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The Family of Alexander Black (Son of Peter) & Agnes Cormack
NAME | BIRTH | LOCATION | DEATH | LOCATION | MARRIAGE | LOCATION | SPOUSE |
Alexander Black [1] | 1810 | Leith, Scotland | October 11, 1865 | Boonton, Morris Co., New Jersey |
2) Cecilea [2] |
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Peter Black | 14 March 1834 | Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland | 1918 | Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York | Sarah Mac Crae | ||
David (or Daniel) Black | 1835 | Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland | |||||
Jane(t) Black | 10 June 1837 | Fife, Scotland | Daniel Kennard (Cunard) [3] | ||||
Alexander Black | 1839 | Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland | |||||
William Black | 03 September 1841 |
[1] 1841 census in St. Cuthbert's Parish, Edinburgh shows Alexander and Agnes with children; Peter, Daniel, Jane and Alex; however, Agnes died September 17, 1841 in Edinburgh, two weeks after giving birth to their son, William. According to the genealogy prepared by grandson Alexander Robert Black (son of Peter), Alexander "came to America is 1851 sailing from Greenock Sept. 27 and reaching New York on November 7. His son Peter accompanied him. Alexander died in Boonton, New Jersey of cancer of the stomach where he had opened a lamp shop and a plumbing business." No proven USA census record has been found for Alexander in 1860.
[2] The 1851 census in St. Cuthbert's Parish, Edinburgh shows that Alexander has married a woman named Cecilea, age 37 to his 39 and the couple has another son named John, age 9 months. Included in the census are children by his first marriage: Peter, Alexander and William.
[3] 1860 census in Brooklyn, New York shows Peter (24, brass finisher), Sarah (23) and Alexander (2) living in the household of Daniel and Jane Black Cunard in Brooklyn, New York in June. Peter (25, machinist) and Sarah (22) with son Alexander (1) are also enumerated in New York City in July in the household of Blacksmith, John McCray, father of Sarah. Included in the household are John's children Robert, Agnes, Margaret and Mary who are incorrectly given the surname Black.
The Family of Peter Black & Sarah MacCrae
NAME | BIRTH | LOCATION | DEATH | LOCATION | MARRIAGE | LOCATION | SPOUSE |
Peter Black[1] | 14 March 1834 | Buccleuch Pend, Edinburgh, Scotland | 1918 | Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York | Sarah Mac Crae | ||
Alexander Robert Black | 07 February 1859 | Manhattan, New York | 01 May 1940 | 04 October 1881 | New York, New York | Elizabeth May Helmle | |
John William Black | 1861 | 1956 | Flora Blaney | ||||
David Black | 1863 | 1930 | Matilda Turnbull | ||||
Jessie Gertrude Black | 1866 | 1940 | William C. Lawson | ||||
Sarah Black | 19 December 1872 | 1930 | Mc Carthy | ||||
Peter Black | |||||||
Agnes Black | |||||||
Fairman Black |
[1] In 1859, the family lived at 200 West 26th Street, New York, but moved to 1 N. 1st Street (near Bedford Ave.) , then 4th Street, Williamsburg in 1863. See note 3 above for 1860 census information. So far, we can find no record in the 1870 census for Peter and Sarah. In 1880, the entire family is enumerated, but, under the name of "Peterson Black" in Kings County, New York. By 1900, Alexander Robert is enumerated with Elizabeth May Helmle Black and all three children in Brooklyn, New York.
The Family of Alexander Robert Black & Elizabeth May Helmle
NAME | BIRTH | LOCATION | DEATH | LOCATION | MARRIAGE | LOCATION | SPOUSE |
Alexander Robert Black, [1] | 07 February 1859 | Manhattan, New York | 01
May 1940 |
1) 04 October 1881 2) 25 January 1935 |
1) New York, New York 2) New York, New York |
2) Florence Edith O'Dell [2] |
|
Black, Mabel Hawthorne | 23 December 1883 | 05 January 1968 | Cleland Ruthven Austin | ||||
Carlyle Helmle Black, | 03 January 1887 | Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY | 14 August 1973 | New Canaan, Fairfield, CN | 15 May 1915 | Buffalo, Erie Co., NY | Louise Cage Fielder |
Malcolm Stuart Black | 29 April 1894 | New York, New York | 13 April 1960 | South Orange, New Jersey | Ruth Tuttle Atwood |
[1] Alexander Robert Black was born at 200 West 26th Street, New York. He was proud to be the first true "Manhattanite" child born into the family. In 1863 the family moved to Williamsburgh, first to N. 1st Street near Bedford then to 4th Street. Later they moved to 299 Broadway between 9th and 10th streets and finally to Fourth 120 Division Avenue when he married Elizabeth Helmle. In this home, Sarah Mac Crae Black died in 1889. Alexander became variously a noted author, newspaperman, inventor and creator of the "Picture Play" from the age of twelve until he died. A movie in his honor was made by Adolf Zukor in 1919 called the "Grandfather of the Picture Play" to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first Picture Play, "Miss Jerry." See this link for more information. In both the 1900, 1910 and 1920 censuses, Alexander and Elizabeth are enumerated living with all or some of their children. In 1930, they are not found, suggesting that they may have been traveiling as Alexander's career had taken off. Elizabeth died on August 25, 1934 in Hopkinton, New Hampshire when a train hit the car in which she was riding.
[2] Florence Edith O'Dell was born in England about 1882. She came to the USA between 1905-1910 and worked as a New York newspaper editer, where she met Alexander Black. After many years of working relationship and professional friendship, one year after the death of Elizabeth Helmle Black in 1934, the couple married and spent the last six years of Alexander's life together. Edith played a key role in the organization of Alexander's papers, making sure they were safely preserved in perpetuity.
The Family of Carlyle Helmle Black & Louise Cage Fielder
NAME | BIRTH | LOCATION | DEATH | LOCATION | MARRIAGE | LOCATION | SPOUSE |
Carlyle Helmle Black | 03 January 1887 | Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY | 14 August 1973 | New Canaan, Fairfield, CN | 15 May 1915 | Buffalo, Erie Co., NY | Louise Cage Fielder |
Fielder Black | February 27, 1916 | August 08, 1963 | La Jolla, San Diego Co., CA | ||||
Alexander Black II | March 05, 1920 | East Orange , Essex Co., New Jersey | October 23, 1987 | San Francisco, San Francisco, CA | October 9, 1941 | Chicago, Cook, IL | O'Hara, Jean Marie |
Sibling (Living) |
[1] Carl Black began his career as a mail room worker for American Can Company. Over time, he advanced himself into the postion of CEO/Chairman of the Board from 1940s until about 1952 - truly he was an excellent example of an American Success Story!