{"id":6377,"date":"2014-03-03T18:18:05","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T18:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=6377"},"modified":"2024-05-03T10:58:43","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T14:58:43","slug":"african-american-slave-trade-ships-records-for-genealogy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/african-american-slave-trade-ships-records-for-genealogy.html","title":{"rendered":"African American Slave Trade: Ships & Records for Genealogy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers and other online resources to learn more about the African slave trade in America. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.<\/span>\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Throughout the course of the Atlantic Slave Trade, an estimated 12 million Africans were captured in their homeland and forcibly shipped across the Atlantic, on more than 35,000 voyages, starting in the 17th century* The African Diaspora scattered Africans throughout the Caribbean and Americas. The first slave ship to land in Colonial America went to Jamestown, Virginia, in August 1619. The name of the first African slave ship out of the United States was Desire, which sailed out of Massachusetts eighteen years later. This forced migration caused the displacement, torture, enslavement and murder of many Africans.**<\/p>\n

African slaves brought to the Americas were part of the \u201cMiddle Passage,\u201d a voyage that began in Europe, stopped in Africa to unload supplies and pick up enslaved human cargo, and then traveled to American ports on the eastern coast to trade that human cargo for goods that were then shipped back to Europe.<\/p>\n

History of the African Slave Trade in Early America and the United States Infographic (Note: the article continues after this infographic.)<\/p>\n

\"History<\/a><\/p>\n

This troubling part of American history\u2014and important part of African American history\u2014can be uncovered and explored with patient historical research, including searching in old newspapers such as GenealogyBank\u2019s online Historical Newspaper Archives.<\/p>\n

Laws Slow\u2014but Don\u2019t Stop\u2014the African Slave Trade<\/strong><\/p>\n

It would seem that the African slave trade to America would have been stopped by a law passed by the U.S. Congress in March 1807 that stated:<\/p>\n

\u201cThat from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, it shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held to service or labour.\u201d***<\/p>\n

Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Read more about U.S. legislation in the 1800s regarding slavery in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Documents<\/a> section which contains The American State Papers<\/em> and more.<\/p>\n

However, the Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves and a similar law passed in the United Kingdom didn\u2019t end the practice of the slave trade. Slave ships illegally continued to bring their human cargo to U.S. ports, and American newspapers continued reporting on the occasional capture of a slave ship into the 1840s. (Two ships, the Wanderer<\/em> and the Clotilde<\/em>, are reported to have brought slaves to the United States well into the 1850s.) As with the passage of most laws, those who would break the law don\u2019t end their criminal deeds; instead a black market thrives.<\/p>\n

Slave Advertisements in Newspapers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eighteenth-century newspapers found in GenealogyBank\u2019s archives<\/a> report of the comings and goings of slave ships, when the African slave trade was still legal. From advertisements to shipping news articles, researchers can find mentions of slave ships names, their captains, and descriptions of the people on board.<\/p>\n

In some cases, advertisements for the upcoming sale of slaves included information on the ship they would be arriving on. In this example from a 1785 South Carolina newspaper, Fisher & Edwards advertise that the ship Commerce<\/em>, under Captain Thomas Morton, will be arriving from Africa\u2019s Gold Coast with \u201cupwards of 200 prime slaves\u201d for sale.<\/p>\n

\"ad<\/a>
South-Carolina Weekly Gazette (Charleston, South Carolina), 6 August 1785, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An earlier South Carolina advertisement proclaims that the slaves aboard Captain Buncombe\u2019s ship Venus<\/em> are \u201cmostly stout men.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ad<\/a>
South-Carolina Weekly Gazette (Charleston, South Carolina), 17 July 1784, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Slave Ship \u201cShipping News\u201d in Newspapers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Articles under \u201cShipping News\u201d or \u201cMarine List\u201d headlines are a good place to start searching for information about slave ships, crew, and cargo.<\/p>\n

In this example from a 1799 New York newspaper, we see updates on various ships including information about deaths on ships. We also see that the Gurbridge<\/em> and Mary<\/em> were bringing slaves, and to whom they were being brought.<\/p>\n

\"shipping<\/a>
Commercial Advertiser (New York, New York), 31 July 1799, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where to Find African Slave Trade & Slave Ship Records<\/strong><\/p>\n