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Assembly to thwart the intention behind the Act. This
Jamaican legislation prevented emancipation by compelling former slaves to work in an apprenticeship scheme under which the proceeds of their work were to be used to buy out inflated apprenticeship values of £60, £80, or £90 or higher, as set by their former owners. Knibb and others opposed these abuses, so that Parliament brought forward the date for full emancipation from 1840 to 1838.
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members. Over 3,000 adults had been baptised, two thirds of whom had been sent out to form new churches. Six daughter churches were planted by the
Falmouth church alone. Knibb was personally associated with the founding of 35 churches, 24 missions, and 16 schools. Knibb bought land in 1845 which he used to create the village of
1252:. A section of the book tells of how William Knibb as a part of the Baptist Missionary Society took over the reins of leadership of Baptists in Jamaica, and his increasing sympathy for their cause (Emancipation) following the death and execution of African Baptist leaders prior to and following the Baptist War 1831 - 1832.
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was introduced. This was enacted later that year. The date for the termination of slavery was 1 August 1834, but slaves had to endure a further six-year 'apprenticeship' before they were granted full freedom. The planters ruthlessly abused this provision. A new law was passed by the
Jamaican House of
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Not surprisingly, Knibb was highly popular with the slaves. Not long afterwards the church in
Falmouth needed a minister and Knibb's name was put forward. The missionary who chaired the meeting recorded that when he proposed Knibb should be their new minister and asked for a show of hands, the entire
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Knibb made his feelings clear. When Sam Swiney, a black slave, was unjustly accused of a minor offence, Knibb spoke for him in court. In a gross miscarriage of justice, the colonial authorities convicted Swiney and had him flogged. But Knibb refused to let the matter drop, and published details in an
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In 1832 the
Baptist slaves of Jamaica decided to send Knibb back to England to plead their cause. Once home he toured England and Scotland, speaking at public meetings. He told the truth about the good work being done by the nonconformist churches in Jamaica, and about the treatment of the enslaved
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used the cover of martial law to attack numerous abolitionist clergymen. White planters burned down a dozen
Baptist chapels, including Knibb's at Falmouth. They forced many missionaries to leave Jamaica, but not Knibb. The planters plotted to murder him, but the plot became known and Knibb's family
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The cursed blast of slavery has, like a pestilence, withered almost every moral bloom. I know not how any person can feel a union with such a monster, such a child of hell. I feel a burning hatred against it and look upon it as one of the most odious monsters that ever disgraced the earth. The iron
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This monument was erected by the emancipated slaves to whose enfranchisement and elevation his indefatigable exertions so largely contributed; by his fellow labourers who admired and loved him, and deeply deplore his early removal; and by friends of various creeds and parties, as an expression of
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By 1845, the
Baptists in Jamaica had built 47 new chapels to replace those burned down by the Colonial Church Union. Many of the churches, almost entirely made up of former slaves, were financially independent. Knibb's own church at Falmouth had grown over the previous ten years from 650 to 1,280
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With emancipation came great social changes. At a stroke thousands of slave children also became free, for whom there was no education provided. Knibb did what he could, but was hampered by a lack of teachers. Upon emancipation, the adult slaves were released into a world without any education or
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I was forced from the den of infamy and from a gloomy prison, with my congregation scattered, many of the members of my church murdered, and multitudes of the faithful lashed. I came home and I shall never forget the three years of struggle, and the incessant anxiety upon my spirit as I passed
510:, who sought support and finance for schools and chapels from nonconformists abroad, particularly from the English Baptist movement, which William Knibb contributed to. Jamaica had become a major sugar exporter, relying on slavery. Knibb sided with the slaves and the cause of emancipation.
160:. His father was a tradesman, Thomas Knibb, and his mother, Mary (née Dexter) was active in the local independent church. His parents had eight children, the eldest, also named Thomas being born on 11th October 1799. William was their fifth child, along with his sister, Ann.
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Knibb and his
Baptist colleagues were instrumental in opposing the repeated attempts by the House of Assembly to enact draconian legislation in Jamaica during the 1820s, the Consolidated Slave Law, and in persuading the British parliament to forbid the passage of the law.
