Ships Of The Slave Trade 1857-1858 Page1.

This page is about slave ships and their human cargo, this information is not only for the African Americans, but any one with genealogy interest may benefit from the researched information. My hope is to enlighten you on the slave trade and in turn offer valuable date for the family researcher.

Most generally the researcher knows the name of the ship that their ancestors was on, and if it was captured, but in most cases are not aware of "who captured that particular vessel." The below information that I've amassed and provided for you....less the African American Surnames.....will be in "parts." This first page actually has "two parts".....first part: List of Ships Captured off Cuba. Second part: List of Ships Captured by the British off Cuba. Then I've devoted the remaining page to the actual "Slave ships and the men aboard them." I wish to make clear, I have no information on any individuals once they de-boarded their vessel.

Note. This information comes from the 36th. Congress, House Document No. 7.

An inportant note. A full copy of any information seen here will be given upon request.

Naval terms.

Brig, is a square-rigged ship and not to be confused to a " Brigantine " which has different rigging.

Bark, also known as " Barque, " is a nondescript vessel which does fit anyusual categories comprises of three or more masts.

Ship, a sailing vessel having three or more square-rigged masts.


Note. As this Document is large all information can not be put on two pages. However if you do not see your ship or surname here a look up well be provided on request.


Slave captured by the United States veslssels of war on the coast of Cuba.

Brig Echo, captured August 21, 1858, by the United States Brig Dolphin, Lieutenant John N. Maffitt, and sent to Charleston South Carolina. The Echo had a cargo of 318 Africans, 306 of which ( 12 having died on the passage were delivered to the United States marshal at Charleston.

Brig Cygnet, captured by United States steamer Mohawk, Lieutenant T. A. M. Craven and sent to Key West, caputered November 18, 1859.

Bark Wildfire, captured April 26, 1860 by the United States steamer Mohawk and sent to Key West. The Wildfire had a cargo of 530 Africans, 507 of which were delivered to the United States marshal at Key West, 23 having died on passage.

Bark William, captured May 9, 1860 by the United States steamer Wyandotte, Lieutenant commanding F. Stanly, and sent to Key West. The William had a cargo of 570 Africans, 513 of which were delivered to the United States marshal at Key West.

Bark Bogota, captured May 23, 1860 by United States steamer Orusader, Lieutenant commanding John N. Maffitt and sent to Key West. The Bogota had a cargo of Africans 411 of which were delivered to the United States marshal at Key West.

Brig Wm. R. Kibby, captured July 23, 1860 by the United States steamer Crusader, Lieutenant commanding John N. Maffitt, and sent to New York, The Wm. R. Kibby, had three African boys on board who were delivered to the United States marshal.

Note. Commanding United States Steamers.

Maffit, John N.Midshipman, 25 February, 1832. Passed Midshipman, 23 June, 1838. Lieutenant, 25 June, 1843. Reserved List, 14 September, 1855. Resigned 2 May, 1861.

Craven, Tunis A. M.Midshipman, 2 February, 1829. Passed Midshipman, 3 July, 1835. Lieutenant, 8 September, 1841. Commander, 24 April, 1861. Died 5 August, 1864.

Stanly, Fabius.Midshipman, 20 December, 1831. Passed Midshipman, 15 June, 1837. Lieutenant, 8 September, 1841. Reserved List, 13 September, 1855. Lieutenant on Active List, 8 September, 1841. Commander, 19 May, 1861. Captain, 25 July, 1866. Commodore, 1 July, 1870. Rear Admiral, 12 February, 1874. Retired List, 4 June, 1874. Died 5 December, 1882.

Slave ships captured by the British off Cuba and other places.

Jupiter, captured by her Majesty's steamer Antelope, with 70 slaves on board; flag and papers destroyed by her master in July last off Praya Novo in the Bight of Benin.

Onward, of Boston, captured by her Majesty's steamer Alecto in September off the Congo or Kabenda, Her master having destroyed her flag and papers.

William Clark, Brig, of New Orleans, captured by her Majesty's steamer Firefly in August off great Popo, in Bight of Benin. Her master confessed that she engaged in the slave trade, and threw her colors and papers over board.

Charles, of Boston, without any colors or papers, about 1,000 tons, capable of carrying between 1,000 and 1,200 slaves ran on the beach at Snake's Head, 35 miles south of the Congo, when chased by boats of her Majesty's steamer Sappho, of the remaind a portion escaped, about 200 were drowned.

Abbot Devereux, schooner of about 113 tons, captured by her Majesty's steamer Teazel, papers and flag voluntarily destroyed by her master, 350 slave on board, between Badagry and Logos, on August 1, 1857.

Note. The following information was put together from reports from the Naval Districts of Cuba, Florida and New York.

Horatio.

In October of 1854, the " Horatio" left New York without any papers and without being looked over by the surveyor. The surveyor was ordered to find her as the ship left port with foreigan flags and all equipped for slave trade. Then in November of 1854, the " Horatio" was reported to be clearing for the coast of Africa. In May 1855, the " Horatio" was found at sea abandoned within sight of Key West Lighthouse,it is on suspicion that she had engaged in landing a cargo of slaves on the coast of Cuba. When found abandoned the name on her stern had been painted over with black paint but still could be read; " Horatio" of New York. There was no doubt that she had been fitted for slave trade. There was a old log book that stated; " Horaito" lay in Ponce, Porto Rico, May 23, 1854.

