Category Archives: Slavery

Sea front, Southsea, Portsmouth, England

Memorial at Southsea, Portsmouth commemorating the officers and men of HMS ‘Trident’ who died of yellow fever at Sierra Leone in 1859

Location

Sea front, Southsea, Portsmouth, England

Transcript

'TO THE MEMORY OF / FORTY NINE OFFICERS AND MEN / OF HMS TRIDENT / WHO DIED OF YELLOW FEVER IN THE / SHORT SPACE OF SIX WEEKS / DURING THE UNUSUAL EPIDEMIC / AT SIERRA LEONE / [Left] '1859' / 'ERECTED BY F.A. CLOSE / AND THE SURVIVING OFFICERS' / [Right] 'AFRICA' / [Back] 'RE-ERECTED BY ADMIRAL CLOSE 1877'

Details

Description: Obelisk
Type: Free standing monument
Position: Beach
Materials: Granite
Vessel: HMS Tribune

Extra

Notes: Photo by N Gordon on file.

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Church of St Mary the Virgin, High Pavement, Nottingham, England

Tablet in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Nottingham commemorating Lieutenant James Still RN d. 1821

Location

Church of St Mary the Virgin, High Pavement, Nottingham, England

Transcript

'Sacred to the Memory / of / LIEUTENANT JAMES STILL R.N. / who/in the 22nd year of his age, / fell a victim to the ravages of the Yellow Fever, / on board His Majesty's Ship,THE PHEASANT, / while stationed off SIERRA LEONE, / on the 12th October 1821. / For four successive years / he had been employed in the fatal service / of enforcing obedience / to that sacred Law, which to the honour of his Country and in the spirit of Christian Love, / forbade/the Traffick in Human Blood. / That he possessed the best feelings of the heart / was manifested in his unwearied watchfulness over those / whose aid he was in sickness, / and who, / withering like the blighted shoots of Spring, / left their blessings upon him. / That he was endued with the spirit of Enterprise / was proved by the testimony of those / who had witnessed his skill, and admired his gallantry: That he was characterised by suavity of temper and prepossessing manners / was apparent from that regard, excited in every breast, / which held him forth as an Ornament of Social Life. / How beloved a Son! How endeared a Brother! How esteemed a Friend! / is evidenced / in the poignant grief of his sorrowing Family, / in the unfeigned regret / of many who cherish the remembrance of his worth, / and in the heartfelt Tribute / of Him / who / dedicates this Tablet / to the memory of his Virtues'

Details

Description: Incised, with blacked-in italic lettering.
Type: Tablet
Position: North wall, north aisle
Materials: White marble
Vessel: HMS Pheasant

People

Still, James
Age: 21
Date of Death: 12/10/1821
Cause of Death: Infectious disease
Rank / Occupation: Lieutenant RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra


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St Mary's Church, Ottery St Mary, Devon, England

Plaque in St Mary’s Church, Ottery St Mary, Devon dedicated to Commander Frederick Smith, RN d. 1880

Location

St Mary's Church, Ottery St Mary, Devon, England

Transcript

'In memory of Frederick Abraham Smith, Commander RN one of the four governors of this church and 2nd son of the Rev George Smith 47 years Vicar. Born December 7th 1797. During the great French war he served in the Mediterranean and afterwards on the west coast of Africa where in the year 1827 he helped to rescue from a slave ship a Negro boy now well known as Bishop Crowther of the Niger, but a wound the consequence of a gun explosion soon after compelled his retirement. He married in 1840 Dorothy Louise widow of William Carew Hunt by whom he had three sons and three daughters. He died Dec 2nd 1880 at Escot Lodge where during thirty-two years he had acted as Steward of the Escot Estate. His grave is in Escot Churchyard. Erected by tradesmen of Ottery and the Escot tenantry'

Details

Type: Plaque

Event Category

1803-1815 Napoleonic War

People

Smith, Frederick Abraham
Age: 82
Date of Death: 2/12/1880
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Commander RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Bishop Ajayi Crowther c.1809-1891 - First African Anglican Bishop in Nigeria.
Recorder: David Saunders

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Royal Naval Hospital Old Burial Ground (Nurses' Home), Greenwich, London, England

Ledger in the Royal Naval Hospital Old Burial Ground, Greenwich commemorating Edward Harris, RN d. 1707 captured and sold as a slave by Barbary pirates

