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The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A ship's master involved in the African trade was imprisoned in Carlisle on suspicion of causing a boy's death at sea by tying combustibles to his hair and setting them alight, leading the terrified boy to jump overboard and drown. Further cruelty to other boys was reported, including abandoning three on the Negro coast.
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A postillion belonging to Sir James Lowther being brother to the boy, on hearing the ship was arriv'd, went on board to enquire after him; and was told by the other boys that the master, after severe correction, tied some combustibles to his hair, and set them on fire, telling him, that he was going to hell, and these were the flames to serve him light; which so frightened the boy; that he jumped overboard directly and was drowned.
On which the postillion laid the affair before Sir James Lowther, who desired a magistrate to examine all the boys and sailors on board the ship, when it not only was said that the postillion's information was true but that he had acted inhumanity to several other boys particularly that he once turned three ashore on the negro coast, who must have perished, had they not, at the peril of their lives, ventured to swim on board another ship.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
African Trade
Event Date
Lately
Key Persons
Outcome
one boy drowned after jumping overboard in fright; three other boys abandoned on the negro coast but survived by swimming to another ship; master committed to carlisle goal on suspicion.
Event Details
A postillion, brother to the deceased boy and employed by Sir James Lowther, learned from other boys aboard the arrived ship that the master had severely corrected the boy, tied combustibles to his hair, set them on fire, and told him they were flames to light his way to hell, causing the boy to jump overboard and drown. Sir James Lowther had a magistrate examine the crew, confirming the account and revealing further inhumanity, including abandoning three boys on the negro coast who survived by swimming to another ship.