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known as the
Jamaican Awakening. Many thousands of former slaves joined the nonconformist churches. Knibb recalled that "in those seven years, through the labour of about twenty missionaries, 22,000 people were baptised upon their profession of faith in
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Thomas was born on 11 October 1799. Hinton incorrectly gives 1823 as his death year though later quotes a letter dated 18 April 1825 written by
William saying Thomas had preached there exactly a year ago on Sabbath evening. The gravestone confirms 1824.
554:. The colonial authorities enacted harsh measures to suppress the revolt, treating the missionaries with great suspicion. Knibb himself was placed under armed guard and only obtained bail through the intervention of two prominent colonialists.
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institutions to support them. The church ministers were often the only people to whom the freed slaves could go for legal advice. Knibb remarked that "Often I have had persons come to me for advice who have walked twenty miles to ask for it."
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Knibb found six English Baptist missionaries, African-Caribbean Baptist deacons, and thriving congregations already in Jamaica when he arrived. Together they were following the pioneering work of the African preacher
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Knibb's public addresses had a power altogether overwhelming. Sceptics were convinced, waverers became decided, apathetic people were roused, and great numbers of hearts everywhere kindled to irrepressible
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island newspaper, for which he was threatened with a prosecution for libel. His account reached the Secretary of State in London, who eventually dismissed from office the two responsible magistrates.
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Knibb died of fever in Jamaica on 15 November 1845, aged 42, and was buried at his Baptist Falmouth Chapel, the service attracting eight thousand African islanders. His funeral sermon by pastor
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Knibb's evidence...was so authentic and unassailable that it contributed more than that of any other witness to the conviction of all, that slavery must be speedily abolished.
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Knibb's elder brother Thomas was a missionary-schoolmaster in Jamaica. When Thomas died at 24, William volunteered to replace him. A dedication service was held in
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on 7 October 1824, two days after he had married Mary Watkins (or Watkis). The newly-weds sailed to Jamaica on 5 November 1824, when William was aged only 21.
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Knibb was summoned to appear before committees of both Houses of Parliament that had been convened to investigate the state of the West Indian colonies.
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their esteem for one whose praise as a man, a philanthropist, and a Christian minister, is in all the churches, and who, being dead, yet speaketh.
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found refuge with one of the leading islanders. After his release, for three successive nights a group of 50 white planters stoned his lodging.
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1237:. Includes references to Knibb and his Welsh-speaking wife, and to a Welsh translation of his address in Exeter Hall, London in 1832.
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561:, an Anglican clergyman, formed an association of white Jamaicans to oppose the anti-slavery movement by all necessary means. This
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791:. Henry Beckford is the central figure with his back to the observer. Move your cursor to identify him or click icon to enlarge
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Knibb helped to raise money to purchase thousands of acres of land, to enable 19,000 former slaves to own their own property.
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In 1988, the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, Knibb was posthumously awarded the
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The classic biography, by a contemporary and published within two years of the subject's death, is J. H. Hinton's
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hand of oppression daily endeavours to keep the slaves in the ignorance to which it has reduced them.
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The official archive for Knibb, formerly held by the Baptist Missionary Society, is held by the
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There is a considerable Knibb-related bibliography under the K/NIBB/S One Name Study at the
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The inscription on the tomb of William Knibb at Kettering Baptist Church, Trelawny, Jamaica
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Kettering Borough Council, 2005: William Knibb, Missionary and Emancipator. Available from
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Knibb is on the right of centre at the front in this painting which is of the 1840
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Deep Roots, Living Branches: A History of Baptists in the English Western Midlands
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was taken from Zechariah, xi, 2 "Howl, fir tree, for the mighty cedar is fallen".
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Slavery's Heroes: George Liele and the Ethiopian Baptists of Jamaica 1783 - 1865
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In 1839 the Birmingham Anti-Slavery Society became the Birmingham Branch of the
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Civilising Subjects: Colony and Metropole in the English Imagination, 1830-1867
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With emancipation also came great religious changes. During 1838-45 came the
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144:. He was the first white male to receive the country's highest civil honour.
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804:". Knibb personally baptised 6,000 converts, and translated the Bible into
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through the length and breadth of the country detailing the slaves' wrongs.
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Missionary triumph Over Slavery: William Knibb and Jamaican Emancipation
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Missionary Triumph Over Slavery: William Knibb and Jamaican Emancipation
486:. In 1830 he became the minister responsible for the Baptist church at
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The Baptists in Jamaica were founded by freed slaves, notably
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has a leaflet that emphasises the Kettering (UK) connections.
