#goree

A.

132

I Samuel Spencer

Declare that the Brig Mount Etna,

owned by Jabez Lord of Boston, Stephen D. Turner, Master,

left Boston on the 17th of December 1809 for Rio de Janeiro

but went directly to Fayal where she arrived on the 2d or

3d of January 1810. That in three days after the vessel

arrived at Fayal the master told me an others that

the vessel was going to the coast of Africa, for slaves, but

it was necessary to change the colours and get a Portuguese

master to evade the laws of the United States, but that

the vessel would be still owned by Jabez Lord; and he

understood that Dunham a partner of Lords, Frazier, of Boston

and Ogden of New York were likewise part owners, that he

should still act as master, and asked if we would

consent to sign new shipping papers  for the intended voy-

-age to Africa, and from there to Havana. J. Hilman,

Augustus Rignian + myself refused to make a new agree-

-ment, having shipped at Boston to go to Rio de Janeiro,

from there to Canton, and back to a port of discharge in

the United States, we were then put down in the fore-castle

and were not permitted to [underlined] go on shore [underline ends] while at Fayal or did

[underlined twice] any of the crew [underline ends]. We discharge'd our Flour at Fayal took

took in what was called a new Captain (a poor boy sev-

-enteen years old) who, when the vessel got to sea was driv-

-en forward as a dam'd lazy fellow and kept with the crew.

We touch'd at Madeira and got chains, handcuffs

+c, where Hilman & Rignian were discharg'd but the

captain + Supercargo (Lord) said I cou'd not be dischar-

-ged as they wanted me, being a carpenter to fit up the

vessel when we got it to Goree, for the reception of slaves

and used every means to make me sign the new articles,

but finding I wou'd not I was put in the hold, and

there kept four days, without eating or drinking and threat-

-ened by the captain with a pistol presented at my breast,

to be shot, unless I agreed to go on and do my duty, and

finding that I must die, I agreed to fit the Brig for the

accommodation of slaves. We arrived at Goree in [underlined] March [end underline]

where the [underlined] remainder of the cargo [end underline] was [underline] sold + landed [end underline] except

the boards which were used to fit up the Brig with births

for the negroes, and the beef which was kept for the Ships use.

The Supercargo agreed for 280 slaves at Goree to be

delivered in the river Gombee. I did the carpenter work

for the reception of the slaves and was then discharged,

after I was discharg'd I went up to where the vessel was

133

taking in slaves, where were the Mary-Ann of Charlestown

S.C. under Spanish colours and a Brig commanded by

Campbell with a Supercargo called Cushing taking in

slaves.

I hereby certify that the above

declarations were made to me by Samuel

Spencer. This 30th. of July 1810

[signed] [illegible] Dearborn D.C.