Open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10.00am - 12.30pm
JOHN SMITH, The Demerara Martyr
In our first display to use professional museum quality printed exhibition boards, we look at a fascinating man whose short life had a deep impact on world events. John Smith, born in Rothwell, was sent to Demerara by the London missionary society in 1817. There he taught freed slaves to read and write but refused to fight the freed slaves in an uprising. He was arrested for conspiracy and rebellion and was condemned to death. Parliamentary debated the sentencing over six months and sent orders that he be freed. Sadly he died in prison three days before orders reached Demerara. John Smith is still remembered as a martyr to the abolitionist cause.
This exhibition will stay at the Heritage centre for a time, but will then travel around local churches, libraries and schools so that more people may learn of the fascinating, unique and world changing events in the life of John Smith
John Smith was born in Ponder Street, Rothwell in 1790 and, like most children, his only education was received from the Independent Chapel Sunday School. He was the son of a soldier who served in the Napolionic Wars and who died in the Egyptian campaigns. When he was 14 he and his mother moved to London, where he was employed by a biscuit baker; at this time he also became a member of the London Missionary Society.
John was sent to Demerara as a missionary; the owner of the Plantation Le Ressouvier had asked the London missionary society to send a missionary and to build a chapel. He believed that the teaching of the church would help to keep the slaves docile. There had been unrest in the country since the passing of the Abolition Act of 1807. John Smith became the second missionary to fill this post.
John Smith's mission was grounded in his belief in religious instruction and in the equality of man. On the other hand Governor Murray beleived that the church should teach slaves only submission to their masters; he had threatened John Smith with deportation should he teach a slave to read! The church was sucessful and, with the help of his black helpers and the congregation, enough money was raised to maintain the building and be able to send funds to London to aid missions elsewhere.
Governor Murray suppressed news of the 1823 act forbidding the gross ill treatment of slaves. This resulted in exagerated rumours being spread suggesting that the freedom of the slaves was being denied. In August 1823 between ten and twelve thousand slaves rebelled, despite John Smith's call for peaceful action only. On August 20th he was arrested by the Governor, the charges being, prosecuting discontent, encouraging rebellion, and failing to inform the Governor of the plot. he was found guilty and sentenced to hang. After an appeal to the British Parliment the verdict was called 'a violation of justice' and the sentence repealed.
john was kept in prison while the appeal was being heard, and conditions there wre so poor that he wrote '...my close imprisonment ...has brought me to the borders of the grave.' He died in prison on the 6th February 1824 only three days before the news of his freedom arrived.
The Centre Manager
The Terry Smith Building
Rothwell Heritage Arts Centre,
14—16 Bridge Street, Rothwell, Northants, NN14 6JW
PHONE: 01536 711550
Email: manager@rothwellheritage.org.uk
The Terry Smith Building
Rothwell Heritage Arts Centre,
14—16 Bridge Street, Rothwell, Northants, NN14 6JW
PHONE: 01536 711550
Email: manager@rothwellheritage.org.uk