815:. This society was planning a major convention in 1840 with
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in the British Empire, Knibb was posthumously awarded the
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1211:) is mostly an abridged and updated version of Hinton.
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At this time pressure was growing in Britain for the
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Alan Jackson has a detailed article on Knibb on the
534:membership stood up, held up both hands, and wept.
907:Knibb at The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840
626:Bill for the Abolition of Slavery in the Colonies
129:. He is chiefly known today for his work to free
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1130:Memoir of William Knibb, Missionary in Jamaica
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497:Portrait and signature of William Knibb, 1845
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544:abolition of slavery in the British colonies
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16:Baptist missionary and slavery abolitionist
1306:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Jamaica)
590:Knibb himself later recalled his efforts.
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1061:. Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 218.
1031:The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840
482:, who formed a trio. In 1828 he moved to
136:In 1988, on the 150th anniversary of the
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850:at Knibb's birthplace in Market Street,
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813:British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
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835:that was named after Granville Sharp.
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1010:. London: Wakeman Trust. p. 51.
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1216:"Welsh Ballads and American Slavery"
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47:Knibb in the centre, to the left is
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121:– 15 November 1845) was an English
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1055:Alan Betteridge (1 August 2010).
1039:National Portrait Gallery, London
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1083:"Rise & fall of Granville"
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258:Priesthood of all believers
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633:Education and social care
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1240:Morrison, Doreen. 2014.
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1006:Masters, Peter (2006).
932:. Houlston and Stoneman
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429:Christianity portal
368:William Bullein Johnson
263:Individual soul liberty
142:Jamaican Order of Merit
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1193:Life of William Knibb
1170:23 April 2018 at the
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51:and to the right is
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502:Attitude to slavery
295:Freedom of religion
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215:Protestantism
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111:William Knibb
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63:
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50:
44:
39:
35:
30:William Knibb
27:
22:
19:
1241:
1226:
1200:
1192:
1129:
1125:J. H. Hinton
1114:
1091:. Retrieved
1086:
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1057:
1050:
1026:
1007:
946:
934:. Retrieved
928:
918:
902:
883:
872:
864:
857:
829:
810:
802:Jesus Christ
794:
640:
636:
623:
608:
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593:
589:
578:
575:population.
573:
556:
541:
532:
528:
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508:George Lisle
505:
468:George Lisle
464:
272:
210:Christianity
162:
151:
135:
110:
109:
88:(1845-11-15)
18:
1271:1845 deaths
1266:1803 births
1117:. Chicago:
936:10 November
924:John Hinton
848:Blue plaque
821:Thomas Swan
548:Baptist War
378:Luther Rice
343:John Bunyan
338:John Clarke
307:Key figures
248:Confessions
53:John Scoble
49:John Burnet
1260:Categories
1105:References
1093:9 December
318:John Smyth
285:Ordinances
225:Anabaptism
220:Puritanism
204:Background
148:Early life
67:1803-09-07
1235:0967-3938
854:, England
852:Kettering
620:Abolition
550:, led by
383:John Gill
154:Kettering
119:Kettering
77:, England
75:Kettering
1219:Archived
1168:Archived
1165:RootsWeb
1045:in 1880.
1037:, 1841,
926:(1847).
877:—
612:—
598:—
583:—
580:support.
538:Violence
518:—
488:Falmouth
472:Kingston
237:Doctrine
185:Baptists
175:a series
173:Part of
1121:, 2002.
290:Offices
165:Bristol
127:Jamaica
123:Baptist
1248:
1233:
1207:
1065:
1014:
806:Creole
101:Spouse
55:- 1840
909:, by
895:Notes
1246:ISBN
1231:ISSN
1205:ISBN
1143:The
1095:2020
1063:ISBN
1012:ISBN
951:ACJ.
938:2022
478:and
83:Died
61:Born
969:KBC
887:in
1262::
1225:,
1127:,
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1085:.
1033:,
976:^
956:^
827:.
177:on
156:,
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115:OM
113:,
34:OM
1154:.
1097:.
1071:.
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940:.
454:e
447:t
440:v
69:)
65:(
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