The following pages are a continuation of the subject of captured "Slave Ships," in my quest to supply information on the [African Slave trade], and in so doing to additionally increase the number of "surnames" As stated previously, all data is presented in regards to the African Americans, but anyone with Genealogy interest may wish to scan the data for beneficialin formation. This researchers 's goal is to bolster the families undertaking of tying the families blood lines to the slave trade, and in turn to supply data to possibly enhance indepth family research.
Note. As stated in the previous page this information comes from Congress, House Document No. 7, and 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.
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.
Minnetonka.
The "Minnetonka" landed a cargo of slaves from Africa then proceeded to Yucatan, were it would make another voyage to Africa.
Thomas H. Myers.
The owen, Thomas H. Myers and master of the "Devereux", that was captured on the coast of Africa arrived from Teneriffe with a certificate from the United States consul of that port, which enable him to leave this Island. He left on the R. M. Charlton and sailed for Savannah.
Havana Cuba 1857.
Zephyr, of Baltimore was captured on the coast of Cuba, crew escaped.
Vesta, of Boston was captured on the coast of Cuba, crew in prsion.
Petrel, of Boston was captured on the coast of Cuba, crew in prsion.
Clara B. Williams.
The "Clara B. Williams" has been seen hovering about the coast of Cuba for an opportunity to land slaves, and has been chased away by a Spanish man-of-war.
Louis McLane.
Her Majesty's ship "Alecto" captured the "Louis McLane" and took it as a prize, the master threw his papers and colors overboard. It's stated the "McLane" is a schooner of 176 tons, after the documents were overboard the master J. W. Buckley, stated the "McLane" was in the slave trade.
Thomas Watson
London May 11, 1858.
There was a claim put in by John A. Machado, owner of the American ship "Thomas Watson" that was captured by her Majesty's ship "BloodHund", while trading on the coast of Africa. John A Machado is asking to be compensated for injuries and losses from that seizure. The charge was detaining a colored British subject with the view of selling him as a slave.
Lidia Gibbs.
The schooner :Lida Gibbs" commanded and owned by a Mr. Watson sailed from the port of Charleston, June, 1858, on a voyage to the west Indies, Mr. Watson has been sailing between the west Indies and said port upwards of twenty years, until now, he has never owned his own ship, but has sailed in the employ of a merchant of this port. Information given states when "Lidia Gibbs" arrived in Havana she was sold to unknown persons, for the sum of ( $12,000 ) her whole cost, when new having been ( $7,000). The "Lidia Gibbs" proceeded under the command of Mr. Watson, to the coast of Africa, manned by a crew of Americans.
The owener is a Scotchman but naturalized in the United States. He received ( $6,000) for the voyage, whether successful or not; $6,000, more if escape detection, a number of slaves landed in Cuba for his own share. The schooner is very fast having been built for speed and furnished with every appliance for insuring it, she is about 114 tons, Burden and north.
Cortez.
When cruising off the coast of Havana on the 16th. of April 1858, her Majesty's gunboat "Forward" sighted a topsail schooner, it was the "Cortez" after being seen, she alterd course frequently, she was so suspicious the "Forward" gave chase, after a hour and half the "Forward" hoisted her colors and fired a blank gun. The "cortez" showed her Amercian colors and hove to. Upon boarding her a person represented himself as the master, papers were shown but looked irregolar, the master refused to hand them over. The crew in the mean time rushed and haual the flag, and papers were thrown overboard by one Daniel Wakeham, they could not be recovered. The crew was informed that they were to be taken to a Amercian man-of-war. Upon her being searched it was found she was fully equipped for slave trade, as no one would acknowledge to be master of said "Cortez" Mr. Rowlett second master of her Majesty's steamer "Forward" boarded with a crew and took her to Jamaica.
Consulate General of he United States.
Havana July 8, 1858
Sine the date of my last despatch two American vessels have sailed from this port for Africa; The Ketch Brothers, of Charleston, James Gage master, and the Bark "Lyra," of New York purchased here by said James Gage, and commanded by William C. Dickey.
Brig C. Perkins.
Brig C. Perkins, was given a register by the custom-house of New York, September 28, 1857, stateing George Brown, as sole owner, no papers were attached to her register showing any change of commander. Her description is as follws: Bult at Canwaboro, South Carolina, in 1857, Length 99 feet; Breadth, 24 feet 8 inches; Depth, 8 feet 1 inch; Tonnage 176 tons; Square stern; No galleries, and a Billet-head. She has a figur-head- the figure of a man with a black coat. She sailed from this port November 26, 1857, from evidence obtaned that she was proceeding to he coast of Africa and would engaged in the slave trade. The crews list is the following: George Brown, master, New York, J. S. Downing, mate, of New York, Gabriel Domingoes, Cook and Steward, New Orleans, G. W. Gordon 2nd. mate, New York, Charles W. Paul, Seaman, New Jersey, Charles Coffin, Seaman, Maine, William Jones, Seaman, New Orleans, Thomas Brown, Seaman, New York. Very little or no reliance is to be placed on the names.
Havana July 9, 1858.
Schooner Lydia Gibbs.
Schooner Lydia Gibbs, of Charleston 114 tons, Thomas Watson, master.
Arrived January 30, 1858, from Charleston.
When built-1851, where Patchogue.
Owner-Thomas Watson.
Cargo inward-142 Tierces of Rice, 48 half Tierces of Rice, 73 Bags of Rice, 200 Barrels of Potatoes, 68 empty Hogsheads, Value $1,200., Cargo outward-149 Casks of Rum.
February 24,-Captain Reported that Joseph Williams, Cook, deserted last night, order of arrest Issued.
March 9,-Thomas Watson, master, R. C. Welling, mate, John Barber, Richard Nash, James Anderson, John Donaher, and John Russell, Seaman, this day signded new articles, the voyage of vessel being changed. The vessel going to Annobon, and from thence to a port of dischanged in the United States or a port in the West Indies.
March 9,-Cleared for Annobon, ( Coast of Africa.)
In 1857 and 1858 there were many ship carrying the American flag even though many did not have legal American registries, because of this there was political unrest between the countries of Spain, England. Spain and England patrolled the Cuba and African coasts and a lot of the west Indies each country felt they had the right to stop and board any ship that came under the suspicion of being in the slave trade. Many American ships were taken as prizes and the cargo sold and the ships resold or taken out to sea and sunk, only to fine out later they had legal registries.
The following Ships were stopped by British patrol ships and boarded under the suspicion of slave trading.
Note. There is a little more information on these ships upon a request.
1. Schooner " Handover, " Captain, A. W. Eayrs, out of New york.
2. Schooner " I. Tinker," Captain, George Booth, out of New york.
3. Brig " Elizabeth Watts," Captain F. G. Ellis, out of New York.
4. Bark " Elmwood, " Captain F. Kendall.
5. Brig " New Era," Captain W. Walker, out of Philadelphia.
6. Ship " John and Albert," Captain H. Crowell.
7. Bark " William H. Chandler, Captain Albert Gage.
8. Brig " F. O. O'Brien," Captain Edward Watts.
9. Ship " Clarendon, " Captain J. K. Bartlett.
10. Bark " John Howe, " Captain Cyrus A. Nichols
11. Birg " S. Thurston, " Captain Augustus Lampher.
12. Brig " Mianus," Captain William Purkis, out of Norfolk, Va.
13. Brig " Abram," Captain Thomas G. Revans, out of New York.
14. Ship " Reliance," Captain Samuel Foss.