The Blackman Family
Joseph Blackman
JOSEPH BLACKMAN was the third son and and fourth child of John Blackman and Mary Pond. Several records say he was born 07 Jun 1661* in Dorchester while a few have his birth year as early as 1635. He moved to Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island and lived there from about 1662 to 1709.
On 12 Nov 1685,* Joseph married ELIZABETH CHURCH, eldest daughter of Joseph Church and Mary Tucker and great-granddaughter of Mayflower Passenger RICHARD WARREN. They were married by Joseph Church, presumably Elizabeth’s father or brother.
In 1704, he was one of the organizers of the church at Little Compton. The family lived in Little Compton, Rhode Island until 1709, when they moved to Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts and the following year he was one of the organizers of the church there.
On 15 Aug 1717, he purchased 120 acres of land from Johnathan Metcalf in Lebanon, New London,Connecticut for 600 pounds and at some point the family settled there. Joseph died 20 May 1720 (or 1721) in Lebanon, Connecticut. His widow, Elizabeth, son Elisha and Jonathan Metcalf administered the estate. His inventory of his estate was 1,297 pounds, nine shillings, and sixpence. He is buried in the Old Cemetery, also known as Trumbull Cemetery, in Lebanon, Connecticut.
* Joseph’s birth date ranges from 1635 to 1661 depending on the record. Records show he moved to Rhode Island in 1662, which means his parents moved there as well (although no records have been found to show them in Rhode Island) or he was born earlier than 1661. However, his marriage in 1685 points to his birth year being 1661, which I thinks is more likely.
On 12 Nov 1685,* Joseph married ELIZABETH CHURCH, eldest daughter of Joseph Church and Mary Tucker and great-granddaughter of Mayflower Passenger RICHARD WARREN. They were married by Joseph Church, presumably Elizabeth’s father or brother.
In 1704, he was one of the organizers of the church at Little Compton. The family lived in Little Compton, Rhode Island until 1709, when they moved to Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts and the following year he was one of the organizers of the church there.
On 15 Aug 1717, he purchased 120 acres of land from Johnathan Metcalf in Lebanon, New London,Connecticut for 600 pounds and at some point the family settled there. Joseph died 20 May 1720 (or 1721) in Lebanon, Connecticut. His widow, Elizabeth, son Elisha and Jonathan Metcalf administered the estate. His inventory of his estate was 1,297 pounds, nine shillings, and sixpence. He is buried in the Old Cemetery, also known as Trumbull Cemetery, in Lebanon, Connecticut.
* Joseph’s birth date ranges from 1635 to 1661 depending on the record. Records show he moved to Rhode Island in 1662, which means his parents moved there as well (although no records have been found to show them in Rhode Island) or he was born earlier than 1661. However, his marriage in 1685 points to his birth year being 1661, which I thinks is more likely.
Elisha Blackman Sr.
ELISHA BLACKMAN SR.* was the 5th of 11 children born to Joseph Blackman and Elizabeth Church and was born on 23 Sep 1699 in Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island.
Sometime during his childhood, Elisha and his parents and the other members of the family moved to Lebanon, Connecticut.
On January 3, 1724, he married Susannah Higley, daughter of Capt. JOHN HIGLEY and SARAH STRONG, in Lebanon, Connecticut. Susannah was likely born about 1705 (although some books say she was born as early as 1697). Her impressive lineage from the Higley and Strong families will be recorded in another book.
Elisha Sr. and Susannah had only 4 children together: Joseph, Elisha (the 2d,* ), Jonathan and Susannah.
Susannah died sometime after 1748 and Elisha Sr. died sometime between 1767 and 1769. It is not known yet where either are buried.
* There are three generations of men with the name of Elisha Blackman and they are all direct ancestors. The first in the line, referred to as Elisha Blackman Sr. married Susannah Higley. His son, Elisha Blackman, referred to as the 2d, married Lucy Polley. And that Elisha’s son, Elisha, who will be referred to as Jr. even though he was the 3rd (that’s how all the books refer to him), married Anna Hurlbut.
Sometime during his childhood, Elisha and his parents and the other members of the family moved to Lebanon, Connecticut.
On January 3, 1724, he married Susannah Higley, daughter of Capt. JOHN HIGLEY and SARAH STRONG, in Lebanon, Connecticut. Susannah was likely born about 1705 (although some books say she was born as early as 1697). Her impressive lineage from the Higley and Strong families will be recorded in another book.
