Joseph Beldam is one of the unsung heoes of the movement for the abolition of slavery. Born in Royston in 1795 and educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge he began a legal career in the Norfolk Circuit which he was obliged to abandon because of ill health.
In 1827 the publication of a letter of his to Lord Dacre on the slavery question brought him to the attention of Zachary Macaulay, former manager of a slave plantation in Jamaica and founder and first editor of the Anti-Slavery Reporter.

Letter to Joseph from his brother Valentine in 1826 admonishing him for the infrequency of his correspondence and commenting ‘The emancipation of the Slave or rather the endeavour is going on’. [Cambridgeshire Archives: R58/8/14/1]

Anti-Slavery Society In that same year Beldam joined the Anti-Slavery Society in London and for many years devoted the chief part of his time and attention to obtaining the emancipation of slaves in the British Colonies. He edited or wrote nearly all of its publications and papers; sat on numerous of its committees and after the passing of the Emancipation Act in 1833, became in fact the accredited counsel of the Society.

A modest man
Beldam rarely signed his name to any pamphlet and preferred to remain out of the limelight; he sought no fee for the work he did, never sat in Parliament and did not undertake any extensive public speaking. He refused two appointments offered to him by the Colonial Office in recognition of his efforts.

The many anti-slavery letters, pamphlets and other papers his work generated went undiscovered until 1946 when they were presented to what is now the National Library of Jamaica. 

Duplicate pamphlets which Beldam wrote for the Anti-Slavery Society survive among the Beldam estate and family papers in the county record office.  [Cambridgeshire Archives R58/8/5]

The Apprenticeship System
The passing of the Emancipation Act in 1833 did not automatically free the slaves of the British Colonies. Instead, it provided for a period of apprenticeship during which time the apprentice was entitled to ‘Maintenance and Allowance’ or if food was not provided, to sufficient time and land to grow his own. 

This interim measure was designed to allow the liberation of slaves; to prepare them for future responsibilities; to avoid any sudden disruption of the plantation economy and to avoid violence but it soon became clear that it was open to abuse and claims were made that the treatment and working conditions of apprentices were worse than those of slaves.

Beldam was at the centre of the legal battle to redress this and was tasked with collecting and analysing the evidence from all sides.

Included in his report ‘Negro Apprenticeship in the British Colonies’ is this table comparing allowances to slaves with those to apprentices. [Cambridgeshire Archives:R58/8/5(d)]

Growing public pressure finally led Parliament to abolish apprenticeships on 1 August 1838, three years before the date set by the Emancipation Act.

Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilisation of Africa
Although enslaved men, women and children in the British Empire finally became free in 1838 following the expiration of the apprenticeship system, the slave trade continued to flourish in other countries.

Beldam now turned his attention to supporting the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilisation of Africa founded by Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton and presided over by the Queen's consort, Prince Albert; the first time royal approval had been given to abolition.

Beldam was responsible for drawing up the proceedings of the Society’s first public meeting held on 1 June 1840 and attended by a prestigious audience. 

Prospectus of the Society, 1840 which sets out its leading principles; the destruction of the slave trade in Africa through the christianisation of the country and the conduct of legitimate trade and commerce. [Cambridgeshire Archives: R58/8/5(g)]

The Niger Expedition which the Society organised to establish model farms, encourage trade and set up preliminary Christian missions was to end in disaster; the farms failed, many lives were lost from disease and the Society dispersed under a cloud.

Beldam died at Royston on 6 June 1866 and was buried in the family vault attached to Royston Church. Apart from his contribution to the abolition movement, he is known for his antiquarian research including a paper on 'The Origin and Uses of the Royston Cave'.

Banyers’, Melbourn Street, Royston former home of the Beldams. It was later converted to a hotel, as pictured here, and continues to trade as such today. [Cambridgeshire Archives:R58/8/5(d)]