The Reverend John Black was born in Guthrie, Angus, Scotland, in 1753, and died at Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1813. He married May Logie in Edinburgh in 1776, and their first child John, was born at Yarmouth in Norfolk, where The Rev John Black had his first parish. From there he held parishes at Butley, Woodbridge, where he was headmaster of the Woodbridge Free School from 1800 to 1806. He was also Chaplain for the nearby garrison camp at Bromswell.  The Rev John Black was a noted poet, and wrote "A Narrative of the Mutiny on Board the Ship Lady Shore." An account of this mutiny can also be found in the book on his life by Major Semple Lyle.

John Black, the eldest son of the Reverend John Black and May Logie, was born at Yarmouth in 1778. In 1795 John Black joined the Indiaman, the Walpole, and in 1795 was sailing in the Lady Shore, which was carrying convicts and supplies to Port Jackson. A mutiny on board the ship saw John and 28 others, including women and children, put aboard a small boat and left to fend for themselves. John Black was an excellent navigator, and managed to reach St Pedro on the coast of Brazil. From here the Governor promised to find them passage to Rio de Janiero, but tired of waiting, John made his way overland to St Catherine Island, and then to Rio de Janiero.

From here John joined the privateer, Indispensable, as Navigator, and was put in charge of a Spanish prize ship, La Union, which he sailed to the Cape of Good Hope. From here he sailed gain in the Idispensable for Port Jackson arriving in August, 1798. It was at this time that John Black met Mary Hide, newly arrived on the transport, Brittania. The Indispensable sailed from Sydney on whaling expeditions, and in 1799 John Black was granted land by Governor Hunter. Mary Hide resided on this land when John Black was at sea, and it was here that her two children, John Henry and Mary Ann, were born.

In 1799 John Black sailed for Cape Town, where he was engaged capturing Spanish prize ships for Michael Hogan. In 1800 he sailed for Australia as Captain on the Harbinger, passing through Bass Strait andd naming King Island on the way. John Balck purchased the Harbinger, entering into the liquor trade.

On 1st January 1802, John Black left Sydney for Bombay on board Fly. Fl;y departed from Calcutta on the 14th May, 1802, but was not heard of again.