October 17, 2010

Mutiny Thwarted Aboard Slave Ship, 1738

Bristol, April 1 [1738]. Our Merchants have Letters from on Board the Tewksbury, Capt. Bryant, trading at Abonoe, on the Gold Coast of Guinea, that in her Passage from Boston, where she was lately built on Purpose for the Slave Trade, the chiefest Part of her Crew mutiny’d, murder’d their Captain, and design’d to go on a Pyratical Account; but by the Vigilance and good Conduct of the Chief Mate, and several Hands who were not in this wicked Conspiracy, he rescu’d the Ship, to the great Satisfaction of the Owners, and hanged several of the Ringleaders on the Gold Coast.

London Evening News, April 1, 1738.

Posted in Africa, Gold Coast, mutiny, piracy, silver, slave trade |
October 13, 2010

Plea for Help from Enslaved British Sailor, 1749

London. Extract of a Letter from Algier, Jan. 5, 1749.

“Sir, This being the first Opportunity I have had since my being in Slavery, I have embraced it by the Trial Sloop of War, which arrived here about four or five Days ago, being bound to Plymouth.

When I left London I came to Portsmouth, and shipped myself Mate of a Ship to Lisbon and arrived safe at Portsmouth the First of November from Lisbon, and the 8th following I shipped myself on board the unhappy Ship I was taken in, the Endeavour, John Jones Captain, myself Mate, and the 17th following sailed from Portsmouth for Falmouth, and the 29th sailed from Falmouth for Civita Vecchia.

In the Mediterranean, December 15, off the Rock of Lisbon, to my great Grief, we fell in with an Algerian Rover, who took me and two Foremastmen out, and put ten Algerines on board, with Orders to proceed to Algiers with the Rover; two Days after, it blowing a hard Gale of Wind, we lost Sight of our Ship; at New Year’s Day we arrived at this unhappy Place, where I spent the Hollidays in Slavery, and so I am like to remain.

Here has been Commodore Kepple, with several of his Majesty’s Ships, here is at present about 500 Christian Slaves; 45 are English. When the Commodore was here, we expected to have been released; but are now out of all Hopes of Liberty; my Fetters are 36 Pounds Weight, which, with the Heat of the Country and Slavery, if I have not a speedy Remedy, I cannot survive it long. There is not one Slave so heavily fettered as myself.

I am going up into the Country, there to be close confined with four more Slaves, for trying to make our Escape: Our Enemies since that Attempt, have been very cruel to us, and daily whip us most cruelly, and frequently threaten my life in particular: but I am determined, at the Risque of my Life, at the first Opportunity, to make the second Attempt, &c.

I am, &c.
George Gale.”

On Monday Morning 16 Algerine Prisoners, who have been confined here [London] for some Time past, were conveyed in a Waggon to Portsmouth, under the Care of Mr. Butson, one of his Majesty’s Messengers, w[h]ere they are to be put on board a Man of War appointed to carry them to Gibraltar, in order to their being exchanged for a like Number of English Prisoners; and we hear that what other English Prisoners may be found at Algier may be ransomed.

Old England, March 31, 1750.

Posted in Algeria, corsairs, England, Lisbon, Mediterranean, merchant marine, piracy, Portsmouth, slavery |
October 10, 2010

British Military to Quell Smuggling Along English and Scottish Coasts, 1717

[London, September 7, 1717] Upon a Complaint from the Officers of the Customs in several Parts of the Kingdom, that the Smugglers are now grown so very Numerous and Insolent, in Defiance of the Officers of the Customs, they do forcibly run great Quantities of Goods, to the great Prejudice of the Revenue and Fair Trader, his Majesty taking the same into Consideration, is pleased with the Advice of his Privy Council, to Order, and it is hereby Ordered, that his Majesty’s Secretary at War, do forthwith cause Directions to be given to the Military Officers quartered on, or near the Sea Coast, throughout England as well as Scotland, That they be assisting to the Civil Magistrates, when desired by them and the Officers of the Customs, for the executing Legal Process, and other Matters relating to his Majesty’s Service, in hindering the Exportation of Wool, and illegal Importation of French Silks, Brandy, and other Goods and preventing the evil Practices complained of in the said Presentment.

[London] Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, September 7, 1717.

Posted in crime, custom service, economy, England, law enforcement, Scotland, smuggling |
October 6, 2010

Navy Tender Takes on Spanish Privateer off Land’s End, 1740

London, June 10 [1740]. On the 8th Instant a Tender called the Lilliputian from being the smallest belonging to the Navy, took a Spanish Privateer off the Land’s End. She lay under Spanish Colours ‘till the Tender came up with her, and then, like Cowardly Rascals, (tho’ there were a great Number of Men on Board) they hoisted French, thinking that would protect them; but the Commander of the Lilliputian, knowing what she was, run up along side, ordered all his Men on Deck, double-arm’d, and gave them two hearty Volleys with their small Arms, and kill’d their Captain, and wounded several others, on which they struck directly; and she is since brought into Portsmouth.

