Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Part Nine - Blackwell Family Photographs - Marsden Blackwell's Family

Marsden Blackwell and Elizabeth Mercer

Elsewhere in this account, I explained a little about the life of Marsden Blackwell who married Elizabeth Mercer and I listed their children. They were my great grandparents.

In this Part, photographs of their children and spouses will be included.

Here are the two parents, Marsden and Elizabeth. There were two marriage ceremonies, one a Church of England ceremony at Holy Trinity Church, Southport and one a Roman Catholic ceremony at St Mary's, Southport.





Elizabeth Mercer 1841-1923                                                      Marsden Blackwell 1840-1906

The couple produced a large family.

Harry Edwin, born 1865, died 1934  married Margaret Hand 1871 - 1952
Charles, born 1867 died 1910
Frederick, born 1868 died 1930
Herbert, born 1870 baptised St Wilfrid's died 1917
Alfred, born 1872 date of death and whereabouts unknown.
Marie Louise, born 1874 died 1949  married James Porter 1865-1950
Ernest, born 1876 died 1941  married Mary Forrest 1875-1962
Edith, born 1879 died 1972 married  Frederick Sheridan 1869 -1918

Harry Edwin Blackwell

Harry Edwin's place of birth is given as Southport. There are no authenticated photographs of Harry Edwin Blackwell or his wife, Margaret Hand. In 1891, he is recorded as a Hosier's Assisant and in 1901, an Auctioneer's Clerk. He was 35 years old and still living at home in Greame Street with his parents and brothers and sisters. He married Margaret Hand a month after his father's death in October,1906. They were to have two children, Edwin, who did not survive his first year in 1907 and Margaret who died aged 12 in 1920.

According to my mother, Cyrilla Blackwell (later Jolliffe) who was one of Harry's nieces, Harry "got the housekeeper in trouble" and so they were married.

Charles Blackwell

Charles's place of birth is given as Southport. Little is known about Charles, who was only 43 when he died. Aged 23, in 1891 he is recorded as an Under Cashier living at his parents' home in Greame Street. 1901 he had become an Auctioneer's Clerk at the same address. He died at the Northern Counties Hospital for Incurables, Heaton Norris.



Frederick Blackwell




Frederick's place of birth is given as Southport. In 1891, Frederick Blackwell is listed in the census as a Provision Salesman. In 1901, he has the same occupation. He lived with his parents at 41 Greame Street during this period. By 1911, he had moved to Grosvenor Road with his mother. He is listed as a Shipping Clerk.

I remember stories about "Uncle Fred" which my mother told and her sister, Pearl Blackwell. Uncle Fred was liked by his nieces. He allegedly threw any letter which was stamped "OHMS" - On His Majesty's Service - on the fire unopened as he believed it was a taxation demand. He is reputed to have died as a result of a collision with a horse and cart on his way back from a public house.

Herbert Blackwell


Herbert Blackwell was also a member of the family who did not have a long life. He died at the age of 47 at the Infirmary Manchester Workhouse, Crumpsall in 1917. He is recorded as being a Surveyor and Architect for a Railway Company in 1911, living at Grosvenor Road with his brother Frederick and his mother.

Alfred Blackwell

There is no authenticated photograph of Alfred Blackwell. There is a record of him aged 8 years old in the 1881 census living with the family. After that, there are no confirmed records. Anecdotally, my mother (who was his niece) said that there was a row as he had stolen money from a family safe and left never to be seen again. As I stated elsewhere in these Chronicles, a record in Missing Friends was discovered in the Australian Police Gazette, asking for an Alfred Blackwell's whereabouts, but we do not know if this was the same person.

Marie Louise Blackwell



Marie Louise Blackwell married James Porter, a widowed photographer in 1897 at the age of 23. They had a family of two boys and two girls. Some of the photographs of the Blackwell family were taken by James Porter's photographic studio.

Ernest F Blackwell



Ernest Blackwell was my grandfather. He married Mary Forrest in 1903. They had a large family of ten children, two of whom did not survive their first year. I think that all of the surviving members of the family which have the Blackwell family name (male line) in the UK are descended from this marriage. These children were brought up in the Roman Catholic religion.

Ernest Blackwell struggled financially during the Depression but nonetheless managed to bring up his large family.

Edith Blackwell



The final child of Marsden and Elizabeth was Edith. She married Frederick Sheridan. There were three children in the family, but one child did not survive 12 months.

I would be very pleased if anyone with interesting information about the Blackwell family lets me know. I can incorporate new information into these writings at any time. I can also correct any errors that might be identified. Please get in touch to let me know.

tbjolliffe@gmail.com



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