11th Generation 
George Blackwell    10.2
b.   1 Jan   1801 Brimsfield, Gloucester, England (Confirmed date by information on Tombstone reading) 
Chr.  Feb.  1801 Brimsfield, Gloucester, England                          
d.   1 Mar. 1877 Holmes City township, Minnesota, USA - Age 76 Years  2 Months.     
Married:  4 Mar. 1824 Cowley, Gloucester, England     Parish of Badgeworth  (Near Cheltenham)
Mary Barradell    
b.  29 Oct. 1797 Withington, Gloucester, England
d.  12 Nov 1864  Shurdington, Gloucester, England  Recorded as age 68 at time of death. (Near Cheltenham)
Believed living in Cheltenham at the time of death.
(LCB) "His wife (George Blackwell 10.2) died in the fall of 1864 in England, the same year I left for Canada." 
She was the daughter of Robert Barradell and Henrietta .....?

 

 

Children of George Blackwell (10.2) and Mary Barradell
12th Generation

10.2.1 Elizabeth Blackwell  
10.2.2 Sophia Blackwell   
10.2.3 John Blackwell     
10.2.4 George Blackwell Jr. 
10.2.5 Henry Blackwell    
10.2.6 William Blackwell - adopted.

      John         George        Henry        William  

The banners shown above represent the four male children of George Blackwell.
The banners will follow the line of each of the children and it will be found on
all pages in this website to allow you to keep on the correct lineage.

George Blackwell Sr. (10.2) was the man who had the dream of America.

Sailing from Liverpool to New York was a dangerous affair.  It was not just a case of bad weather, or the usual sea sickness. 
It was disease.  All to often, many died onboard.  It was crowded, uncomfortable, and in the event you were lucky enough or
rich enough to have semi-private quarters, a wall between you and many others may have been all the blocked the view and
odor of sickness and filth.  This was not a cruise. 
It was a commitment to a new beginning and the dangers were accepted.

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St. Paul - Shurdington, Gloucester, England
The burial place of Mary Barradell - Blackwell

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          Plans for America

New York Harbor - Photos published 1883
What George Blackwell (10.2) and young Henry Blackwell (10.2.5)
would have seen upon their arrival in 1851 at New York Harbor.
More Photos can be seen Here

The plans to go to America started to take shape and George Sr. (10.2) had to consider a number of problems.  There was the
cost, the various ages of the family, the ability to make the trip due to the poor health of his wife, (Mary Barradell) and a
number of other factors.  As head of the household, George Sr. (10.2) would have to work out a way to achieve this goal for
his family.  He almost succeeded.  Because of this, I have included much of the initial story in a brief overview in order to
show the effort and heartbreak that was involved.  
Note:  It is believed the family were middle class at the least and it appears all were very well educated.  We also think other
Blackwells that were related went to America first, but we can not confirm at this time.  Although home was in Cheltenham,
various Parishes were used for birth records, marriages etc.  All the locations mentioned here are physically close together,
and that explains why each of the children  were born in what appears to be a different location.
(See Gloucester Area Map )   All areas are around Cheltenham in Gloucester, England..  (R.E.B.)

From the research that has been done we have been able to learn about the movements of the family between the years
1850 and 1916.  Like all major changes in a family's life, it starts with a single dream.  That dream was to leave England, and
start over in the New World of America.  Not unlike many other people in those days, it also had it's price to be paid.  It was
costly in the form of hardship, loneliness and physical labour.  However, we Blackwell's of today, and the related families that
joined through marriage, can look back with considerable pride in what our ancestors achieved in the face of great hardships. 
I must point out that it is lucky for us that they did succeed.