Note. The following information was taken from reports from the Brazilians & United States Districts.

On August 25, 1855, a schooner of 120 tons owned by ( Vincent D. Cranotick ) with the name of ( Mary E. Smith ) of New Orlean, painte on her stern, left the wharf in Boston in spite of the endeavors of the collector to detain her, as a suspicious craft destined for slave trade. She was captured as a prize to the Brazilian Brig-of- war " Olinda" at the time of her capture she had 370 slave on board. She was captured at the port of St. Mattheos, and taken to Bahia. The mortality of the slaves on board has been dreadful and the survivors are represented as little more then moving skelotons.

Note. Vincent D. Cranotick, was a Austrian by brith then later became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and at one time serviced as Chief Offcer of a Brazlian steam packets running along the coast.

William Winn & Mark Chauncey.

In the year of 1855, William Winn and Mark Chauncey had shipped out on the schooner " Mary Reed" but upon leaving New York it was under the name of " Esperanza." William and mark shipped out on the belief they were on a lawful voyage. The " Esperanza" was later captured and William and Mark were put on trail for slave tradeing and found guilty and sent to Isle of Pines.

In the year of 1856, William and Mark who were being held at Isle of Pines made their escape but after wandering through the Isle for forty-three days without finding a way to get to the sea were recaptured and taken to the city of Havana and confined in jail, with light chains to their legs, it is presumed they will be put to work at cutting stone.

Locomotoa.

On May 31, 1856, a small topsail schooner, of clipper build name " Locomotoa" enter the river Duro, with a portuguese flag flying at her masthead, at the custom-house at Oporto it was reported to have left New Your in the beginning of May, part of her cargo was reported as " Logwood" about 40 tons. On the manifest it stated that Antonio Roiz Vieira was owner, masters name was Joao da Cunha ferreira, and a crew of six men it was reported she was a American ship and with the intention of going into the slave trade.

N. Hand.

In June of 1856, the " N. Hand " sailed from New York with a cargo of provisions for the sufferers of famine at Cape de Verde Islands, but turn to the coast of Africa and took on board a cagro of slaves. The owner of the " N. Hand " was George W. Rosevelt, shipwright, of New York. The cargo was owned by the Corn Exchage Co., The ship has not returned to New York.

Brig William D. Miller

Note. The following statement was given by George Williams and Edmund Bennett.

Brig William D. Miller sailed from Havana Cuba in 1857, and headed for Montevideo, soon after leaving port it was found that eight or nine Spaniards were on board,there was also a man by the name of Manuel Abarroa who was on the ships papers as a seamen, was a master, he and another of the Spaniards who acted as a mate had the control of said ship till in the neighborhood of a man-of-war, then Captain Richard Ford a American, master, acted as commander and Abarroa acted as a common sailor, they head for the coast of Africa. On the voyage and on the coast they were visited by several British man-of- wars and constantly used the American flag and papers till the slaves were on board after which no flag was hoisted. After leaving the coast with 470 slaves for Cuba, Abarroa the Spanish Captain died, from that time on the Spanish mate and Captain Ford took over the vessel. After 31 days arrived at Sagua La Grande here the slaves were landed by schooner, after which the William D. Miller was taken out sea and scuttled and sunk.

George Williams and Edmund Bennett who were on board the " Miller " are now in jail in Havana and are waiting for a steamer to take them to New Orleans for trail. On board the " Miller " were two other Americans Thomas Cook and Thomas Bennett. The men were to proceed to New Orleans on the schooner M. A. Stevens, but back out, after which they were put back in jail, and they will be placed on the United States mail steamship Philadelphia and taken to New Orleans.


American ships not transferred at Havana reported to have gone to Africa for slaves 1857.

Schooner James Buchanan, of Bristol Pennsylvania 142 tons headed for Boston June 23, under the command of the former mate John Duncan.

Bark Clara B. Williams, of New Orleans 331 tons Seth Briggs commanding and nine men, left June 3, for Callao, with rum, suar, cigars, tobacco scraps and hogshead shooks.

Brig Windward, of New Orleans, 177 tons Charles Rauch, master, left July 13, for St. Paul.

Bark Paez, Havana 1857.

When the Paez was captureded she had 383 slaves on board, of which several have died of smallpox. The Paez formealy of Philadelphia was used to trade with Venezuela, but it appears that she had been sold and a new register was given to her in New York on Marh 20, 1857, in the name of Frances M. Chase, a women residing in New York. The captain George W. Palmer a native of Stanford Connecticut, age about 35, years. Palmer stated that he and crew have the reason to be dissatisfied with the Spaniard who as he alleges deprived him of his command, and that he had nothing to do with the takeing of negroes on board. The Paez was to be destroyed by law but because the absence of evidence she wil not be, till more evidence is to be had, if found that said Palmer acted of his own free will the Paez will be destroyed, if however it is found he had not acted on his own free will the Paez will be returned to his command.

Note. There is more information to come look for page 2., comeing soon.