Born in Chile

By Robert Watson

Hugh Blackwood who spent most of his life in Cumnock was born in Chile in 1856. Descendant Robert Watson explains how this came about.

Thomas Blackwood, his wife Elizabeth Crawford and their two year old daughter joined 30 other families to travel from Kilmarnock, in August 1853, to London. They boarded the ship The Colinda bound for Canada but left the ship early in Chile where Thomas was recruited to work in the coal mines in Lota. 

Their son Hugh Blackwood was born in Lota in 1856 and was sent back to Ayrshire to be educated. Initially returning to Dalmellington, Ayrshire to stay with his grandmother Catherine Blackwood nee Campbell, he eventually settled in Cumnock, married Martha Armstrong and raised a large family. He died in 1929 and is buried in the Glaisnock Street cemetery in Cumnock.

Hugh Blackwood’s family about 1890

They came to leave the shop earlyCaptain Mills challenged his surgeon to a duel with pistols across the table, terrorised the passengers and laid charges of Mutiny and Piratical acts against the passengers and crew.

Following the deaths of children and the harsh conditions rounding Cape Horn the passengers and crew prevailed upon Captain Mills to put ashore in Chile where the disputes could be settled by the British and Norwegian consuls there.

According to the later report made by James Douglas, Governor of Victoria, British Columbia, the Colinda arrived initially in Chile at the port of Valdivia where Captain Mills applied to the Admiral on station for an inquiry into the behaviour of the passengers. The Colinda was taken to Valparaiso, and the passengers were there tried, before a naval court, for “mutinous and piratical conduct” at the suit of Captain Mills, and acquitted.

The ship’s surgeon Dr Henry Coleman gave evidence in support of the passengers and against Captain Mills.

The passengers almost to a man, refused to proceed on the voyage under the command of Captain Mills, and left the Colinda at Valparaiso, with the exception of seventeen; who continued to Canada but who mostly deserted the ship on arrival in Canada and fled to the United States.

While Hugh was back in Scotland, other Blackwoods stayed on in Chile and married locals. You can read more about the Blackwoods on Robert’s blog HERE.

The photo below is Hugh’s brother William aka Guillermo (seated) and his family c. 1905.