The Black Family

NAME	BIRTH	LOCATION	DEATH	LOCATION	MARRIAGE	LOCATION	SPOUSE
Alexander Black [1]	1810	Leith, Scotland	October 11, 1865	Boonton, Morris Co., New Jersey			1) Agnes Cormack 2) Cecilea [2]
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. Died Boonton, NJ of cancer of 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, Sarah and Alexander living in the household of Daniel and Jane Black Cunard in Brooklyn, New York in June. Peter and Sarah with new son Alexander are also enumerated both in New York City in July in the household of Blacksmith, John McCray. Included in the household are John's children Robert, Agnes, Margaret and Mary who are incorrectly given the surname Black.

NAME	BIRTH	LOCATION	DEATH	LOCATION	MARRIAGE	LOCATION	SPOUSE
Peter Black	14 March 1834	Buccleuch Pend, Edinburgh, Scotland	1918	Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York			Sarah Mac Crae
Alexander Robert Black [1]	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] 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 oif "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.

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	1) Elizabeth May Helmle 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 Black was a noted author, newspaperman 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.

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/Chariman of the Board from 1940s until about 1952 - truly he was an excellent example of an American Success Story!