It is recorded that John Blackman was born in Wilmington, Kent on 14 October 1855 and would therefore have been christened in Crayford Church some 3 miles from Wilmington. Whilst Emma's 1860 christening is recorded in Ancestry's Card Collection 'Bexley, Kent, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1925'', there is no record for John, his twin sister Charlotte or his older brother Joseph, at Crayford despite searching individual pages.

John BLACKMAN appears in Ancestry's England, Selected Births and Christenings 1538-1975 as:

• John Blackman, baptism date 20 September 1855 at Wilmington, Kent of John BLACKMAN and Charlotte - FHL Film Number 1473680 Ref ID 43

However, his twin Charlotte's christening date is recorded as 14 October 1855.

Both John and Charlotte are recorded in England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index as:

• Blackman Charlotte in the fourth quarter at Dartford 2a 201
• Blackman John in the fourth quarter at Dartford 2a 201

The 1861 UK census confirms John approximate year of birth and Charlotte as his  twin.

1861 Census Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source:     FHL Film  TNA Ref RG09
            Piece: 466; Folio: 129; Page: 26; Sched: 128
Dwelling:   Slades Green    
Place:      Crayford, Kent, England

Name                Rel   Mar  Age  Occupation                  Birthplace 
John Blackman       Head   M    43  Ag Lab                      Kent, Wilmington
Charlotte Blackman  Wife   M    45                              Essex,Neo--don
William Blackman     Son   U    16  Ag Lab                      Kent, Wilmington
George Blackman      Son   U    15  La B--- field               Kent, Wilmington
Mary A Blackman      Dau   U    12  At home                     Kent, Wilmington 
Lucy Blackman        Dau   U     9  Scholar                     Kent, Wilmington
Joseph Blackman      Son   U     7  Scholar                     Kent, Crayford
Charlotte Blackman   Dau   U     5  Scholar                     Kent, Crayford
John Blackman        Son   U     5  Scholar                     Kent, Crayford
Henry Blackman       Son   U     3                              Kent, Crayford
Emma Blackman        Dau   U     8mn                            Kent, Crayford

In 1865, following the death of their father John BLACKMAN, his son William and George emigrated to Australia arriving on 24 August 1863. aboard the 1003 tons clipper Whirlwind on the Australia run. John junior's mother followed with eight other children, including John. They departed the UK on 15 May 1866 as eight of the 244 registered passengers, arriving in Hobson's Bay, Melbourne on 13 August 1866, after a 140 day voyage aboard the 1218 ton clipper Golden Empire, of the Golden Line. It is assumed that she followed her sons to the goldfields near Ballarat.

bl_info7a, sheet 2

Above: A composite image of John Blackman and family immigration passenger list on page 5 of the Golden Empire Source: Ancestry - Victoria assisted and unassisted passenger lists 1839-1923

Ancestry Public Members Trees record:

• asugden's file records no marriage but that he was buried in Ballarat New Cemetery 01 June 1930. The cemetery records a John Blackman born 1859 and dying on 02 June 1930 buried in Presbyterian A, Section 13, Grave 38.
• Peter James Dodgshun records John's birth in 1855 Wilmington. No marriage is recorded. He died in 1934 in Moonee Ponds. Fawkner Memorial Park, 10km from Moonee Pond, records a John Blackman, husband of Mary Alice BLACKMAN née HOWELL, dying on 17 September 1934.
• Peter James Dodgshun also records a John Blackman dying on 26 May 1940 at Glen Iris. There are no burial records in Glen Iris' local cemeteries. No marriage is recorded.
• Scott Anthony Reid's file records John dying on 24 March 1916 in Neerim South, Gippsland, Victoria. Again no marriage is recorded.

Victoria's BMD records are of little help. There is no record of a John BLACKMAN death in Vic BMD or relevant NSW deaths from 1850 to 1950. There is only one marriage recorded in Vic BMD from 1870 to 1950

• John BLACKMAN to Mary Ann MCMILLAN in 1883 (Vic BMD 4839/1883)

Ancestry's Electoral Rolls only has one John BLACKMAN in the first 50 names and that is a wrong transcription.

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version A2 Updated 02 October 2023