Location

Royal Naval Hospital Old Burial Ground (Nurses' Home), Greenwich, London, England

Transcript

'Here lyeth interred ye body of / Edward Harris Born at Dover / in Kent, Mariner / A man just in his Actions / Kind to his Family / was 18 years a slave in Barbary / & steadfastly kept to ye Church / of England, Serv'd the Government / at sea faithfully / Received His Majs Royal Bounty / of this Hospital / & died in ye Faith of ye said Church ye 27 day of June 1707 aged 75 years Ex Dono II'

Details

Description: Carved in low relief above the inscription, with a skull in profile, a cross staff, anchor, gun and laurel wreath behind.
Type: Ledger
Position: Mausoleum

People

Harris, Edward
Age: 75
Date of Death: 27/6/1707
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Seaman, Greenwich pensioner
Organisation: Royal Hospital, Greenwich, Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Transcription in PRO 'Greenwich Hospital Memorial Inscriptions' 99618. On floor of mausoleum.

Bibliography: Ceridwen Boston, Annsofie Witkin, Angela Boyle and David R. P. Wilkinson 'Safe Moored in Greenwich tier: A study of the skeletons of Royal Navy sailors and marines excavated at the Royal Hospital Greenwich' (Oxford, 2008) p. 10.

Photographer: Pieter van der Merwe

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Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Hampshire, England

Memorial at Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Hampshire commemorating Commodore William Jones RN d. 1846

Location

Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Hampshire, England

Transcript

'Sacred To The memory / Of Commodore William Jones Late Commanding / Her Majesty's Ship [Penelope] On The West Coast Of Africa / Where By His Judicious Arrangements / 115 Slave Vessels Were captured / And 6738 Human Beings Were Released From Slavery / Between 1st April 1844 And 12th March 1846 / Unwilling To Relinquish His Labors / Until The Energies Of Life Were Exhausted / He Returned To Spithead On The 8th / But To Die In This Hospital On The 24th Of May 1846 / Aged 54 Years / Intelligence Zeal And Perseverance / Marked The Course Of His Active Life / And In His Last Hours / His Spirit Was Sustained And Comforted / By That Christian Faith And Hope / Which Had Informed And Animated A Mind / Ever Ernestly Devoted To The Services Of His Country / And To The Kind Offices / Of Friendship And Humanity'

Details

Type: Wall tablet
Position: St Luke's Church

People

Jones, Willliam
Age: 54
Date of Death: 24/5/1846
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Commodore
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra


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St James's Gardens, Camden, London, England

Memorial at St James’s Gardens, Camden commemorating Edward Christie RN d. 1803

Location

St James's Gardens, Camden, London, England

Transcript

'TO THE MEMORY OF / EDWARD CHRISTIE / MIDSHIOMAN HMS THESIVS / DIED AT PORT ROYAL JAMAICA / OF FEVER CONTRACTED ON DVTY / ON BOARD A CAPTURED SLAVE SHIP/ 18TH JVLY 1803...'

Details

Description: Grey granite obelisk, the top of which is formed of the intersecting heads of two Celtic crosses.
Type: Monument
Materials: Grey granite
Vessel: HMS Theseus

People

Christie, Edward
Age: 19
Date of Death: 18/7/1803
Cause of Death: Infectious disease
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: The inscription is on the base of a monument commemorating other members of the Christie family. Scheduled for removal, due to work on HS2.

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St James's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, England

Memorial at St James’s Church, Toxteth, Liverpool commemorating Captain William Brighouse d. 1793

Location

St James's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, England

Transcript

'Captain William Brighouse died 6th May 1793 aged 43'

Details

People

Brighouse, William
Age: 43
Date of Death: 6/5/1793
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: From a MS in Liverpool Record Office. Compiled by James Gibson d. 1886, vol. 3, p. 43. An officer of this name commanded slave ships 'Preston' in 1780, 1781 and 1783. 'Swift' 1776 and 1777.
Bibliography: Gomer Williams 'History of the Liverpool privateers and letters of marque with an account of the Liverpool slave trade' (Liverpool, London 1897) p. 553.
Recorder: Captain J P Brand, Friends of the Museum of Merseyside

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St Peter's Parish Church, Liverpool, England