In 1849 or 1850 the two eldest sons, John 10.2.3 and George Jr. 10.2.4 who were 17 and 15 years of age respectively, departed
England by Ship. We know they set sail from Liverpool as it was the common departure point at that time.  We also know they
arrived in Montreal.  This exodus explains why these two individuals did not show up on the 1851 Census in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England.    We also know that their father, George Sr. 10.2 and their young brother Henry, 10.2.5 departed by ship as well in 1851.
(after the Census of 1851)  They sailed to New York and Henry worked there until 1854 but George Sr. went on to Canada almost immediately.  See Compendium of Northern Minnesota for exact details.
As they did appear in the 1851 Census we can assume they left in the summer time.  The census was earlier in the year in 1851 and
the fall and winter is a dangerous time to be on the Atlantic.  George Sr. 10.2 and Henry 10.2.5 landed in New York but George Sr. continued on the Canada to be with sons John and George Jr.   In 1854 Henry left New York and joined his father and brothers in Canada.   I understand they were in Montreal for sometime prior to George Sr's arrival but when Henry arrived, they all left for "Queensbush" area.  This was timber country in Huron County , Ontario where they pooled their money and bought 450 acres. 
It was always thought that the family left George Jr. in Canada, and went to Minnesota, however, we have proof that all of them left for Minnesota.  George Jr. went to Meeker County with John while George Sr. lived with Henry in Douglas County.  This supports a letter written and sent between two Keller sisters in later years that tells about John and George Jr. walking across the country to a new area.
It was an important letter in other ways but this information is confirming the facts as laid out in the Henry Blackwell Biography. 
 See  also Obit of Henry Blackwell   It should be noted that Henry, 10.2.5 was 11 years old in 1951 so that meant he lived in 19th Century New York alone for his 12th, 13th, and 14th birthday before he went to Canada to rejoin his Father and Brothers.  It is possible that relatives may have been in New York but no indication of that at this time.

Back in England, Mary Barradell - Blackwell  and the remaining children, Elizabeth (10.2.1)  the eldest child of the family and Sophia, (10.2.2)  the next eldest and the young adopted son, William, (10.2.6)  who was six years of age at the time (1851), remained in England
to continue on until it was time for them to join the rest of the family in America.  However, Mary became quite ill for a number of  
years and was unable to make the journey.   She finally died in the fall of 1864 (LCB) and a short time later, possibly in 1865, Elizabeth
also passed away. (LCB) That left Sophia and William alone in England.  Sophia would have been about thirty-six years of age at the time
and William would have been about twenty.  By this time, John Blackwell, Henry Blackwell, George Blackwell Jr. and their father, George Sr. were well established in Minnesota.  It is believed that Sophia and William left for America not long after the death  of Elizabeth. 

Land Purchase in the District of Alexandria, MN - Click to enlarge photo

The Indians also had some ideas of their own.  Many families had been slaughtered on their
homesteads and the rest had to take shelter for a considerable time in the fortified towns. 
The Indians were upset about the un-kept promises that the Government had made  and
decided to act.  The slaughter was terrible.   The Blackwells were in the thick of it.  
George Jr. 10.2.4 married Lois Clarinda Twichell in 1863 in Anoka, Minnesota.  John 10.2.3 had
married Mary Jane McGannon and was living in Litchfield.  Henry 10.2.5 eventually married
Amanda Van Loon and raised a large family in the Holmes City area.  Sophia 10.2.2 and
William 10.2.6 came to Minnesota sometime after 1866 and prior to 1871.  (We think in early 1866)
Sophia married a Mr. Frost and settled near Holmes City in 1871.  Sophia died in Alexandria, MN. in 1901.
Little is known about William except that he died in 1917 in Puyallup, Washington.  (LCB)
Land Document Dated May 20, 1868

 

           
Blackwell Lake, Holmes City, MN.
As a result of the early purchase of land in Minnesota and his subsequent reputation in his new land,
Blackwell Lake was named in honour of George Blackwell Sr.
Minnesota Historical Society Information

See Maps

          CHELTENHAM 1851 CENSUS
            NAME                         AGE     OCC.           B.P.

GEORGE BLACKWELL          51   GARDNER   BRIMSFIELD     
MARY BARRADELL              53   MILLINER   WITHINGTON    
ELIZABETH BLACKWELL   24   MILLINER   BROCKWORTH   
SOPHIA BLACKWELL          22   MILLINER   BADGWORTH    
HENRY BLACKWELL            11   SCHOLAR   LECKHAMPTON    
WILLIAM BLACKWELL        6   SCHOLAR   CHARLTON KINGS  

John of 1832 (10.2.3) and George Jr. of 1834 (10.2.4) are not shown in the 1851 Census.  They left in 1849 for Canada.  The father, George Sr.(10.2) listed in the Census, took young Henry (10.2.5) and left for New York just after the Census was taken.

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Cheltenham 1748
To see a small review on Cheltenham, Click Here
The home of the Blackwell Family during the 1851 Census

                    
The Penny Black Stamps Issue Date is 1840

If Mary and the Children wanted to send a letter to their Husband, Father, Sons and Brothers in Canada or the United States, they would have used these stamps.  They are called the Penny Black Stamps and were in common use after 1840 in England.

