Robert LeBlond was born in London on November 2, 1789, into a family of French Huguenot descent, and was baptized in the French Protestant congregation known as the Chapel of the Hospital in Spitalfields. He married Elizabeth Saling in 1814 and the couple had a large family, including Robert LeBlond and Abraham LeBlond, who later founded the well-known London printing firm Le Blond & Co. Robert’s own career appears to have combined art and commerce: in 1819 he was recorded as a “limbner,” or limner, an artist or miniature painter; by 1823 he was described as a merchant, and an 1833 apprenticeship indenture for his son Abraham called him a broker of Rye, Sussex. The family lived at various times in London, Wymondham in Norfolk, and Rye in Sussex. Robert died in 1824 at the young age of 34, but his artistic background may have helped shape the next generation’s involvement in engraving, printing, and color reproduction.
Roberts parents were Robert LeBlond (1761-1816) and Jeanne Gamage. He is the 5th Robert LeBlond of our traced lineage and my 4th great grandfather.
Birth
Robert was born on November 2, 1789 and baptized in a French Protestant (Huguenot) congregation in Spitalfields, London, recorded in the registers of the Chapel of the Hospital.
Marriage
On July 18, 1814, Robert LeBlond swore a marriage allegation in the Diocese of London stating that he was a bachelor, aged twenty-four or over, residing in the parish of St Marylebone, Middlesex, and intended to marry Elizabeth Saling, a spinster aged twenty-one or over of the same parish. He declared that there was no legal impediment to the marriage and requested a licence for the ceremony to take place at St Marylebone. The document bears Robert’s own signature.
The transcription reads:
Appeared personally Robert Le Blond and made Oath, that he is of the Parish of Saint Mary le bone in the County of Middlesex a bachelor Aged twenty four years and upwards and intendeth to marry with Elizabeth Saling of the same Parish a Spinster Aged twenty one years and upwards and that he knoweth of no lawful Impediment, by reason of any Pre-Contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other lawful Means whatsoever, to hinder the said intended Marriage, and prayed a Licence to solemnize the same in the Parish Church of Saint Mary le bone aforesd and further made Oath, that the usual Place of Abode of him the Appearer hath been in the said Parish of Saint Mary le bone for the Space of four Weeks last past Euston Lodge
They married the following day.
Children
Robert and Elizabeth had eight children total. It appears that five of those died as infants or children. Two of the names–Robert and Jane–were reused for later children. See detail from the LeBlond Family Tree.
The older children were baptized at what is now called Wymondham Abbey, the Anglican parish church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury in Wymondham, Norfolk. The surviving register for Wymondham is identified under that church name, and the Abbey itself says it is the town’s parish church. The officiating minister is W. Papillon. Wymondham Abbey’s own history identifies Rev. William Papillon as vicar there from 1788 to 1837.
- Robert LeBlond. Dates unknown. Died young.
- Susan LeBlond. Dates unknown. Died young.
- Jane LeBlond. Born 1815. Died young.
- Robert LeBlond. Born 04 Sep 1816. Baptized 29 Sep 1816 in Middlesex, England. Died 18 Oct 1863. Married Sarah Brooker.
- Abraham LeBlond. Born 11 Feb 1819. Baptized 10 Mar 1819 Wymondham, Norfolk, England
- Frederick LeBlond. Born 07 Feb 1823, baptized 16 Mar 1823 at Saint Luke in Chelsea, London, England.
1823 Frederick Leblond in London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1925, Kensington and Chelsea, Saint Luke, Chelsea, Sydney Street Cropped - Jane LeBlond. Dates unknown. Married Francis LeBlond. Five children: Elizabeth Maria Angeline married John Sones, Frances Sane married Benjamin Walter, Mary married Robert Walter, Francis who died young, Edward who died young.
- Mary LeBlond. Dates unknown. Died young.
Occupation
From his son Abraham’s baptismal record from March 10, 1819, we learn that Robert was a “limbner,” or limner, and old word for painter or artist, especially someone who painted portraits, miniatures, or decorated manuscripts. Contemporary dictionary definitions describe a limner as a person who paints or draws.
In other sources, Robert is described as a “successful miniature painter.” (R.W. LeBlond, “LeBlond & Co., Printers,” Antiques Magazine (June 1937), pp. 292-295.)
In his third son Frederick’s baptism record, Robert is listed as a merchant. See graphic above.
In his son Abraham’s indenture certificate, dated 1833, Robert is called a “broker” but we don’t know what he traded in. In the nineteenth century, a broker was generally an intermediary who bought, sold, or arranged transactions for other people, usually for commission.
Residence
1819
From his son Abraham’s baptismal record from March 10, 1819 (above), we find that Robert and Elizabeth lived on Market Street in Wymondham, a market town and civil parish in the South Norfolk district of Norfolk, England.
1820s
Son Abraham’s indenture certificate describes Robert as a broker in Rye, Sussex. Rye is situated on the south coast of England where the English Channel is at its narrowest.
Death
Robert LeBlond died in 1824 at the age of 34 and was buried on September 7, 1824, at St Mary’s Church in Rye, Sussex. The parish register describes him as “of this parish.” Nine years later, his son Abraham’s apprenticeship indenture referred to him as “the late Robert Le Blond of Rye in the County of Sussex, Broker,” confirming the family’s connection with Rye. Source
