Elisha Swift Blackman Family

Elisha Swift Blackman was born in Connecticut on October 4, 1797 to the marriage of Zachariah Blackman and Alice Swift.

His siblings included Abigail, Philetus Swift, Robert Ransom, Jabez Swift, Cyrenus Clark, Benjamin Franklin, Gain Robinson and James Robinson Blackman.

While his parents and siblings settled in New York, Elisha chose to move to the south.  Elisha Swift Blackman married Octavia Weakley circa 1827.  Octavia was born in Louisiana in 1813.

The 1830 and 1850 U. S. census records show the Elisha Swift Blackman family living in St. Helena, Louisiana.

1830 U. S. census

1850 U. S. census

By 1860, Elisha and family were living in the Little River community near Trinity in Catahoula Parish.

1860 U. S. census

The 1870 U. S. Census shows Elisha and Octavia living with one of their children in Harrisonburg, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Both Elisha and Octavia died in the 1870s in Catahoula Parish.  The location of their burial is unknown at this time.  However, family members placed the tombstone below in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Manifest, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.  Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Patricia Adams Guillory.

The following children were born to the marriage of Elisha Swift Blackman and Octavia Weakley:

Alice, 1828-1908

Elizabeth "Eliza" Jane, 1831-1892 (m. John Reddin Webb, 1826-1890)

Charles Ransom, 1834-1891 (m. 1. Mary Jane Hanes, 1835-1867; 2. Elizabeth "Eliza" West, 1832-1882)

Zachariah Charles, 1842-1917 (m. 1. Mary J. McGee, 1846-1874; 2. Martha McGlothlin, 1840-aft 1910)

Marion Clay, 1845-1925 (m. Margaret Jane Hodges, 1848-1924)


Information on the tombstone location for Elisha and Octavia Blackman was provided by Jim Walker, a descendant.