Memorial at St Peter’s Parish Church, Liverpool commemorating Captain John Heblethwaite  d. 1794

Location

St Peter's Parish Church, Liverpool, England

Transcript

'Captain John Heblethwaite died 31st December 1794 aged 49'

Details

People

Heblethwaite, John
Age: 49
Date of Death: 31/12/1794
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: From a MS in Liverpool Record Office. Compiled by James Gibson d. 1886, vol. 1, p. 307. An officer of this name commanded slave ships - 'John' 1776, 'Unity' 1778', Eagle' 1782-3. 'Viper' 1784 'George' 1787, 'Will' 1789, 'Sarah' 1791-2.
Recorder: Captain J. P. Brand

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St James's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, England

Memorial at St James’s Church, Toxteth  commemorating Captain William Hymers d. 1828

Location

St James's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, England

Transcript

'Captain William Hymers died 25 January 1828 age 62'

Details

People

Hymers, William
Age: 62
Date of Death: 25/1/1828
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: From a MS in Liverpool Record Office compiled by James Gibson d. 1886, vol.3, p. 155. An officer of this name commanded slave ships 'Johns' in 1803, ''Eliza' 1806 and 'Constance' 1807.
Recorder: Captain J. P. Brand

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St Ann's Church, Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth, England

Wall tablet in St Ann’s Church, Portsmouth Dockyard, commemorating casualties from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines sustained during the  Bombardment of Lagos in 1851

Location

St Ann's Church, Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth, England

Transcript

'TO THE MEMORY OF THE / OFFICERS, SEAMEN AND ROYAL MARINES, / WHO WERE KILLED / OR MORTALLY WOUNDED, / IN THE ENGAGEMENTS AT LAGOS, / ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. / A.D. 1851. / THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY THEIR / SHIPMATES AND COMPANIONS IN ARMS / JOHN G.F. DYER AND HENRY H. HALL MATES OF H.M.S. NIGER KILLED 25TH NOVR. 1851 / FREDK. R. FLETCHER. MID; JNO. MCDONALD, W. LAWS, FREDK. HUNN, THOS. SUTTON, / JAMES WEBB. THOS. DAVIS, SAML. PITT, BENJ. TRACEY AND RICH. PEACOCK, SEAMEN / FRANCIS BONE, THOS. NONELEY AND WM. WILSON, ROYAL MAR. ART. AND KING GEORGE / KROOMAN, OF H.M.S. PENELOPE KILLED 26TH DECEMBER 1851, HY. M. GILHAM / MASTER'S ASSISTANT; GEORGE E. HOWELL, GUNNER, AND W. BOTTERS, R.M.A. H.M.S. / PENELOPE MORTALLY WOUNDED, THOMAS RICHARDS, MID; H.M.S. SAMPSON / KILLED 26TH DECEMBER 1851'

Details

Description: Inscription tablet flanked by pillasters carved with palm trees, carved brackets. Above, a trophy of flags, a sword, gun, anchor and oval union flag shield.
Type: Wall tablet
Materials: Marble
Vessel: HMS Niger, HMS Penelope; HMS Sampson

Event

Lagos

Event Date

1851

Event Category

19th century conflicts in Africa

People

Bone, Francis
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Marine Artillery
Botters, W.
Age:
Date of Death: 1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Marine Artillery
Davis, Thomas
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Dyer, John G. F.
Age:
Date of Death: 25/11/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Mate
Organisation: Royal Navy
Fletcher, Frederick R.
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman RN
Organisation: Royal Navy
George, King
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Krooman
Organisation:
Gilham, Henry M.
Age:
Date of Death: 1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Master's Assistant
Organisation: Royal Navy
Hall, Henry H.
Age:
Date of Death: 25/11/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Mate
Organisation: Royal Navy
Howell, George F.
Age:
Date of Death: 1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Gunner
Organisation: Royal Navy
Hunn, Frederick
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Laws, W.
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
McDonald, J.
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Noneley, Thomas
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Marine Artillery
Peacock, Richard
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Pitt, Samuel
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Richards, Thomas
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman RN
Organisation: Royal Navy
Tracey, Benjamin
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Webb, James
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Wilson, William
Age:
Date of Death: 26/12/1851
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Marine Artillery

Extra

Recorder: B. Tomlinson
Photographer: B. Tomlinson

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