The BLANCHARD's of Parson's Pond and Bonne Bay are
descendants of William BLANCHARD of the Bay of Islands.
William, however, was orignally from Dorsetshire, England.
Papers of Governor Duckworth record William BLANCH ARD living
on the Humber River in 1810: a "cod and salmon fisherman,
selling fish to St. John's."
It is not known how many children William had, but their
were at least 5, including 2 sons William Jr. and Thomas.
Hi s grandson another Thomas (1845 - 1929) may have been the
son of William or Thomas.
J. B. Jukes, an American mentions the BLANCHARD's during a
voyage to the Bay of Islands on August 20, 1839: "We visited
one family about half way down the [Humber] sound .... Their
name was BLANCHARD, and the old man had lived here about
sixty years, having settled there before the breaking out of
the American War. He had several sons that were getting
mar ried and beginning to settle about him. His house, though
small, was neat and comfortable, and he had two or three
small fields under cultivation. They were just getting in
the hay from one small meadow, andit appeared of good p>
quality. They had very good currants, raspberries, and
gooseberries growing in the garden edges."
Bishop Feild also spoke of William BLANCHARD during a visit
to Gilliam's Cove, Bay of Islands in 1849: "The house is
m ean and dirty, and the old patriarch, who has lived here
nearly seventy years, was in a state of great filth and
discomfort. He is nearly ninety years of age. His mental
faculties are good, but his bodily strength is nearly gone .
He welcomed us kindly, spoke with pleasure of Archdeacon Wix
.... This is, I believe, the second time only in nearly 70
years that he has seen a clergyman..." [CI:136:?2:CI]