Horrified man Mark Strong apologises for his Sheffield ancestor's role in the brutal slave trade

The descendant of a Sheffield man who worked in the slave trade in Jamaica has apologised publicly for his actions.
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Mark Strong, who lives in Abersytwyth, said that what he found out in family research into his Sheffield ancestors shows how deep the roots of slavery go in British history.

His great great great grandfather, Joseph Hill Appleton, was a sailor as a young man and ended up working on a sugar plantation in Jamaica.

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He also joined an armed militia in 1831, formed to put down a slave rebellion.

Joseph Hill Appleton's shop, in a building that he owned in AttercliffeJoseph Hill Appleton's shop, in a building that he owned in Attercliffe
Joseph Hill Appleton's shop, in a building that he owned in Attercliffe

Some of the details of his history have come to light when some scrapbooks relating to the Appleton family went on sale online and ended up in California.

It was bought by Mandy Ross, who collects old scrapbooks and has a website, http://paperofthepast.com/

A newspaper cutting, probably from the Sheffield Independent, contains Joseph Hill Appleton’s obituary in May 1880.

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Joseph was a prominent druggist in Sheffield – the 19th-century name for a pharmacist – and his shop was in a building he owned in High Street, Attercliffe.

A portrait of Joseph's mother, Mary MeynellA portrait of Joseph's mother, Mary Meynell
A portrait of Joseph's mother, Mary Meynell

He was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire in 1810, the son of Inland Revenue inspector John Appleton, and his mother Mary was a descendant of the landed Meynell family, who founded Whorlton Castle in North Yorkshire.

The article says that Joseph was apprenticed to a clockmaker in Leeds at 14 but when his employer went bust he went to be a sailor and ended up in Annotto Bay in Jamaica in around 1828.

Joseph worked on the plantation’s distillery, learning chemistry and medicine, and treated slaves for diseases such as yellow, fever, dysentery and cholera.

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The article, quoting from Joseph’s diaries, says: “among many stirring events, which occurred during his five-year sojourn there, tells of his enrolment and active service in the Colonial Militia, which was formed to crush the negro rebellion of 1831; of the policy of Governor Belmore in taking prompt and repressive measures for the suppression of the insurrection: his defence thereof; his adverse criticism of the action of the English press on the matter; together with graphic illustrations of the brutal ferocity and treacherous character of the negro...”

Joseph Hill Appleton in around 1869. Courtesy of Mark StrongJoseph Hill Appleton in around 1869. Courtesy of Mark Strong
Joseph Hill Appleton in around 1869. Courtesy of Mark Strong

It quotes him saying: “During my residence on this island I have had plenty of opportunity, and have endeavoured to form an opinion on the principles and practice of slavery. It is undoubtedly A CURSE; but the English press has much misrepresented the matter by garbled accounts and exaggerated statements.”

When he returned home because the impending emancipation of the slaves meant he could lose his job, his family had moved to West Street, Sheffield.

Joseph continued his studies and eventually went into business as a chemist and druggist in Attercliffe.

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Mark, who works for the National Library of Wales and is a Plaid Cymru councillor, felt he had to speak out. “The thing that I notice, from the way I was taught history in school, if you go in a book shop or various series on the BBC, it always says ‘yes, Britain did many bad things, we had slavery, but it did right in the end and a lot earlier than other countries’.

Mark Strong said he was disturbed to see this drawing of the Meynell family crestMark Strong said he was disturbed to see this drawing of the Meynell family crest
Mark Strong said he was disturbed to see this drawing of the Meynell family crest

“There’s no saying ‘actually we should apologise and we should look at these memorials glorifying people that were basically brutal murderers’.

“I’m an ordinary person and my family were involved in it, I’ve got evidence of that. It’s upsetting.

“It’s important for us to face it head on and not just say ‘it was Cecil Rhodes who did it. The whole country was culpable in it.”

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He said that slavery is still having an effect on people’s lives today, as racism continues to hold people down.

“It is my duty to apologise for that publicly. I feel it’s my duty to apologise for the hurt that’s done people​​​​​​​ for their prospects or their family’s prospects.”

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