Blackwells of Derbyshire 1400-1700

(c) HTML Draft Aug.1996 David Blackwell email: dblackwell@s1.drc.com

This is an outline of a work in progress on the Blackwells of Derbyshire, which I've been working on since 1984. I have collected over 30 early Blackwell wills mostly from Lichfield, and several Chancery court cases of the 1500 & 1600's, plus material from the Bagshaw Collection at Sheffield Library and the Duke of Portland papers(DDP) at Nottingham Record Office. Inaddition I have had the help of many people. The Blackwells were involved in farming, lead mining, smelting and marketing. They may be a pre-conquest family who were dispossessed of the manor of Blackwell. It appears they were its caretaker or leaseholder for its owner the Priory of Lenton for generations. Currently, I am researching connections between Blackwells in Derbyshire, Kent, and Watford Hertfordshire. And I am trying to research London Blackwells. I hope people might help me in proving or disproving the following connections.

Currently (8-96) of interest is the will (dated 1515 and found in the History of Bedsfordshire by Jack Davis) of Robert Blackwell10  (see below) and his son George. The names match those found in Manningham's 1499 will. Time will tell if contradicting evidence is found. DCB

One connection is in the will of Richard Blackwell of Blackwell Derbyshire dated 1503. He names his six sons and three of his five daughters. It mentions his son Sir William parson of Ash (spelled Hasch). Another is a grant of land (Bag.C.1254A) dated 3 Dec. 1502 also shows William Blackwell as rector of the church of Ash (co.Kent).

The other connection is a Chancery Court case C3/209/78 PF4393 1575-87 concerning disputed land in Litton Derbyshire. It gives 5 generations of descendants of a William Blackwell. And there is a will of a William Blackwell dated 1514 at St. Albans Herts. mentioning a son Robert and a Philip Blackwell, who are also in the court case as William's son and grandson. More evidence is needed to show if these are the same William or cousins.  It may be the land (50 acres) came from the Litton family as dowery.

Philip Blackwell(d.1978) has shown there are many early Blackwells. London had a Blackwell Hall in it from the 1300's to the 1600's. But the records are too sparse to show relationships. Philip's work on the Watford Blackwells (1500 to today) is very good but where did they come from? I propose they are from Derbyshire. So let me relate this genealogy of the Blackwells of the Peak in Derbyshire.

The following is constructed from many wills, plus the Kirk Ireton pedigree chart confirmed to JB of Blackwall, K.I. by Isaac Heard Lancaster Herald 1764, Reg. of Nobility & Gentry. v.2 fol.668, plus the Eyre work by R.Meredith, plus notes by Wooley, etc. at the Society of Genealogist in London, and other sources. Much work remains to be done.

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Descendants of Richard and Agnes(Tunstead) Blackwell (circa 1500)

Richard⁹ Blackwell and his wife Agnes(Tunstead) had six sons (Ralph(will 1527), Richard, Robert(will 1515), Hugh, William,  and Thomas(will 1554)) and five daughters. Their brass inlaid tomb stone is in Taddington Church. His will is dated 1503 Sheffield Archive: Bagshaw Item1303. It mentions his children, wife, much land, and other people. Richard had a 90 year lease of the manor from Lenton Priory which was later contested in court after its dissolution. (Can anyone in the Boston to Casco Bay Maine area help me read these contested court cases? I have xeroxed copies of them, also some 8mm and VSH videotape of other records.)

A coat of arms was granted to Richard Blackwell and are on his tomb:

Arms: Argent, a Talbot courant, sable on a chief decette of the second three besants.
Crest: A demi Talbot couped proper of the second, a helmet.
Motto: Malo mori quam foedari ( I had rather die than be dishonored)
The dog indicates service to the king as a courier, messager or ambassador.
The three besants (circles) represent Saracen coins with which the crusaders used to decorate their shields. The helmet represents knighthood.

Reported ancestry of Richard⁹ Blackwell (d.1503)

The Kirk Ireton Blackwall chart shows the following ancestry and many descendants.

