Blackwell, Ebenezer (1711–1782)

Blackwell was related to George Whitefield's mother Elizabeth. He apprenticed in banking under Thomas Martin of Martin's Bank, London—where he became a partner in 1746. Raised as an Anabaptist, Blackwell was baptized into the Church of England by Whitefield in June 1739, and in August of that year helped Whitefield deal with money collected for establishing a school for colliers at Kingswood. JW was also in Bristol at the time and met Blackwell. Thus began a long friendship, working relationship, and correspondence. Blackwell's home in Lewisham, The Limes, became a favourite retreat for both JW and CW. After death of his first wife, Elizabeth, Blackwell married Mary Eden (1746–1811) on Dec. 22, 1774. On his death in 1782, CW composed an extended funeral hymn (MS Funeral Hymns [1756–87], 59–62; AM 6 [1784] ). See Martin, Grasshopper, 49–69; and Vickers, Dictionary, 33–34.