Synopsis
Much research has been conducted into the life of Francis Blincoe and Anne Tuck, yet a veil of mystery still hangs over his earliest years. While his origins remain unknown , his life following his 1826 marriage in Clewer provides a vivid, if turbulent, portrait of a man shaped by the hardships of 19th-century England.
Descendants in Nelson, New Zealand—where the family eventually established deep roots—have been instrumental in preserving this history. Drawing on the work of Pamela Blincoe, this account explores a man who was, by his own admission, ‘imperfect’. Driven by the crushing weight of poverty and desperation, Francis fell into a life of crime, facing multiple convictions and the looming shadow of the Poor House.
Against all odds, Francis transitioned from a prisoner and pauper in Berkshire to a successful pioneer in the South Island. His journey aboard the Clifford in 1841 represents more than just a change of scenery; it was a fortunate escape and a testament to the transformative power of a second chance. In New Zealand, the Blincoes did not just survive—they thrived, proving that the gamble of emigration was a resounding success
Life In England
From humble beginnings, his father Francis Blincoe (1761-1820) was a Sheperd and fell on hard times later being a Pauper when he was buried in 1820. So, Francis followed in his father’s footsteps and was a Shepherd when he and Ann Tuck were married in 1826 at Clewer. Clewer was a small rural village near Windsor, and its very likely Francis was a shepherd there. A child Ann came very soon after the marriage and she and her next sibling were born there before it seems by the births they moved to New Windsor by 1830 (Todays site of Windsor town.)
The Extraordinary Escape of Francis Blincoe
A profound mystery surrounds the departure of Francis Blincoe. By December 1841, he was safely aboard a ship bound for New Zealand—an improbable feat for a man who was not only a twice-convicted criminal but also a pauper separated from a family who were themselves dependent on parish relief.
The puzzle is partially solved by the fact that they were sponsored emigrants. They were contracted to the New Zealand Company, a private enterprise that settled colonists across New Zealand for profit. However, two significant questions remain: how did Francis evade his sentence of six months’ hard labor, and how did he manage to secure a contract for his entire family despite his criminal standing?
In the 1841–1842 schedule, the Company was focused on settling Nelson. During this recruitment drive, experienced shepherds like Francis were highly prized targets—especially those with sizeable families who could provide future labor. For Francis, the Company’s need for Sheperds proved to be a stroke of incredible luck, offering a clean slate an ocean away from the prisoner’s dock and the poor house.
The Voyage
On 20 December 1841 the travel party was Francis Blincoe 51, Ann Blincoe, Ann Blincoe 15, Sarah Elizabeth Blincoe 14, Francis John Blincoe 11, John Blincoe 7, and William Blincoe 5
June Neale, in her book Pioneer Passages, has published an account of the voyage of the Clifford, a sailing barque of 460 tons belonging to the New Zealand Company, and I have made extensive use of her information. On Monday 13 December the emigrants were taken aboard and on the very first night one of them, a Mrs Badman, gave birth to a baby girl. The following day the Clifford was towed downstream from Blackwall to Gravesend where she lay at moorings for five days, taking on stores and where the master, Captain Joseph Sharp, and the twelve cabin passengers came on board. All but one of the passengers were relatives of Joseph Somes, the Governor of the New Zealand Company, for whom Somes Island in Wellington harbour was named. On 18 December the Clifford was towed by a steamship downstream as far as the Downs and by early evening had arrived off Deal.
The voyage proper began on 20 December and almost immediately most people, including the ship’s doctor, were seasick, and many continued in this unhappy state for a week. However, by then some 200 miles off Portugal, things settled down and there was dancing and singing in the evening. However, there were other problems, three children of the Timms family developed measles and this spread rapidly to other children on board. There were an unusual number of very small children on board and Dr Hughes decided that their mothers should have a daily allowance of a pint of portera. Francis’ wife Ann was one of the ten women listed. It is not clear whether the migrants had paid for their passage or whether they were indentured to the New Zealand Company, but it seems that they were entitled to agreed amounts of rations for the voyage that were provided by the ship. It is recorded that they complained that their allowance of potatoes should be cleaned of dirt before they were weighed and demanded that their coffee be roasted before it was weighed — these were thought to be ‘absurd and unbecoming requirements’.
