John Blackmore (abt. 1640 - 1690)

Born about 1640 in England

Died 2 Dec 1690 at about age 50 in Saint Helena

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Biography

The island of Saint Helena was colonised by the British East India Company, with the first colonisation fleet arriving in 1659. In 1672, the island was invaded by the Dutch East India Company who controlled it for six months before being ousted by forces from the British East India Company. The island population was replenished with the return of some of the original settlers, soldiers who remained after retaking the Island from the Dutch and new settlers.

John Blackmore arrived on Saint Helena^[1] on 19 Jun 1678, appointed Governor of the Island by the Honourable East India Company director,replacing the discredited Gregory Field..

Extracts from the St Helena Records, compiled by the late Hudson Ralph Janisch, Esq, C.M.G., Governor of St. Helena. Printed and published at the ‘Guardian’ office by Benjamin Grant, Printer, 1885 record:

• "St Helena 19th June 1678 -The good ship Johanna came into the road on Wensday the 19th June 1678 and about noone the Governor John Blackmore landed . His commission dated London 20th February 1677 appoints Capt. Anthony Beale deputy, Lieut. Jonathan Tyler, Lieut. Joshua Johnson, Richard Swallow, John Greentree, and John Coleston, to be of our Council. His instructions direct him " to secure all avenues and passages especially the avenues in Lemon Valley. All Planters are bound by the tenure of their lands to be at your command to bear armes and observe orders for the defence of our Island."

19 Jun 1678 (British Library) ^[2]- Governor John Blackmore arrived at Saint Helena aboard the ship 'Johanna' and entered into the Government of said Island according to his commission from the Honourable Company of East India Merchants in London.

In his book, 'St Helena 1502-1938', Philip Gosse records that Major John Blackmore was a Soldier, appointed Governor of Saint Helena. He also records that John had been one of Cromwell's officers. Governed for 12 years, then died falling off Putty Hill.

in the book 'The Company’s Island: St Helena, Company Colonies and the Colonial Endeavour by Stephen A Royle' he records:

• Major John Blackmore, Governor 1678 - 1690. Nationality - English
  • Notes 1678 appointed Governor & arrived on Island. Earliest consultation records held on Island date from his time. He unsuccessfully requested more soldiers to equal Planter numbers so he could keep order; decreed consultations to be kept secret.1681 ordered to take payment in slaves for supplying slave ships with water & refreshment, so Company plantations could be enlarged. 1683 praised by Company Directors for his report on landholdings on Island. 1683 ordered to send 22 cattle, pigs & goats to "some island in the South Seas" being settled by the Company.1684 Blackmore ordered by the Company that following the sedition in that year, anyone banished from the Island to be sent to India. 1684 Blackmore ordered to make up a group to settle Tristan da Cunha Island, comprising a governor, 5 soldiers, 3-4 negroes with their wives. To investigate the island, build a fort. No evidence it ever happened, as the ship detailed was hijacked by its crew from St Helena.1687 significant dispute between Gov. Blackmore & Capt. Holden, his deputy, which eventually led to the 1684 mutiny by soldiers & Planters. Blackmore ordered them to be fired on & several were killed. Some Planters executed on Company orders, causing problems later & declared unlawful killing by Parliament. 1689 Told that since so many young people on Island, to permit anyone over 14 with parental consent to be sent to India on the ship Benjamin to Bombay at a cost of 4 - men as soldiers, women for wives. Took keen interest in the island defences when war was declared between England & Holland. Ordered a survey of all Island "roads". 1690 Gov. Blackmore died when his stick gave way & he fell down the mountainside in Chapel Valley. His estate included 83 books, mainly religious, also histories, a natural history, dictionary & several Speed maps.

The document 'Extracts from the St Helena Records, compiled by Governor Hudson Ralph Janisch in 1885' contains numerous entries relating to Governor Blackmore, including:

• 19 Jun 1678 ^[3] Pages 7, 50:
  • Governor John Blackmore, English; Event - New Governor. Notes - Appointed Governor 20 Feb 1677. On 2 Dec 1690 fell at Bowman Stone, foot of Putty Hill & died. Inquest held. Concluded either his foot or bamboo stave had given way so he fell over the precipice. He was corpulent & much bruised. Formal funeral arranged with considerable expense for the feast afterwards. His wife & son pre-deceased him.