[London] General Evening Post, June 10, 1740.

Posted in privateer, Royal Navy, Spain |
October 3, 2010

Embarrassment at the London Custom House, 1720

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.

Posted in Court of Exchequer, custom service, law enforcement, London, Mercantilism, smuggling, weapons |
September 29, 2010

Channel-Islands Privateer in Action off the Coast of France, 1757

Extract of a letter from Jersey, dated on board the Charming-Nancy Privateer of that Island, Captain Winter, who has been out about three Weeks.

“We have brought in here a French Privateer of six Carriage Guns, 14 Swivels, and 50 Men; also a French Sloop loaded with Wheat and Peas; and a Brig from Bourdeaux to Nantz, laden with Wine and Flour, and six 12 Pounders, Guns and two Anchors for a Privateer; we took a Brig we had just Time to ransom; we afterwards chased three large Ships going into Bourdeaux River, who run up the Bank, called the Olive, two of which, in less than an Hour after were lost, and the Men went ashore in their Boats; the third, being about 400 Tons, our Boats were manned, and got her off the Bank, and proved to be a St. Domingo Man, laden with Sugar, Coffee, Cotton, and Indigo; but she was so damaged with striking on the Banks, that our Men could not possibly keep her free; upon which we brought her to an Anchor, and took out about 50 or 60 Hogsheads of Indigo; soon after which she sunk. And in the Interim a French Bark, taking us for a Man of War of the same Nation, that was assisting this Ship, came in close to us, tho’ we had English Colours, which she took for a Signal: This Bark we also made a Prize of; she is laden with fine Wine, Hams, Pitch, Oars, &c. All for the French King’s Account.

The Pennsylvania Gazette, June 2, 1757.

Posted in Bordeaux, Channel Islands, coffee, cotton, flour, French West Indies, indigo, Jersey, Nantes, pitch, privateer, Seven Years' War, sugar, wheat, wine |
September 27, 2010

King George the First’s Proclamation Against Trading with the French at Jamaica, 1720

JAMAICA. By the King. A Proclamation.

Whereas we have received frequent Complaints from Merchants and Planters trading to, and interested in our Island of Jamaica, that an illegal Trade is carried on between our Subjects of our said Island, and the Subjects of the French King, by the Exportation from our said Island not only of the Silver Coin thereof, but also of a great Number of Negro Slaves, and by the Importation into it in Exchange, Sugars and Indigo, of the Growth and Manufacture of the French Settlements in America, by Means of which Commerce, our said Island is drained of its Silver Coin, the Subjects of the French King are enabled to carry on great Settlements in the French Colonies in America, the Produce of our Islands lowered in its Value, and wee are defrauded of our Customs:

And we having very much at Heart the Encouragement of the Fair Trader, as well as the Observation of our Part of the Treaty of Peace and Neutrality in America, concluded between England and France the 16th of November 1686, whereby the Subjects and Inhabitants of each Kingdom are prohibited to trade and fish in all places possessed, or which shall be possessed by the other in America, under the Penalty of Confiscation of all such Ships as shall be found trading contrary to the said Treaty.

We have therefore by the Advice of our Council of our said Island, thought fit to issue this our Royal Proclamation, not only to signify to our said Subjects the Purport and [Content] of the above-said Treaty, but also our express Will and Pleasure, that no such illegal Trade as is herein before described, be carried on between our Subjects of our said Island, and the French Settlements in America, by any of our Ships of War attending any said Island, or by any other Ships or Vessels, under the further Penalty of our severest Displeasure

And for the Encouragement of those who shall discover such illegal Trade, we are pleased to declare, That whomsoever shall discover to the Officers of our Customs, or to our Receiver-General of our said Island, or his Deputy, the Importation into our said Island of any Sugars, Indigo, or other Goods, of the Growth and Manufacture of the French Colonies in America, or shall seize on any such Sugars, Indigo, or other Goods, so as the same may be condemned in the Court of our Admiralty of our said Island, such Person or Persons so discovering or seizing, shall be entitled to the Value of the third Part of such Goods so imported, discovered, or seized upon.

And we do hereby strictly charge all our Officers, Civil and Military, within our said Island, to be aiding and assisting in the Execution of our said Pleasure herein contained.

Given at St. Jago de la Vega, the 27th Day of July, 1720, in the 6th Year of our Reign.

Witness his Excellency Sir Nicholas Laws, Knt. Captain-General and Governour in Chief of that our said Island, and the Territories thereon depending in America, and Chancellor of the same.

Good save the King.

[London] Daily Courant, December 8, 1720.