1. Robert Blackwell¹ (ca.1267),
2. Sir John Blackwell² (d.1307),
3. Ralph Blackwell³ (ca.1367),
4. Adam Blackwell⁴ (ca.1385),
5. Robert Blackwell⁵ (ca.1408 m.__ Poole),
6. William Blackwell⁶ (m.d.o.Meverell of Throwley),
7. John Blackwell⁷,
8. Robert Blackwell⁸.(m.Isabel sister of Sir Robert Litton of Litton, keeper of the Great Wardrobe of Henry VII) (I am researching these ancestors separately, see Wedgwood's Hist.Parl.Biog. for Litton).
   It now appears that Robert⁸ Blackwell's grandson Robert¹⁰ (son of Richard Blackwell⁹) whose 1515 will was found (by Jack Davis) in the History of Bedfordshire is a chancery clerk for Henry VII. see below. The question now is : is this Robert⁸ the chancery clerk of Richard III in 1483? or does Richard⁹ have a brother Robert⁹?

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Descendants of Richard and Agnes Blackwell

• 1. Ralph¹⁰ Blackwell (1st heir of Richard and Agnes) m. Dorothy dau.of Humphrey Stafford of Eyam. (note: Humphrey is Roger Eyre's grandson and Dorothy's niece Gertrude m Rowland Eyre s.o. Stephen and Ann (Blackwell) Eyre). Ralph is mentioned in the DANHS Journal, his will is dated 1527 (B1298) and mentions his wife Dorothy, four sons: Richard, George, Anthony, & Ralph; and four daughters: Amy, Crystal, Elizabeth, & Dorathy; and his brother in law Thomas Bagshaw.
  • a. Richard¹¹ Blackwell (eldest son) m.Alice dau.and heir.of Nicholas Beard of Beard Hall. 
    The K.I chart shows six sons: Ralph, Nicholas, Hugh, George, Francis, & Richard.
    • 1. Ralph¹² Blackwell of Dethick who m.Ann dau.and heir. of Richard Wendesley.(see B2022).
      • A. Wendesley¹³ Blackwell (d.1634) m. Martha d.o.Thomas Gardiner of Adderbury, Oxford. The K.I. chart shows three children.
        1. Sir Thomas¹⁴ Blackwell m. Dorothy dau. & heiress of Edward Mayhall; had 2 daughters. Dorothy was buried 1638 Dec.16. Thomas was a Royalist who went broke fighting for Charles I. (this is a possible link to Virginia Blackwells since many Cavaliers went to America after their defeat and amnesty in 1646 or after Charles I was executed in 1649). Bishop Transcripts show the following baptisms in Mansfield Woodhouse to Thomas and Dorothy Blackwell:
           1. Mary Blackwell bapt.1632 Mar.29
           2. Catherine Blackwell bapt. 1633 Jan.21.
           3. Wendesley Blackwell bapt.1636 July 12.
           4. Dorothy Blackwell bapt.1638 Nov. 15.
        2. Gervase¹⁴ aka George Blackwell m. Alice Hall see Water's Geneal.Gleanings p.687-690. George was a skinner & citizen of London. The three children are listed in Alice's mother Sarah (Lumley) (Hall) Wraxall's 1665 will.
           1. Edward Blackwell ,
           2. Dorother Blackwell ,dau. of Mr.Gervase Blackwell and Alice his wife was baptised Aug. 5th 1636 in Mansfield Woodhouse.
           3. Sarah. Blackwell
        3. Mary14 Blackwell m1. ___ Bridges, m2. Rowland Eyre of Bradway nephew of T.Eyre.
