How “badjohn” became a word

[Pan Times]

by Kim Johnson

John “Bad John” Archer

So when a Trini calls you a badJohn, you’ll know the word originated as a descriptor for John “Bad John” Archer: a Barbadian born ex-soldier who had served in British West India Regiment, ex-Panama Canal worker, ex-stow away, ex wharf worker who was a notorious habitual criminal in Trinidad in the early 20th century. When Bad John downed in 1916, he had 119 criminal convictions

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