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From: Corinne Thompson <>
Subject: [CON] William Bligh.
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 20:39:39 +1100
In-Reply-To: <200312122250.hBCMoAiN010094@pine.epix.net>


Hello Norman,

Most of what I have seen on the internet shows his father as "Francis" and
his mother as "Jane" ...... but I don't know how accurate that info is.

I can't remember what the baptism in Plymouth shows.

I have emailed The National Maritime Museum and will let you know when I get
a reply. But I'm willing to bet that their records will say that he was
born in "England" ...... regardless of whether he was born in / near St.
Tudy, or whether it was Plymouth.

Kindest Regards ...... Corinne.


> Hello Corinne and Albert,
>
> If I may, I'd like to add a few comments to the discussion of William Bligh's
> origins, whether Cornwall or Devon.
>
> First, from the following:
>
> Walter H. Tregellas - Cornish Worthies: Sketches of Some Eminent Cornish Men
> and Families. 2 vols., London: Elliot Stock, 1884, vol. 1, pp. 139-40:
>
> "The Admiral was born, in all probability (though there has been some
> uncertainty on the subject) on the duchy Manor of Tinten, in the parish of St.
> Tudy, about half a mile south of the "Church Town," about the year 1753, - the
> son of Charles and Margaret Bligh; although I am aware that, according to
> another account, he is said to have been the son of John bligh, of Tretawne,
> in the adjoining parish of St. Kew. The earliest connexion which I have been
> able to trace between this family and the parish of St. Tudy is, that they
> acquired some property here of the Westlakes, in 1680-81; but there was a John
> Bligh, or Blygh, at Bodmin, who acted as an assistant to the Commissioners for
> the Suppression of Monasteries, temp. Henry VIII."
>
> I do not have the parish registers of St. Tudy to hand, but I do have the
> Phillimore marriage transcriptions, in which is found:
>
> Phillimore, W.P.W. and Thomas Taylor. Cornwall Parish Registers. Marriages.
> v. 2, London: Phillimore & Co., 1902, p. 61 -
>
> "Charles Bligh & Margeret Jory [married] 6 Apr. 1752."
>
> Now, if it can be proved that William Bligh was the son of the above-named,
> then at least the family can be placed in the parish of St. Tudy, even if a
> baptism cannot be found for him there. It is possible that he could have been
> born in St. Tudy and baptized, for whatever reason, in Plymouth.
>
>
> Norman D. Nicol, Ph.D.
> Professional Genealogist/Family Historian
> Specializing in NE Pennsylvania, England, esp. Cornwall and Scotland

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