Thomas M. Truxes » London

London Court Upholds Freedom of Former Slave, 1735

ttruxes — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:00:18 +0000

London [December 6, 1735]. Yesterday . . . at the Sittings of the of the Court of King’s Bench at Guildhall . . . one Codrington Galway, a Black, appeared upon his Recognizances for a Breach of the Peace, and refusing to serve the Remainder of his Time with the Administrator of his former Master, who was lately Dead; when the Court declared, that though a Negroe he was now a Christian, and in a Christian Country, which allow’d of no Slavery; and thereupon they set him at full Liberty to go where he pleas’d, but withal advis’d him to get into some honest Employment by Sea or Land, that he might not become a Vagrant.

[London] General Evening Post, December 6, 1735.

Embarrassment at the London Custom House, 1720

ttruxes — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 05:00:31 +0000

London [June 1720]. One Mr. Etheridge, a Tide-Surveyor, having seized in the [Thames] River some Brass Cannons, on board a Ship from Venice, as being unlawfully imported, to the Value of £2,007. The Legality of the Seizure was disputed by the Proprietor, who brought an Action against the King; and last Saturday the Matter was try’d in the Court of Exchequer, when the Captain proving he had mounted the Cannon, and made use of ‘em against the Spaniards, in his Voyage from Venice. The Jury gave their Verdict for the Proprietor, to the no small Mortification of the Custom House Officer, who expected £1,000 to his own Share.

[London] Original Weekly Journal, June 4, 1720.

For the Press Gang, All’s Fair in Love and War, 1755

ttruxes — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:19 +0000

“LONDON. Thursday Night [March 6, 1755] a Press-Gang [of the Royal Navy] went through the Alleys near Moorfields, and having Musick with them, drew out a great Number of People from the Houses, by which Means they picked up about thirty able Fellows, whom they carried off.”

The London Evening-Post, March 8, 1755.