House of Black & Co.

Merchant house in Copenhagen (VMM). Later known as C. S. Blacks Enke & Co.

Possibly established by Blach, Christian Schaarup (?-1781) (Gold: Women in Late 18th-Century Luxury trade, 2014)

Black & Co. clearly had close ties to most other Copenhagen merchants and merchant houses (VMM) In the accounts of Ryberg, Niels for example, there is evidence of money going back and forth between the two businesses (Landsarkivet for Fyn: QB024. Frederiksgave Gods. 1765-1819. Etatsråd Rybergs private regnskab og industri foretagender. 1765-1819. 134) (VMM)

Likely that there is a connection to a Blach, Ole who was listed as a merchant in the 1728 register of Copenhagen inhabitants made upon the fire the same year. In this register, Kløcker, Herman Lengerken is listed as being Ole Blach's tenant. Ole Blach has two further male tenants, and the household comprises a total of 29 people http://www.hist.uib.no/kbh1728/ (?)

Later the name of the company is referred to as Black's widow, which refers to Black, Johanne Wadum (?-1800). She remarried in 1783, to Erichsen, Erich (31.3.1752-7.1.1837) who continued the company Blacks Enke & Co. even after Johanne's death.

Timeline
1740 - The company of Black & Co founded by Black, Oluf (Marcussen)

1760's - Black, Oluf partnered with Ryberg, Niels until 1775 under the name House of Ryberg, Thygesen & Co. (Marcussen)

1767 - After the death of Black, Oluf, the company was continued by his son Black, Christian Schaarup (Marcussen)

1781 - Erichsen, Erich took over the company and renamed it C.S. Blacks Enke & Co. (Fabritius 1942:148)

1783 - Agent Erichsen, Erich took over the company after marrying Black's widow, Black, Johanne Wadum (Marcussen)

1790 - Owned a "kattun fabrik", i.e. cotton factory where they allegedly produced a number of blue prints, ordinary and fine chintzes, purple and white cottons with edging for skirts, as well as a number of scarves (Add in Adresseavisen, June 1791)

1800 - The onset of troubles for Black & Co. (BioLek III, Erichsen, Erich)

1833 - Black & Co. is bankrupted (BioLek III)

Ships
1779 - owned the brigantine FORTUNA of Copenhagen, 39.5 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1781 - owned the brigatine DE TRE VENNER of Copenhagen, 52.5 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1782 - owned the ship ANNA CATHARINA of Copenhagen, 22 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1783 - owned the ship CONSTANTIA of Copenhagen, 171.5 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1784 - owned the ship FORTUNA of Copenhagen, 90 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1790-92 & 1794-96 - owned the frigate KRONPRINSESSE MARIE of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1790-93 - owned the ship DEN GODE HENSIGT of Copenhagen, 123 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1791-95 - owned the chalup FORTUNA of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1791-92 & 1794-96 - owned the brigantine EUROPA of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1792-95 - owned the frigate MARIANA of Copenhagen, 170, 186 and 182 cmcl, bought in London in 1792 carrying the name THE DICK. (Die Elisabeth)

1792 - owned the frigate FLORA of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1793-95 - owned the chalup/schooner HAABET of Copenhagen, 19 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1795-1804 - owned the frigate JOHANNE of Copenhagen, 182 and 166 cmcl, ex ST JAN. (Die Elisabeth)

1796 - owned the ship HELLERUP of Copenhagen, 130 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1796-10-24 - owned the frigate KRON PRINCESSE MARIA of Copenhagen, 149 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1797 - Owned a total of 13 ships of a total of 1.422 kommercelæster (BioLek III)

1797 - Co-owner of the ship DANNEMARK of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1797 - owned the ship MATHILDA MARIA of Copenhagen, 74 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1797 - owned the frigate NANCY of Copenhagen, 109,5 cmcl, formerly called NUESTRA SENORA DE BEGANO. (Die Elisabeth)

1799 - owned the ship ST JAN of Copenhagen built in Copenhagen 1779 by master shipbuilder Halkiær, Johannes. The ship was renamed JOHANNE. (Die Elisabeth)

1801 owned the chalup HAABET of Copenhagen, 19 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1805-06 - co-owner of the barque EUPHROSINE of Copenhagen, 99 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1806 - co-owner of the ship MONTREAL of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1806-07 - owned the frigate MERCURY of Copenhagen, 113 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1807-08 - co-owner of the frigate KRONPRINDSESSE MARIA of Copenhagen, 208 cmcl, owned 3/16 part. (Die Elisabeth)

1814-16 - owned the ship PHOENIX of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1815-21 - owned the frigate NORDEN of Copenhagen, 179 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1820 - owned the ship ANTIONETTE of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1822-24 - owned the frigate ANTOINETTE of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1823 - owned the frigate IOHANNE MARIA of Copenhagen, 208 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1825-29 - owned the frigate MERIDIAN of Copenhagen, 142 cmcl (Die Elisabeth)

1825-27 - owned the frigate JOHANNE MARIE of Copenhagen, 208 cmcl. (Die Elisabeth)

1825 & 1833 - owned the frigate ANTOINETTE of Copenhagen. (Die Elisabeth)

1830-34 - owned the ship PARTHIAN of Copenhagen, 150.5 cmcl, built in Amerika 1822, solgt 1835 to House of J.P. Schmidt jun & Co in Flensburg. (Die Elisabeth)

Several other ships listed in Die Elisabeth, the archive at the Maritime Museum of Denmark.

Other
It was allegedly the quick-witted nature and talent for trade which ensured that Erichsen was able to marry Blach's widow. He led the merchant house on to be truly one the largest and most affluent in Copenhagen, see Black & Co. (BioLek III) For many years, Erichsen had his brother as his companion in the company as well as his sons (?) but especially the son's taste for luxury meant that they brought the company to ruin upon Erichsen's death (BioLek III)

Litterature
Albert Fabritius: "Grosserer-Societets Præsidium, Komite og Repræsentantskab m.v." in Grosserer-Societetet 1742-1942, 1942