On New Year’s Eve ‘a dance was got up with an allowance of grog, and the glim being hoisted on deck fore and aft amidst much cheering and a very merry evening followed’. The weather continued fair with the ship making good progress, on some days averaging 10 knots; by 12 January they passed the coast of Sierra Leone. The Clifford was now entering the doldrums and encountered calms or very light southerly winds, making little progress between 9 January and 14 February. Temperature rose to 84°F and ‘a number of children became distressed with heat rash — they were ordered to be immersed in the deck tub every morning. At this stage Captain Sharp found it necessary to ration water down to 5 pints per day‘. It was during this period that one of the cabin passengers, Mrs Charles Saxton, gave birth to a baby son. Mr Saxton had brought a cow along, presumably in case his wife’s milk should fail, but with the shortage of water, it collapsed and died.
The Clifford probably followed the usual course across the South Atlantic towards the coast of Argentina until they picked up the prevailing westerly winds. At any rate, by early March the winds freshened as they cleared the Cape of Good Hope and the voyage continued across the Southern Ocean. ‘The Island of St Paulb was clearly seen on 30 March and the ship sailed 254 miles in 25 hours. Passengers were treated to very brilliant displays of the Southern Lights’. By this time the southern winter was approaching and the ship was in the ‘Roaring Forties‘; it was so cold that the emigrants had to be persuaded by the doctor to go on deck for fresh air. On 14 April the only death on the voyage, that of Elizabeth Stanton, aged seven years; the following day a son was born to Mrs Cook, another boy was born to Mrs Watson the day before the final arrival at Nelson Haven so the vessel actually delivered more people to New Zealand than had sailed from London. This was a remarkable record for the period; on the much shorter transatlantic voyages 10 percent mortality was common and sometimes rose to 40 percent.3.
On 1 May D’Urville Island and Stephens Island (at the northern entrance to the Cook Strait) were sighted and the Clifford moored at Wellington on 5 May. It does appear that the emigrants were contracted to the Company to proceed to Nelson, for special permission had to be sought for two families to go ashore and ‘constables had to be posted by the gang-ways to ensure that no one escaped’. In spite of this, six of the crew jumped ship, several more attempted to do so and one of the migrants ’William Mansell managed to make his escape, leaving his wife and possessions on board’. The vessel proceeded to Nelson and landed the emigrants there on 12 May after a voyage of four and a half months
Nelson, South Island, New Zealand
Francis and family settled in the centre of Nelson on Waimea St, He was recorded as the owner of the property and a Labourer and Gardener. Francis soon took part in the active defence of the town from Maori tribes in the district. In 1844 he was a peitioner to the government for support against raids In 1845 he joined the militia, to defend Nelson.
Francis old troubles with the law came again in New Zealand, in 1857 he got into debt , it seems he borrowed money and the news report shows is ajudged to owe amount 42 pounds plus interest .Reported by the Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. Francis in the newspapers again the next year this time he is a witness in a perjury case his : evidence . Francis Blincoe, sworn, said : I am a labourer at Nelson, I remember the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate’s Court between Carter and Heron. I was a witness. I saw the prisoner deliver an account to the prosecutor, I read it, and signed my name to it as a witness, it contained a charge for 1 ton, 4i cwts. of oaten hay, at £6 per ton, and amounted to £7 65., it was in the prisoners hand-writing. As I was going to the Resident Magistrate’s Court, prisoner told me he should charge Heron for a small stack at £8 10s., and that I need not mention the bill I had signed as witness for Hern. I was then going to the Court as a witness for Hern, and prisoner knew it. James Blincoe, sworn, said : I am a labourer at Nelson, I assisted the prisoner to weigh the oaten hay in question ; it wa9 weighed with steelyards, and I had one end of the beam, on which they rested. I saw about a ton weighed. I left before all the hay had been weighed.
