Joshua Blackwell

   Another name for Joshua was Josiah Blackwell.

  General Notes:

Joshua3 Blackwell (Joshua,2 Michael1), born 12 Jan. 1682, died testate in Sandwich in 1751. He married there, 8 June 1704, Sarah3 Ellis (Sandwich Town Records), died before 22 April 1751, daughter of Lieut. Mordecai2 and Sarah Ellis.

Joshua3 Blackwell received a legacy of £15. 17s. 6d. under his grandfather Blackwell's will, for which he gave his "honoured father Joshua Blackwell" a receipt dated 18 April 1711 (Barnstable County Probate, 3:634). He and his wife were members of the Sandwich Church, where were baptized, 21 Oct. 1716, their children: "Eleazer, Joshua, Mordecai, Sarah & John." Her father died intestate in Sandwich and in the distribution, dated 20 Feb. 1709/10, there was "settled upon Sarah Blackwell one of the daughters of sd deceased £25. 15s. more than she hath had already," in addition to which she was later to receive an additional portion (ibid., 3:72). Her mother died in 1718, also intestate, and among the heirs who signed a release 6 April 1720 we find "Joshua Blackwell Junr." (ibid., 4:417). Rev. Benjamin Fessenden lists "Joshua Blackwell Junr." among the heads of families in Sandwich in 1730. The Court appointed him guardian, 20 April, of his wife's 14 year old nephew, Mordecai4 Ellis (ibid., 4:524). As we have seen, his father's will, dated 15 July 1737, gives him a variety of bequests (supra).

The will, dated 22 April 1751, of "Joshua Blackwell of Sandwich, . yeoman . aged and infirm" order "my debts and funeral charges to be paid out of that estate I give to my daughter Sarah Swift … To my son John Blackwell . (all real property) . except what I give to my son Joshua, also my loom with the stays." To the son Joshua he gives "my house, only to remove to his own land;" one third the apparel, use of the barn and "my husbandry tools & tackling and my cane having an ivory handle, also the wheel timber, horse and horse tackling, also the commons hay, grain, flax and tobacco which I shall raise there this present year. To my son Mordecai Blackwell, one third my apparell & I order my executors to pay to him a legacy of 1s. 4d. To my granddaughter Mercy Blackwell the following things: that is a feather bed with a white ticken; a box of iron and heaters, also a bed, furniture, etc., a pair of good sheets, two good coverlets, a good blanket and a bolster . pewter, ye largest cason save one, a good porringer, a plate, a spoon, ye largest platter save one, also ironware, ye largest kettle save one, also wooden ware; i. e. the largest chest, a good chair, the spring wheel, & clock reals, also the largest pillow with a case, the Bible, also all my meat and corn and grain & flax and tow & wool & yarn & wooster which was got & procured at ye date hereof, also a piece of linen cloath now weaving or lately woven, all these I give to said Mary as a certain legacy[A] … To my grand son Eleazer Blackwell my fire lock or gun. To my grandson Micah Blackwell one good ewe. To my grandson John Blackwell my sword, etc. … To my daughter Sarah Swift all my moveable & personal estate" (except the things specifically given to the others). The son John Blackwell was named sole executor. Witnesses: Enoch Tupper, John Smith, Elisha Tupper. The inventory, dated 23 Sept. 1751, shows real estate at £77.6s.; total £142. 15s. 9d. (Barnstable County Probate 9: 70-2).
[A] This particular bequest is given in detail for its human interest value. See under Mercy5 Blackwell for explanation. [Michael Blackwell of Sandwich, Mass. (c. 1620-1710) by Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, NEHGR 117, 1963]

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, 22 Apr 1751, Sandwich, Barnstable, MA. ^16,37

Joshua married Sarah Ellis, daughter of Lt. Mordecai Ellis and Sarah Bourne, on 8 Jun 1704 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^{5,16,17,37,65}.^,201 (Sarah Ellis was born on 12 Dec 1686 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^17,65 and died before 22 Apr 1751 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^{5,16,17,29,37,65,201}.)