• 14 Apr 1685 ^[4] Page 30:
  • Copy of the KIng's commission, authorising Governor Blackmore to try rebellious Planters and Soldiers.

• 20 Feb 1689 ^[5] Page 46:
  • Letter from Sir Josiah Childs, Governor of the East India Company to his cousin John Blackmore, responding to Governor Blackmore's letters and queries.

• 2 Dec 1690 ^[6] Page 50:
  • Governor Blackmore died following a fall from the side of a hill.

Records of Saint Helena Council Meetings ^[7] beginning 16 Jun 1678 are amongst the Endangered Archives series held at the British Library in London. Governor Blackmore presided over every Council Meeting between 16 Jun 1678 and 6 Jun 1681.

• 16 Jun 1678 - List of Soldiers, Sailors and Passengers arriving on the ship 'Johanna'^[8]

A letter from EIC Director, Sir Josiah Child directed to the Governor and dated Wansted, Feb 20, 1689 begins; "Cozen Blackmore" and concludes "Your very affectionate Kinsman, Josiah Child." suggesting that John Blackmore was directly related to the Child Family.

The document 'Extracts from the St Helena Records, compiled by Governor Hudson Ralph Janisch in 1885' contains numerous entries relating to Governor Blackmore, including:

• " 2nd Dec. 1690-9 a.m. Governor Blackmore coming out of ye country towards Fort James last Evening about 6 p.m. did suddenly and irrecoverably fall from the side of a hill near unto the place called Bowman Stone towards the foot of Putty Hill-ordered that an Inquest be held . Governor Blackmores death an insupportable loss not only for his desirable presence with us but great abilities with which he was plentifully furnished for the reputable discharge of that trust and office he had and held here for more than twelve years part the consideration whereof is next to over- whelming. 2nd Dec. 1690.- An Inquest on Govr Blackmore which shows that his death was caused by falling over some steep precipitous Rocks at the upper end of James valley. Leaning on a Bamboo stick while coming over the Rock either his foot or the stick gave way and he could not recover himself and was picked up dead in the stream of water in the valley. On consideration that ye late Governor was very corpulent and much bruised it was ordered that he should be interred the following day in as solemn and reputable a manner as possible. Ordered Escutcheons, six Pall Bareres, Scarves, Hatbands, &c. An Invitation to all Housekeepers and that there be provision made what is necessary for refreshment of so many as might be at the Funeral both of Bread and Drink. Drums and Colors to be put in mourning. 4 vollies of small arms fired at the grave and after that 20 of the guns about the fort. The funeral expences afterwards charged included " 170 lbs. Flour, 11 lbs. Tobacco-2 gross pipes-28 Gallons Arrack, 40 lbs . Sugar," &c. There is an item also of 8 bushels of Lime for making the Tomb and repairing the Tombs of his late Lady and his Son. [No traces of these graves are now to be found] ."

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Helena
2. ↑ https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP524-1-3-1#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=5&xywh=600%2C849%2C1187%2C699
3. ↑ https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Extracts_from_the_St_Helena_Records/v94_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
4. ↑ https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Extracts_from_the_St_Helena_Records/v94_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
5. ↑ https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Extracts_from_the_St_Helena_Records/v94_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
6. ↑ https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Extracts_from_the_St_Helena_Records/v94_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
7. ↑ https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP524-1-3-1
8. ↑ https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP524-1-3-1#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=16&xywh=-1556%2C0%2C5104%2C3008

• St Helena Records (1678-1683), British Library, EAP524/1/3/1, https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP524-1-3-1
• Extracts from the St Helena Records, compiled by the late Hudson Ralph Janisch, Esq, C.M.G., Governor of St. Helena. Printed and published at the ‘Guardian’ office by Benjamin Grant, Printer, 1885. https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Extracts_from_the_St_Helena_Records/v94_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
• The Company’s Island: St Helena, Company Colonies and the Colonial Endeavour by Stephen A Royle. London: I.B. Tauris, 2007
• St Helena 1502-1938 by Philil Gosse. Oswestry: Anthony Nelson, 1938