susannah, Jacob, and Mary. Robert died in 1717 in Newtown, NY.

Note: Date of birth is a rough estimate based upon the age of his spouse and children, and is not accurate.

Sources

• Riker, James, Jr., The Annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New York (D. Fanshaw, New-York, 1852) Page 354-5
• Find A Grave: Memorial #143870228