Elisha Sr. and Susannah had only 4 children together: Joseph, Elisha (the 2d,* ), Jonathan and Susannah.
Susannah died sometime after 1748 and Elisha Sr. died sometime between 1767 and 1769. It is not known yet where either are buried.
* There are three generations of men with the name of Elisha Blackman and they are all direct ancestors. The first in the line, referred to as Elisha Blackman Sr. married Susannah Higley. His son, Elisha Blackman, referred to as the 2d, married Lucy Polley. And that Elisha’s son, Elisha, who will be referred to as Jr. even though he was the 3rd (that’s how all the books refer to him), married Anna Hurlbut.
Elisha Blackman, 2d
Uniform of the Fourth Connecticut Regiment of Infantry Continental Line
ELISHA BLACKMAN 2d* was the 2nd of 4 children born to Elisha Blackman Sr. and Susannah Higley. He was born 19 Sep 1727 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
On 23 Mar 1753, he married Lucy Polley, the widow of Ebenezer Smith, in Lebanon, Connecticut. Despite his military career, they managed to have five children: Lucy (born 1755), Lovina (born 1757), Elisha Jr. (born 1760), Ichabod (born 1762) and Eleazer (born 1765).
During the French and Indian War Elisha Blackman served as a private in the Colonial army in three campaigns, as follows:
-- From April 10 to October 18, 1755, in the 3d Company (Robert Denison of New London, Captain) in the 1st Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Phineas Lyman.
-- From April 8 till November 23, 1756, in the 1st, or Coloners, Company, in the 4th Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Col. Andrew Ward, Jr., of Guilford.
-- From March 24 till November 14, 1762, in the 10th Company (Azel Fitch of Lebanon, Captain) in the 2d Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Col. Nathan Whiting.
He also was in the battle at Nanticoke and defeat of Plunkett in 1775 and was in the skirmish with the Indians at Exeter on July 1, 1778. He was a lieutenant in the company commanded by Capt. William Hooker Smith, of the 24th Connecticut Line, known as the old “Reformadoes," stationed in the fort at Wilkes-Barre at the time of the Wyoming massacre. His son, Elisha Blackman Jr, was in the battle of Wyoming and escaped the massacre. More on that here.
Elisha 2d’s military service includes serving as Capt. In the 2nd Company, 4th Regiment of Connecticut under Zebulon Butler, and for this he is recognized as a Revolutionary War ancestor by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Elisha 2d came to Wyoming, Pennsylvania for the first time in June, 1772 and is considered one of the pioneer settlers of that town. Sometime in 1772, he settled his family in Wilkes Barre. The Blackman lot was the second lot on the west side of South Main street, below or south of Academy street. It was thirty-two rods wide and had thirty-two acres in it, so it must have reached 160 rods from Main street towards the river.
On 10 Sep 1804, he died of yellow fever in Wilkes Barre. He is buried in Hanover Green Cemetery in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.
* There are three generations of men with the name of Elisha Blackman and they are all direct ancestors. The first in the line, referred to as Elisha Blackman Sr. married Susannah Higley. His son, Elisha Blackman, referred to as the 2d, married Lucy Polley. And that Elisha’s son, Elisha, who will be referred to as Jr. even though he was the 3rd (that’s how all the books refer to him), married Anna Hurlbut.
On 23 Mar 1753, he married Lucy Polley, the widow of Ebenezer Smith, in Lebanon, Connecticut. Despite his military career, they managed to have five children: Lucy (born 1755), Lovina (born 1757), Elisha Jr. (born 1760), Ichabod (born 1762) and Eleazer (born 1765).
During the French and Indian War Elisha Blackman served as a private in the Colonial army in three campaigns, as follows:
-- From April 10 to October 18, 1755, in the 3d Company (Robert Denison of New London, Captain) in the 1st Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Phineas Lyman.
-- From April 8 till November 23, 1756, in the 1st, or Coloners, Company, in the 4th Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Col. Andrew Ward, Jr., of Guilford.
-- From March 24 till November 14, 1762, in the 10th Company (Azel Fitch of Lebanon, Captain) in the 2d Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Col. Nathan Whiting.
He also was in the battle at Nanticoke and defeat of Plunkett in 1775 and was in the skirmish with the Indians at Exeter on July 1, 1778. He was a lieutenant in the company commanded by Capt. William Hooker Smith, of the 24th Connecticut Line, known as the old “Reformadoes," stationed in the fort at Wilkes-Barre at the time of the Wyoming massacre. His son, Elisha Blackman Jr, was in the battle of Wyoming and escaped the massacre. More on that here.
