The Blacker family lived very close to the Spence family, generally a little further east, for many generations within a 20-mile radius of Rawcliffe. They are long-term farmers, sometimes tenant farmers, more more usually owning their own land. Farms have been passed down the generations, often to the first son but not always.
The family has been moving gradually east over the centuries, and I suspect they originated from the Blacker family from Blacker Hall farm (or Crigglestone Hall) which was references in the Doomsday book in the 11th century. That family is traced back to William de Blakkar in 1300. It’s believed that this family came from Ireland, when Blacaire, the son of Gofraid, king of Dublin in the 10th century, fled the country to Yorkshire. More research to be done here to prove our royal descent!
Our link to the Blacker Family
My link to the Blacker Family is through my grandmother Lilian Spence nee Blacker, who we always called Nanna, who was born and bred in Swinefleet near Goole, rich farming land in the reclaimed marshlands of east Yorkshire. There are many Blacker cousins still living in that area, and I’ve made contact with many. Every 5 years or so we get together for a family reunion, visit some of the places our ancestors lived, and discuss our heritage.
You can see some of the photos from our 2022 reunion here, and below you can watch a video of the presentation I gave to our Blacker cousins, about the Spence link with the Blackers, and some of the wider Blacker research I’ve done.
Our Blacker family stories back through time
The Blacker family stories begin with Nanna’s parents and siblings, the Blackers or Pasture Farm, and continue back over the centuries, through farmers and cordwainers in Rawcliffe, back to the 1700s. We take a look back further through the origins of the family, all the way back to the King of Dublin in 967 and even further to Odin, king of Scandinavia in 2000 BC. This is potentially, though not at all proven, our most illustrious family line!
The Blacker Homelands
In the last 300 years, the Blacker ancestors haven’t moved far, mostly along a line from Swinefleet, Goole, Rawcliffe, Snaith and Pontefract. I’ve collated old photos and postcards for some of the places they lived.
My Trips and Visits to Research the Blacker
I continue to visit the places our ancestors lived, and I’ll continue to add them here.