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               English Locations important to the Blackwells

       
Holy Trinity of Badgeworth      Parish of Brimsfield             Parish of Withington

 

                                   Minnesota Locations

                   
                    VanLoon Cemetery          George Blackwell 10.2

    Photos of Cemetery and Tombstone by  Ken Blackwell

                                             
        Inscription on Tombstone of George Blackwell 10.2
  

In Memory of our loving father - George Blackwell Died Mar 1, 1877 - Age 70 Years 2Mos.

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Notes from LCB.
The funeral of George was officiated by Rev. Wm. M. Wells
If it was not for the adventurous and determined spirit of this man we would never have made the move to our present roots that  we enjoy today.  It was a courageous move in those days that only the brave at heart would attempt.  Many of that generation had to have that kind of attitude for the purpose of simple survival.  His sons shared the same dream and as this website will show throughout,  it was achieved as a family that was dedicated to itself as an entity as well as individuals.  A lesson we should attempt to maintain in the future.

 

            
      The Seal of the State of Minnesota
George became a proud American citizen in 1857

Douglas County
Named for Stephen Arnold Douglas.
Member of Congress from Illinois 1843-47, U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1847-61; candidate for president in 1860.
Advocated Minnesota statehood as chairman of Senate Committee on Territories.

View the 1860 Census of Meeker Co., Minnesota.

What's in the Census
The 1860 Census shows George Sr. (10.2) - age 59 and Henry (10.2.5) - age 20 residing together.
Family # 164 - Listed as Farmers. 
John (10.2.3) is shown as residing apart from his father and brother and is listed as Family # 186 - Listed his trade as a Mason.
Census reprint seen below in yellow.

1860 Census
Fam #      Name                    Age   Sex  Occupation     POB    Tnshp
164     Blackwell, George      59      m      farmer        England    Act
164     Blackwell, Henry        20      m      farmer        England    Act
186     Blackwell, J                 28      m      mason        England    Act

George Blackwell 10.2 and son Henry Blackwell 10.2.5 are shown in the same household.
John Blackwell 10.2.3 is in his own household.
 

General Information 
George Sr. 10.2 died in the house of his son, Judge Henry Blackwell.  10.2.5 (George lived with Henry in Holmes City Twps)
It is not known why one newspaper of the day called him John W. Blackwell when the 1851 Census called him George and also
that is what he called himself.  His tombstone says - George Blackwell.  Signed deeds in our possession show his signature as
George Blackwell in his own hand.
One obituary states his death was on March 2 when his tombstone reads March 1, 1877. This could be a simple newspaper error.
Other obituaries state March 1.  His funeral was officiated by Rev. Wm. M. Wills.
Reported by the Alexandria Post in the March 16th, 1877 issue.   Died March 1, 1877.

Accurate Birth Date established   It was important to establish an important birth date for George as he is the topic of concern
due to many errors being made in the past in who the "Main Individual" was that spearheaded the family to come to America. 
For some time it was though to be a John Blackwell born in Cheltenham in 1806.  However, we know have the facts and it takes
only a little simple math to figure out.
George was actually born in Jan of 1801.  His tombstone says he died on March 1 of 1877 at the age of 76 years and 2 months. 
John could have been a brother or some other relation but he was not the same person as George Blackwell of 1801 (10.2)
(Thanks to James Blackwell 10.2.3.4.1.1.2) for finding the truth about George Blackwell.)

Additional Information
Documents from Litchfield, Minnesota dated 1857 show George Blackwell and a John Blackwell age 24.  John is also seen living
with a James W. Blackwell.  The age dates are supported by the 1851 Census.  Other Blackwell's are in the area but the ages do not
agree with documents.  Possibly they are related.  We know that other Blackwells were in Gloucester and they could have came out
as well.  Could it be that some of them came out to America first and also were in Minnesota, causing George Sr.  and his sons to
mover there?  Also, should that be the case, it could have been more of a comfort to George Sr. to leave his wife and daughters alone back in England in the care of another related Blackwell family.  We know that many Blackwells were in and around Cheltenham and
other areas of Gloucester that were related.  This is just a guess based upon what would be considered normal and logical actions.
This part of the website will be covered in Phase 2.

BURIAL PLACE OF GEORGE BLACKWELL (10.2)
George Blackwell Sr. 10.2 is buried in Van Loon Cemetery by Blackwell Lake near Holmes City, MN.
Marry Barradell is not with him as she died on 12 Nov 1864 in Cheltenham, England and is buried in
Shurdington, Gloucester, England  Recorded as age 68 at time of death.

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Follow the Website in Family Order - Next  to the first born of George Blackwell (10)- Elizabeth (10.2.1)
or you may go to the pages of the other children - Sophia - John - George Jr. - Henry - William
or select from the Menu Bar at the Top of the Page