The Virginia Gazette Domestic News May 13, 1737

Boston, March 15. We have an Account from Antigua, That there has been 60 Negroes executed there, on Account of their late Conspiracy; that many of the Executions were by Burning, and the Rack, which many of them endured with Obduracy. Four of these Wretches were hung up on Gibbets in Irons, in a Quadrangle, so that they cou'd see and speak to one another; and they blamed themselves for not putting their intended Design in Execution sooner: One of these was taken down, on his Promise of making great Discoveries, after he had endured his Torments to the Seventh Day; but when he was nurs'd up, was as stubborn as ever; and for that Reason suffered a second Time. Among those that were burnt, there was one Grey with Age, that had but one Leg. The Number of those yet to be tried, may be partly conjectur'd; for there were Forty odd confin'd on Board of Capt. Sutliff's Vessel, for want of Prison room. One of those miserable Creatures, during his Confinement, by some Means or other got a Knife; but being handcuff'd and pinion'd so as not able to come at his Throat, stabb'd himself in 7 or 8 Places; but the Pain of his Wounds caus'd him to make some unusual Noise, whereby he was discover'd, and immediately brought to the Wheel and broke. On the Day of Capt. Davis's Departure, Two Free Negros were brought to their Trial, whose Estates are suppos'd to be worth 2000 l. each. The People are much harass'd with Watching; for it comes to every White Man's Turn to be on his Guard, and exercise his Arms, once in 4 Days.

By the Report of the Gentlemen appointed by the Governor and Council of Antigua, to examine into the Affair of the said Conspiracy, it appears, That after the Execution of 12 of the chief Conspirators, frequent Saturday Nights Meetings of great Numbers of Conspirators, had been for a great while held at several Places; and that by drinking a Health in Rum, or some other Liquors, mixt with Grave Dirt, and sometimes Cocks-blood infus'd, an Oath of Secrecy and Fidelity had been taken by many Hundred Slaves, whereof the Words were various; but the Tenor was to stand by and be true to each other, and to kill the Whites, Man, Woman, and Child; to assist in the Execution of this when called upon by the Chiefs, and to suffer Death, rather than discover.