Posted in British West Indies, economy, French West Indies, indigo, informers, Jamaica, law enforcement, Mercantilism, Royal Navy, slave trade, smuggling, West Indies |
September 17, 2010

Rhode Island Summer Disrupted by Severe Weather, 1769

“Providence, August 5. Monday last a considerable Quantity of Rain fell here, attended with smart Lightning and Thunder: The Lightning we are told struck in several Places, and at Conanicut a Hay-Stack was set on Fire, and consumed. The same Day a terrible Storm of Hail and Thunder happened at Scituate [Rhode Island], which has done vast Damage to the Country, by destroying Orchards, Corn, Rye, Grass, Tobacco, &c. Some of the Hail, we are credibly informed, were as large as Geese Eggs, and stove every Window to Pieces that lay exposed. In some Parts of Scituate it lay 30 Hours on the Ground, and next Day at Noon was half Leg deep in several Places.—The Cloud took its Course pretty near South, and was about three Quarters of a Mile wide,—At Newport some Damage was done, by breaking of Windows. Demolishing Gardens, &c.”

Providence Gazette, 5 August 1769.

Posted in Rhode Island, severe weather |
May 2, 2010

Impact of Soldiering on a New York Wife and Family, 1755

“The Wife of a Labouring Man in Dye-Street, who to all Appearances went to Bed well on Tuesday Night last, was found dead in her Bed the Morning after, occasioned, it’s imagined, from the great Effect the Thoughts of her Husband’s enlisting as a Soldier had upon her. It seems the Man had left her for some Time before, and not gave her Notice where he was gone to; and the first Appearance he made was that very Evening, in order to take his Leave of her, he being one of the New-Jersey Recruits. She has left three Young Children behind.”

Connecticut Gazette, 21 June 1755.

Posted in New York City, Seven Years' War, women |
April 25, 2010

British Account of Jamaican Slave Uprising, 1760

“AMERICA. Jamaica, May 8. The Rebellion amongst the Negroes has been of bad Consequence to the whole Island. Their plot was deep and cruel. Their Design was to rise at Kingston and Spanish Town, in one Night; to have set Fire to these Towns in several Places at once, and to murder every Body in them. At the same Time they were to have risen in St. Mary’s and Sixteen-Mile-Walk; but the Negroes in St. Mary’s began too soon: They commenced with murdering all the white People upon one Estate; upon which the Overseer’s Boy got his Master’s Horse, and rode Express to the Governor, to tell him of it, for which he is to receive his Freedom. They afterwards seized what Arms and Ammunition were to be found, and went to a small Fort at Port Maria, where there was only one white Man and a Negro; they killed the white Man, and took away three Barrels of Powder, and marched to another Estate, where the Overseer was apprised of their Intentions. There were five white Men, which he armed, shut the Doors, and armed some of his own Negroes. He defended the House for an hour and a half, and the Rebels were going away; upon which he opened the Door, and wanted to bring them to their Duty, by speaking to them, which whilst he was doing, one of his own Negroes shot him in the back, the rest rushed in and killed all the white People, except one, whom they mangled in a most shocking manner, cutting off his Nose, and leaving him for dead; but he still languishes, and wishes for Death. They cut off the Overseer’s Head, put his Blood in a Calabath, mixed gunpowder with it, and eat their Plantains dipp’d in it, as they did by every white Man they killed: In short, their savage Barbarity can scarcely be parallelled.

Upon the first Notice of it to the Governor, he sounded the Trumpet, and proclaimed Martial Law; upon which all Business ceased, and every Man was a Soldier. The Regulars marched from Spanish Town, and the Troop of Militia, and those with the Force they had got together at St. Mary’s, obliged the Rebels to act upon the Defensive, and after two skirmishes, they had an Engagement with the wild Negroes, who brought in 17 pair of Rebels Ears, for which they received 17 Doubloons directly: That broke their Strength, some came in, many cut their Throats, and now they reckon about 60, who are all hemmed up in a Cave, from whence they cannot escape. Their chief Man is not yet taken. I believe

“there are about 25 of them made Prisoners, who are severally carried to Spanish Town, Kingston, and the places where they committed their Barbaries. I was last Saturday at Spanish Town, before which time, one who had not been in the Rebellion, actually was burnt alive for having sworn to cut his Master’s and Mistress’s Heads off, and to make Punch Bowls of them. On Saturday I heard the Trials of four more, who were found guilty of being concerned in the Murder of the white People: Two were burnt alive the same Afternoon; two were hanged, their bodies burnt, and their Heads stuck on poles. On Monday last, two were tried at Kingston for the same Offence, and found guilty. Their Sentence was to be gibbetted alive 20 Feet high. The rest will be punished according to their demerits.

Another Account from the same Person, dated May 21, 1760, says, ‘The Sentence against the Rebel Negroes, was put in Execution. One of them lived nine days, wanting six hours, without a drop of Water, hanging in an excessive hot place, though they complained of the cold in the night. The first of the Rebels, named Tackey, is since shot in the Wood, and his head stuck upon a pole; and within this half hour, we have an account of the Negroes having left three Estates at Manchioneal, and gone to the Woods; but hope it will not be so bad as is reported.’”

Cork Evening Post, 11 August 1760.

Posted in British West Indies, Jamaica, law enforcement, slave uprising, slavery, West Indies |