New-York tribune., 1911-10-21
BLACKWELL'S IN HISTORY
DR.. Rankin Believes the Name Too
Honorable To Be Discarded.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
sir: All interested in the history Of New
York Will. I think be pleased to see that
The Tribune. In its editorial Of october 10,
does not favor a change OF name OF Black
wells Island. name which the Island mas
borne for about 235 years The tribune Is
mistaken, however, when 1t says the
Blackwell from whom II got It's present
namo was not an historic character, for
the island bears the name Of an honorable
citizen OF the earlier Colonial period ana
that OF his grandson. who was patriot in
the Revolutionary War and who suffered
much for his loyalty.
refer first, TO Robert Blackwell VINO
on his marriage, In 1916. with Mary Man
ming. the stepdaughter OF Captain John
Manning. the unfortunate scapegoat OF
Lord Lovelaces neglect I'm rendering de-
fenslble tho fort. gave the island his name.
changing 1t from that of Mannings island
Robert Blackwell was member Of the 4th
Colonial Assembly. representing New YORK
in 1s93-'9i-'o5. civil List N. Y. p. H5)
The Revolutionary patriot was Colonel
Jacob Blackwell Roberts grandson as
mentioned, who was born in III. the year
Of his grandfather's death, and who died
in 1850. He was a prominent man In
Queens County In his time. served In the
French and Indian War and had the dls-
tinction OF being one Of the deputies TO the
provincial convention 10 elect deputies IN
turn 10 the Continental Congress. C1vil
LIST y. Y. mage 1l8) He was also mem
ber Of the 1st "a and Attn Provincial con
eressos. CCivil List N. Y, page 4@J
Ell IT, ~
the British Colonel Blackwens estate. in
cIudlng the island, was contiscated ana
held until the close OF the war During
this period the soldiers were stationed on
his lands. their tents we're pitched on MS
fields and the officers were quartered at his
residence. where his wife and daughters
together with his slaves. remained while
he and his sons were fugitives. When
was a boy granddaughter OF Colonel
blackwell. then in her old age. told me OF
experiences of these trying days as re-
lated to her by Colonel BlackwelIs Wile'
Colonel Blackwelrs death. according TO the
"OId Merchants OF New York" was has
tened by his losses during the Revolution
airy War.
An interesting relic of these momentous
davs is the front door of the BlacKWeh
residence. which until rev years ago
stood at the foot Of Webster avenue, Ra-
venswood. Upon IT is cut the British marx
of coufscation-the broad arrow. Ihls
door is preserved in Jamaica, Long Island
I'm a local museum. Colonel Blach"el
will was published in The Evening Post
about three years ago.
II is certainly unfortunate that any
stigma should have arisen I'm connection
with the name of the island. but this
should not he a reason for change OF lts
name. for In time the unpleasant assocla-
lion Of penitentiary and workhouse Will oe
dissipated with the removal Of these In
stitutions and the island devoted to the
two great hospitals. with park FOR which
II IS so admirably adapted.
Let us keep our old names. Ratner tnah
changes. II would he pleasing TO see o'd
names revived. especially when the change
is either meaningless or inappropriate, as
for example. IN the instance OF Astoria
oueens Formerly this was called Hallets
cove. after its original settler. William
HaUet. hut the name was changed 10 AS
toria I'm the hope that John Jacob Astor
would give the village a library. He did
not nor did he or any of his family ever
have anything to do with the place, yet
the name remains as a perpetual msht.
E. G.. RANKIN. T.,
New York. oct IS, 1911.