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Domestic News
January 22, 1805
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
On January 2, slaves at William Fitzhugh's farm opposite Fredericksburgh attempted to murder their overseer after refusing orders. Gentlemen from Falmouth intervened; one slave was shot dead, another wounded, and a third drowned fleeing. Overseer expected to recover.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
FREDERICKSBURGH, JAN. 3.
Yesterday forenoon, the negroes belonging to William Fitzhugh, Esq. at his farm opposite this town, made an attempt to murder their overseer.
It appears, he had lately taken the management of this estate—when he ordered them to execute some business on the plantation they refused to comply; he was proceeding to correct them for disobedience, when they rose upon and had well nigh dispatched him; luckily a party of gentlemen from Falmouth who had been apprised of their design, happening to come up at the time, attempted to rescue the overseer and perhaps to apprehend the negroes; one of them catched up an axe and was advancing to attack one of the gentlemen, he was fired upon and killed on the spot, another severely wounded; a third made his way good to this town, and as he was about to be apprehended, he ran to the river and got on the ice, which was very thin, and had got about the middle, he broke through and was drowned.
It is since said the overseer is not dead, but it is said he will recover.
We may have erred in stating some of the particulars, but we can assure our readers they are literally true.
Yesterday forenoon, the negroes belonging to William Fitzhugh, Esq. at his farm opposite this town, made an attempt to murder their overseer.
It appears, he had lately taken the management of this estate—when he ordered them to execute some business on the plantation they refused to comply; he was proceeding to correct them for disobedience, when they rose upon and had well nigh dispatched him; luckily a party of gentlemen from Falmouth who had been apprised of their design, happening to come up at the time, attempted to rescue the overseer and perhaps to apprehend the negroes; one of them catched up an axe and was advancing to attack one of the gentlemen, he was fired upon and killed on the spot, another severely wounded; a third made his way good to this town, and as he was about to be apprehended, he ran to the river and got on the ice, which was very thin, and had got about the middle, he broke through and was drowned.
It is since said the overseer is not dead, but it is said he will recover.
We may have erred in stating some of the particulars, but we can assure our readers they are literally true.
What sub-type of article is it?
Slave Related
Crime
Death Or Funeral
What keywords are associated?
Slave Revolt
Overseer Murder Attempt
Fredericksburgh Incident
Falmouth Gentlemen
What entities or persons were involved?
William Fitzhugh, Esq.
Overseer
Where did it happen?
Fredericksburgh
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Fredericksburgh
Event Date
Yesterday Forenoon (Reported Jan. 3)
Key Persons
William Fitzhugh, Esq.
Overseer
Outcome
overseer expected to recover; one negro killed by gunshot, another severely wounded, third drowned in river.
Event Details
Negroes refused orders, attacked overseer when he tried to correct them; gentlemen from Falmouth intervened, leading to confrontation.