The Blackham Baronetcy, of London, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 13 April 1696 by King William III for Richard Blackham, a woollen manufacturer and a Turkey merchant. The title became extinct on the death of his son the second Baronet John Blackham in 1728.
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Sir Richard Blackham was a merchant and woolen manufacturer. His family was 'from Warwickshire and Staffordshire extraction'. An ancestor Sir Benjamin Blackham was made Knight by King Charles I in 1631. Many of the Blackham family were Gentlemen and Merchants in London. [1]
In 1690 Blackham travelled to Ireland with King William III where he was involved in clothing six thousand of Williams soldiers for the Battle of the Boyne. He also provided ships for the King during the Nine Years War.[1]
In 1696 Blackham signed a contract with Captain Kidd. Kidd was commissioned by William III to set out on a pirate hunting expedition where he was to entitled to receive ten per cent of any recovered profits. However, as he needed additional funding for the voyage he made a deal with Blackham. In the agreement Kidd exchanged some of his promised shares in return for money.[2]
Blackham and his wife were apprehended for manufacturing counterfeit coins in 1705.[3] In another instance in the Old Bailey he was found "guilty of Misprision of treason for melting down the coin of England, and making foreign coins of it".[4]
In 1716 Sir Richard was found guilty of counterfeiting foreign coins. This trial was reported in "The Bloody Register. A select and judicious collection of the most remarkable trials" [London 1764]. 'Sir Richard made a long defence for himself, but little to the purpose. The evidence against him being very full, the Jury found him guilty upon the statute of the 24th of Elizabeth, and he was sentenced to forfeit all his goods, chattels, lands and tenements, and to remain in prison during his life.' [5]
Blackham was married to Elizabeth Appleyard c.1690, (daughter of Thomas Appleyard and Mary Boynton, and niece of Sir John Boynton of Rockcliffe, Yorkshire) with whom he had five children, three died in their infancy (Thomas, Richard and Elizabeth), and two survived (John and Frances).
Elizabeth died circa December 1731 at St Katherine Coleman, London. She was buried on 11 December 1731 at St. Benet's, Gracechurch Street, London.
Blackham died on the 29th of June 1728. He was buried on the 9th of July 1728 at St Benet's, Gracechurch Street London.
Sir Richard's son Sir John Blackham lived at Lyon's Inn, St Clement Danes, London.
He died on the 2nd of July 1728, surviving his father by only three days. He was buried on 9 July 1728 at St. Benet's, Gracechurch Street, London. The Baronetcy became extinct on his death.
The author and Freemason Major-General Robert J. Blackham in his book 'London: Forever the Sovereign City' claimed to be a descendant of the Blackham baronets.
The Blackham of London Coat of Arms was created for Sir Richard Blackham in 1696 on the creation of the Blackham Baronetcy.
Blackham of London Coat of Arms; Azure, two bars between nine cross crosslets. 3. 3. 3. Or. [1]