    • 2. Nicholas¹² Blackwell m. Senche (he was a solicitor and suspected recusant(Catholic) ) will 1598/9. Nicholas appears in many papers. He is of Rydware Hampstall,Staffordshire and has business with Sir Thomas Fitzherbert (many sources) B.2510
      1. Prudence¹³ Blackwell m. Thomas Eyre (d.1637) (s.o.Rowland,s.o.Stephen, s.o. Rowland).( see her pre-nuptual. agreement 1593 B2613)
      2. other possible daughters...
    • 3. Hugh Blackwell¹² m.daughter of Gilbert Exeter and had a son and daughter: (can anyone find any of these wills?)
      1. George Blackwell¹³ of Duffield (inherited 10 Pounds from uncle Nicholas) had a dau.(B2525)
      2. Ann Blackwell¹³ m. John Slifield of Castlehay, Tutbury B2525; papers 1579-81
      1. 1. Rachael Slifield(20 marks from g.uncle Nicholas B. B.2510A will); (B.2525)
    • 4. George Blackwell¹² m.Grace d.o.H.Columbel of Darley (? godson of G.B. in 1576 will?)
    • 5. Francis Blackwell¹² of Darely Dale and Dale Head (sold by son to R.Eyre cousin's son (B2587,1611)
      1. Francis13 m Beatrice Frenchville sister of Sir Peter,
    • 6. Richard Blackwell¹² of Rydware Hampstall (will 1593/4 (B1305), not in KI chart) left belongings to Prudence Eyre, Dorothy Chapman, Katherine Barker and others.
  • b. George¹¹ Blackwell of Tideswell, suspected recusant with Eyre, Pursglove, Cock, and Nicholas Garlick B2019.
    m. Elizabeth sister of Stephen Eyre of Hassop (FMG.561), will 1576
    Note Stephen Eyre m2. Ann d.o.Thomas¹⁰ Blackwell, will 1554
    Stephen's grandson Thomas m. Prudence¹³ Blackwell (see family wills in
    The Eyres of Hassop by Rosamond Meredith, Thesis 1964 Sheffield Univ.Lib.)
    • 1. Francis¹² Blackwell (sons were not in G.B. will only in conflicting version of K.I.chart).
      • A. Henry¹³ Blackwell of Querin, Lieut. to Sir James Blount Col.
      • B. Robert¹³ Blackwell m. Elizabeth d.o. Thomas Alsop. (?possible link to NY Blackwells)
      • C. Richard¹³
    • 2. Robert¹² Blackwell m. Dorothy d.o. Thurston Allen of Weston (mentioned in C3/209/78) (his widow inherited 40 s. from G.B.will). Therefore Robert12 died between 1571...1576. Apparently, as stated in the court case, his widow Dorothy Blackwell married Humphrey Blackwell son of Ellis Blackwell and grandson of Humphrey Blackwell of Litton.
      • A. Henry¹³ Blackwell inherited leasehold Gresedale farm from uncle Thomas Eyre (will 1571).
      • B. Florence13 Blackwell, 40 Shillings from G.B. 1576 will
        This Florence probably is the servant in Bess of Hardwick's will
    • 3. Dorothy12 m. Robert Cook (inherited 40 shillings in fathers will of 1576).
  • c. Anthony¹¹ Blackwell will Bags1304 dated 1591/2, supervisor in G.B. will 1576
  • d. Ralph¹¹ Blackwell ;
  • e. Amy¹¹ Blackwell ;
  • f. Crystal¹¹ Blackwell ;
  • g. Elizabeth¹¹ Blackwell
  • h. Dorathy¹¹ Blackwell inherited six shillings from her brother George's will of 1576.

