The South Atlantic island of St Helena had slaves and it was decreed that any child born to a slave woman from and after Christmas Day 1818 was to be free but to be considered as apprentices to the proprietors of the mothers until the age of 18 if male, or 16 if female. These children had to attend Church and Sunday school. Once slavery was officially abolished by Britain there were still ships plying the trade. Navy ships intercepted where they could and many slaves were put ashore on St Helena as they were carrying many diseases, and were too sick for the long journey back to Africa. They were landed in Rupert's Bay, a valley over the hill and away from the town to Jamestown. The Saints used to take food to the top of the hill between the two valleys and fire a shot so the slaves knew food had arrived. (No they didn't go down into the valley, they were very wary of disease as measles had caused havoc on the island in 1807 with many folk dying from that virus). Many many people died there and relatively recently a whole graveyard was discovered with the remains of these slaves being found. And yes St Helena was where Napoleon died and he was fond of the slave Toby owned by our ancestor William Balcombe. We are pleased to report the Balcombe's were considered kind to their slaves who were well fed and treated kindly, in fact one begged to return to England with them and did so when they left the Island. Cheers Caroline