Elisha 2d’s military service includes serving as Capt. In the 2nd Company, 4th Regiment of Connecticut under Zebulon Butler, and for this he is recognized as a Revolutionary War ancestor by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Elisha 2d came to Wyoming, Pennsylvania for the first time in June, 1772 and is considered one of the pioneer settlers of that town. Sometime in 1772, he settled his family in Wilkes Barre. The Blackman lot was the second lot on the west side of South Main street, below or south of Academy street. It was thirty-two rods wide and had thirty-two acres in it, so it must have reached 160 rods from Main street towards the river.
On 10 Sep 1804, he died of yellow fever in Wilkes Barre. He is buried in Hanover Green Cemetery in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.
* There are three generations of men with the name of Elisha Blackman and they are all direct ancestors. The first in the line, referred to as Elisha Blackman Sr. married Susannah Higley. His son, Elisha Blackman, referred to as the 2d, married Lucy Polley. And that Elisha’s son, Elisha, who will be referred to as Jr. even though he was the 3rd (that’s how all the books refer to him), married Anna Hurlbut.
Elisha Blackman, Jr (or 3rd)
ELISHA BLACKMAN Jr.* was the 3rd of 5 children and the eldest son of Elisha Blackman II and Lucy Polley. He was born 04 Apr 1760 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. He came with his father to Wilkes-Barre in 1772.
At just 18 years old, he took part in the Battle of Wyoming on July 3, 1773 - also known as the Wyoming Massacre - as a private in the “Lower Wilkes-Barre Company.”
He fled with his family to Connecticut and returned to military duty shortly after and helped bury the Wyoming dead in August 1773. See more of that story here.
He was discharged at Peekskill in 1782; however, the money he was paid “though a legal tender” was valueless and he had to walk and beg his way from Peekskill to his old home in Lebanon, Connecticut. Luckily, on the way somewhere he came to a house where the proprietor knew him, and he said he owed a woman in Lebanon one dollar, and told him that he would let him have that dollar and he could use it on the way there, if he would promise to earn a dollar there and give it to her for him. He promised and did it.
He learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and he studied surveying.
In 1785, he and his brothers, Ichabod and Eleazar, returned to Wilkes-Barre and built a log house on their former homestead (that had been destroyed by the British and Indians) on South Main Street, between the present Academy and Sullivan Streets.
On 10 Jan 1788, Elisha Jr. married ANNA HURLBUT in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. They had 10 children together,
including Henry.
On March 25, 1790, Elisha Blackman, Jr., was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of the Light Infantry Company attached to the “1st Regiment of Militia in Luzerne County,” commanded by Lt. Col. Matthias Hollenback.
He died at his farm in Wilkes Barre in December 1845 (sources differ on Dec. 4 vs 11). He was buried with military honors “on the “Green,” which is Hanover Green Cemetery in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
At just 18 years old, he took part in the Battle of Wyoming on July 3, 1773 - also known as the Wyoming Massacre - as a private in the “Lower Wilkes-Barre Company.”
He fled with his family to Connecticut and returned to military duty shortly after and helped bury the Wyoming dead in August 1773. See more of that story here.
He was discharged at Peekskill in 1782; however, the money he was paid “though a legal tender” was valueless and he had to walk and beg his way from Peekskill to his old home in Lebanon, Connecticut. Luckily, on the way somewhere he came to a house where the proprietor knew him, and he said he owed a woman in Lebanon one dollar, and told him that he would let him have that dollar and he could use it on the way there, if he would promise to earn a dollar there and give it to her for him. He promised and did it.
He learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and he studied surveying.
In 1785, he and his brothers, Ichabod and Eleazar, returned to Wilkes-Barre and built a log house on their former homestead (that had been destroyed by the British and Indians) on South Main Street, between the present Academy and Sullivan Streets.
On 10 Jan 1788, Elisha Jr. married ANNA HURLBUT in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. They had 10 children together,
including Henry.
On March 25, 1790, Elisha Blackman, Jr., was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of the Light Infantry Company attached to the “1st Regiment of Militia in Luzerne County,” commanded by Lt. Col. Matthias Hollenback.
He died at his farm in Wilkes Barre in December 1845 (sources differ on Dec. 4 vs 11). He was buried with military honors “on the “Green,” which is Hanover Green Cemetery in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
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