• 2. Richard¹⁰ Blackwell m. Grysell Boyvill; He appears in the employe of Ralph and Henry Sacheverell. (Ralph and John Sacheverell are retainers to Lord Hastings 1474 1478).  
  Richard and Grysell's memorial stone is in Monyash Church.
  • a. William Blackwell¹¹ (wp.1598) m. Ann or Mary d.o.Ralph Sacheverall) res. in Alton, Derby, his wife is the aunt of Sir John Gell of Hopton a Royalist knighted by Charles I for collecting taxes! but who joined the Parliamentarian forces after 1642.
    • 1. Ralph Blackwell¹² eldest son sold Alton in Wirksworth, Steepley, & Melbourne, died unmarried.
    • 2. John Blackwell¹²  2nd son, m. Alice d.o. ___ Agard of Foston, Derby( more documentation needed) (note a John Agarde gent. was a retainer of Lord Hastings in 14 Edward IV 1474 more than 100 years before)
      1. A. Jane Blackwell .
      2. B. William Blackwell  of Brassington.
      3. C. George Blackwell  m. Judith Champney near London, resided Derby. He is taxed for 5 hearths in Derby (Derby.Hearth Tax 1662-1670, pub.1982). He is the minister in Derby and plays the viola in a group with Mr. Bateman. This is mentioned in Glossops History of Derbyshire pub 182?.
      4. D. Henry Blackwell  of Burton.
      5. E. Elizabeth Blackwell  m. Rauton Tompson, 1s. 1d.
    • 3. Elizabeth Blackwell¹²  m. Thomas(g.g.son of Thomas and Cecily (Blackwell) Bagshaw of The Ridge, living 1611)source FMG p.231 not in Kirk Ireton pedigree, had 8 children.  The Bagshaws are a well documented family.  Anyone want to put it on the Web?
    • 4.Millicent Blackwell¹²
    • 5.Thomas  Blackwell¹² m. Ellen Challoner of Boylston, Derbys, will 1623 Dec.1.
      1. A.William Blackwell¹³ (d.<1680) m. Elizabeth Mason of Heynaston, no issue.
      2. B. Thomas Blackwell¹³ mentioned in fathers will.
      3. C. Alice Blackwell¹³ m. ___ Rowland, in fathers will.
      4. D. Elizabeth Blackwell¹³ m. ___ Ampfill, in fathers will.
      5. E. Bridget Blackwell¹³ m. ___ Harrison, in fathers will, also Wolley MS.6675 f.222.
      6. C. Richard Blackwell ¹³ (only in K.I. chart not in Wooley). possible mistake.
      7. D. John Blackwell¹³ m Alice(d.1663) dau. & heiress of Thomas Bradshaw of K.I. (cousin of Bradshaw the regicide) will probated 1680.
         The Blackwalls of Kirk Ireton are his descendants and still live there.
         More on his descendants later. This connection needs more evidence.
    • 6. Richard¹² Blackwell had dau. Grysell (source College of Arms, Bluemantle Purs. only)
• 3.Robert Blackwell¹⁰ ( in fathers will of 1503, in K.I. Chart). Robert Blackwell 's will (dated 1515) has been found in Bedfordshire by Jack Davis, David L. Blackwell's cousin. He names his brother Sir William Blackwell, his executor in his post-1515 codicil, thus separating him from William Blackwell of Watford, who died 1514. Sir William Blackwell was then at Stevenage, Herts. Robert's son George's will also turns up - with Germun Poole as executor. DLB also has an item tieing Robert and others to the Litton family. Robert Blackwell appears to have married in 1493 Mary Pole, daughter of Ralph Pole (d.1492 (probably son of Ralph Pole (d.1460)) of Radbourne (C.I.P.M. Hen.VII,ii,888 via Wright). Ralph Pole was a retainer of Lord Hastings.
  • Barbara, Alice, Jane, Henry (see the 1515 will )
  • George Blackwell, (the finding of these two wills in Bedfordshire is very exciting!)
• xx??Henry Blackwell¹⁰, living 1565 (src.College of Arms, Bluemantle Purs.only,BN v.5,p.13,1983) I think this is not Richard and Agnes's son but a grandson.
• 4.William Blackwell¹⁰ parson, Rector of Ash, Kent in 1503. Named as executor to his brother Robert's 1515 will, where is of Stevenage, Herts.   Thus the 1514 will of a William Blackwell of Watford(Herts) husbandman (158 Walingford. Arch.St. Albans.) is not his will.
• 5.Hugh¹⁰ Blackwell (in father's will, no other record)
• 6.Thomas¹⁰ Blackwell m.Ann dau. of John Blount of Blount Hall Staff.  His will is dated 1554 and his is of Shirley, Derbyshire. (he is a cousin of Sir John Blount, Lord Mountjoy, who was a peer and a retainer of Lord Hasting?)
  1. Ellen Blackwell¹¹ m. Christopher Hurt of Ashbourne.
     (see Derbyshire Pedigrees 1569 &1611 page 144 for their children)
  2. Ann Blackwell¹¹ mx1545. Stephen Eyre of Hassop (his 2nd wife)
     his sister Elizabeth Eyre m. George.B of Tideswell(see Harl. FMG p.561 MS.232)
• 7.Cecily¹⁰ Blackwell m.Thomas Bagshaw
  see FMG.p.561 or Harleian v.63 p.15 for descendants.
• 8.Agnes Blackwell¹⁰;
• 9.Grace Blackwell¹⁰ neither Agnes nor Grace are married in 1503 when the will is made.
• 10.daughter¹⁰
  note a John Hunt and Robert Gilbert are mentioned in the 1503 will
  they may be husbands of the  two un-named daughters.
• 11.daughter¹⁰ Blackwell .

I do not currently have time to follow up other promising leads such as the Blount family who may be associated with the Virginia Blackwells or the Alsop family who may be associated with the New York Blackwells or the Sacheverell family.

I will be putting my note on these web pages as time permits.
I am also interested in reading work of others, especially pre 1700.
I have yet to transcribe or organize much of the material so far collected.

Comments, corrections, and additions welcomed.