In August 1860 Francis and sons John and William offer their services for free to help with the construction of public buildings. The Colonist. 10 August 1860. A rate notice publish in Decemeber 1860 shows that Francis property had a rate owing of 7 shillings and 6 pence son Francis Junior a rate of 10 shillings indicating his property on Nile St. was of higher value than his fathers. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle
As time moves on we see reports of Blincoes involved in good works this from 1866 “Nelson Band of Hope.—The members of this flourishing Society held another interesting meeting at the Temperance Hall on Wednesday last. Messrs. Crisp and Blincoe addressed the children on the importance of this Society, as a means by which the youth of Nelson could be brought up to be sober men and women. The meetirg closed with singing, after which twenty-six persons signed the pledge. At the next meeting we believe the Magic Lantern is to be exhibited.”
Timeline – James Blincoe at a glance
| Event | Date/Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Francis John Blinco | |
| Birth Date | abt 1790 | |
| Birth Place | Unknown not Berkshire | This comment from Daphne Austen and after some time spent trying to locate a birth or baptism record |
| Christening Date | Unknown not Berkshire | |
| Christening Place | Unknown not Berkshire | |
| Marriage | Ann Tuck, 4 Apr 1826, Clewer, Berkshire | |
| Birth of Daughter Ann | 1826, Clewer, Windsor, Berks | |
| Birth of Twins Sarah Elizabeth and Francis John | 21 Mar 1830, Clewer , Berks | |
| Birth of Daughter Sophia | 6 May 1832, Clewer , Berks | |
| Death of Daughter Sophia | 20 Dec 1832, Clewer , Berks | |
| Birth of Son John | 1834, New Windsor, Berks | |
| Conviction | 9 Jun 1834 | Francis Blincow was committed by the mayor on Thursday to prison for two months, for deserting his wife and family and leaving them chargeable to the parish – Reading Mercury 9.6.1834 |
| Birth of Son William | 1836, New Windsor, Berks | |
| Conviction | 6 Feb 1836 | Francis Blincoe was committed for trial, for stealing a copper from an uninhabited house, at Spittal, belonging to Mr Mr Jenner – Windsor & Eton Express 6.2.1836 Francis Blincoe was tried for stealing a copper from a house, the property of Mr T Jenner and being found guilty, was sentenced to imprisonment for a fortnight, making three months from his commitment Berkshire Chronicle 9.4.1836 |
| Conviction | 24 Apr 1841 | Francis Blincoe, labourer, aged 45 was charged with having, on the 18th of April inst, stolen from the Old Workhouse, in Sheet-Street, one fustian coat, one fustian vest, two gowns, and other articles together of the value of 12s., the property of the guardian of the poor of the Windsor union The prisoner pleaded guilty. He also pleaded guilty to a former conviction The court in addressing the prisoner, said that in consequence of the time which had elapsed since his former conviction, and it appearing on the records of the court, that he had not been before him since that period, he could not pass the sentence of transportation to which he had subjected himself, but he should order him to be confined in the County goal for six months with hard labour – Bucks Herald 24.4.1841 |
