Mar 10, 2011 - Sale 2239

Sale 2239 - Lot 15

Price Realized: $ 3,840
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
PATROLING THE COAST OF AFRICA (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE. Manuscript Deposition of two British officers regarding the capture of 233 African slaves from four trading posts off the Coast of Sierra Leone. Colony of Sierra Leone, 11 July, 1813

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"Personally came before me Robert Purdie, Esquire officiating as Judge of Court of Vice Admiralty of the said colony this tenth day of July in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, Lieutenant John Wilkins of his Majesty's ship Thais who being duly sworn maketh oath and saith that on or about the twenty-seventh of June of the present year, he was ordered by Captain Edward Scobell of the said ship, to take under his command four armed boats, and proceed to examine the vicinity of Cape Mesurado, and detect the Slave Trade said to be carried on in that Neighborhood and more particularly by Persons named Robert Bostock and John Mcqueen. That proceeding under the English Ensign and Pennant to the Factory of said Bostock and McQueen, he was from thence assailed and fired at, which wounding two of this Majesty's Subjects, one of whom is since dead, and the probablility of many more falling, the said Deponenrt was compelled to act on the offensive and in so doing, captured three boats or small craft with two hundred and thirty-three slaves, who were surrendered as the property of the concern of aforesaid Robert Bostock. Sworn before me this 11 day of July, 1813." A rare, on the spot account. Both of the slavers mentioned in this document were well-known Liverpool traders, Robert Bostock in particular. He was the primary owner of fourteen known slaving voyages between 1787 and 1793, as well as primary and partner in countless other voyages following the ban of 1807.