tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576793257211626923.post3761620374812636810..comments2023-11-05T07:41:40.943+00:00Comments on Reflections on A Journey to St Helena: St. Helena 1813: Two Governors, One Execution and the Mistreatment of SlavesJohn Tyrrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14840928923304125310noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576793257211626923.post-65105658589341891822017-03-12T22:07:26.308+00:002017-03-12T22:07:26.308+00:00I think St Helena was a disaster for the Balcombes...I think St Helena was a disaster for the Balcombes, although it made Betsy famous! I don't think the Australian experience was much better. Their daughter Elizabeth died young, at sea I think, and Betsy returned to England and lived in genteel poverty. At some point the luck of some of them must have turned I guess.John Tyrrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14840928923304125310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1576793257211626923.post-74542590108657777142017-03-11T23:05:35.705+00:002017-03-11T23:05:35.705+00:00The Balcombe name had been so significant (especia...The Balcombe name had been so significant (especially to Australians) that I am surprised to have seen the family struggling in court over a large debt. And losing!<br /><br />I just noticed your footnote from a 2009 post. "There was a lot of speculation that Balcombe was the natural son of a member of the Royal Family. Dame Mabel Brookes, great grandaughter of William Balcombe, suggests that although he and his brother spent a lot of time at Carlton House in their youth, they were actually sons of a naval officer lost at sea. Whatever the truth, William Balcombe was obviously well connected". Sometimes good connections don't help.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.com