| Census UK 6 June 1841 | St Lawrence PoorHouse, Reading, | Francis age 50 is a inmate in this Poorhouse and classified Labourer Pauper. He should have been serving a sentence and pehraps he was at Reading Gaol for some period. Meanwhile Ann and the children are in the Windsor Union Poorhouse Anne Blincoe 35 Pauper Anne Blincoe 15 Francis age 11 Sarah Blincoe 13 John Blincoe 6 William Blincoe 5 James Blincoe 1 |
| Emigration | 20 Dec 1841 | Travelled aboard the Clifford from London accompanying him wife Ann and six children Anne 15, Sarah 13, Francis 11, John 7, William 5, and James 11 months Landed 12 May 1842 at Nelson voyage of four and half months |
| Birth of Daughter Emily Anne Hannah | 4 Feb 1843, Nelson, NZ | |
| Militia | 22 May 1845 , Nelson | Signed up for the local Nelson Battalion of Militia source Nelson Evening Mail 24 Apr 1937 |
| Birth of Son Richard | 2 Jan 1846, Nelson, NZ | |
| Electoral Role | 1853-1864 | Labourer Waimea St, Nelson |
| Death | 12 Dec 1871 Nelson, NZ | Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle Blincoe. — On the 12th December, at his residence, Toi-toi Valley, Mr. Francis Blincoe, aged 81 years. The deceased was one of the early settlers of Nelson. |
| Burial Place | ||
| Occupation | Sheperd and Market Gardener |
Descendants That Served
| Full Name | Birth Date | Birth Place | Blincoe Spouse or Mother | Served in WW1 | Served in WW2 | Relationship to Francis Blincoe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kenneth Howard Blincoe | 3 Nov 1909 | Nelson, NZ | Flight Sergeant, Pilot Officer Kenneth Howard, DFC., NZ412194 Killed in Action 1943 | Great Grandson | ||
| Eric Sydney Blincoe | 26 Nov 1901 | Nelson, NZ | Home Guard, Nelson area | Great Grandson | ||
| William Nolan Blincoe | 1904 | Nelson, NZ | NZ Home Guard Nelson Area | Great Grandson | ||
| Edward Richard Blincoe | 7 Dec 1882 | Auckland, NZ | Private, 74151, 41st Reinforcements, New Zealand Medical Corps. | Grandson | ||
| Francis Harold Blincoe | 26 Nov 1895 | Nelson, NZ | Gunner, 17172, 16th Reinforcements, New Zealand Royal Artillery, 1st Brigade, 7th Battery. | Great Grandson | ||
| Hedley Arney Wells Blincoe | 18 Jul 1877 | Dunedin, Otago, NZ | Private, 86660, 45th Reinforcements New Zealand Expeditionary Force. | Grandson | ||
| Leslie Clarence Blincoe | 21 Nov 1897 | Nelson, NZ | Blincoe Leslie Clarence, 1896, Nelson, NZ, Private, 44572, 24th NZ Reinforcements, 1st Canterbury Infantry Regiment, ‘C’ Company | Great Grandson | ||
| Raymond Keith Lester | 22 May 1912 | Murchison, NZ | Edna Joyce Blincoe | 6th Field Company, New Zealand Engineers Rank: Sapper Army #: 2348 | Great Grandaughter | |
| Douglas Ashmore McGahey | 16 Dec 1919 | Turangi, Auckland, NZ | Edith Annie Blincoe | Douglas Ashmore McGahey, 43511, Armoured Brigade 2nd NZ Div. | 2X Great Grandaughter | |
| Charles Frederick Shaw Sharland | 13 Feb 1898 | New Zealand | Jessie Blincoe | Charles Frederick Sharland, Rifleman, 80386, 42nd Reinforcements, NZEF, NZ Rifle Brigade | Charles Frederick Sharland, 2nd Lieut., 594675, 6 (Manawatu) Independent Mounted Rifles | Great Grandson |
| Thomas John Shaw Sharland | 3 May 1895 | Nelson, NZ | Jessie Blincoe | Thomas John Sharland, Lance Corporal, 7/1783, 10th Brigade ( Nelson and Marlborough), 7th Brigade Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Died 1st April 1917 at the 2/4th Australian Field Ambulance, Nr Hill 3039 Amman, Jordan | Great Grandson |
Sources
- June Neale, Pioneer Passages
- Blencowe Book 2002 , Jack Blencowe and Pamela Blincoe