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Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Mr. Stewart, former mate of a Savannah brig under Capt. Clark, arrived in Newburyport on April 18, 1785, reporting their 1784 capture by Algerine corsairs near Gibraltar. The crew was enslaved in Algiers, subjected to brutal labor and treatment, and later ransomed by their owners.
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Last Saturday evening came to this town a Mr. Stewart, formerly mate of a brig belonging to Savannah, Captain Clark, commander, who informs, that they took in cargo of Tobacco at Alexandria in Virginia, in 1784, bound therewith into the Mediterranean. Soon after they had passed Gibraltar, they were surrounded by three Algerine Corsairs, who took possession of their vessel and cargo, stripped the Master, mate and seamen of every article of cloathing and effects, and gave them in lieu thereof, a frock and pair of Trowsers. They were soon landed at Algiers, and immediately conducted to the Castle and put to hard labour, without distinction, and upon a pitiful allowance of only half a pint of Rice per day -- no bread nor meat, unless when they were allowed to take the inwards of Creatures which were killed. After having remained several months at hard labour in the Castle, they were brought forth to a public sale, when their purchasers, besides otherwise treating them in the most brutal manner, slit open an ear of each man, at the same time continuing the stroke across the cheek.
Being thus marked, they were put on board the galleys and chained to the oars, where they remained, until relieved by their generous and humane owners, who remitted a sum of money to Leghorn, equal to their purchase, being 300 Louis d'ors for the Captain, 60 for the Mate and 30 for each Seaman.
The labor and fatigue, with their scanty allowance and severe usage, were so much, as to make them wish for death, rather than life. A cow skin was freely exercised upon them without discrimination, and often without provocation, by their renegadoes, who served also as interpreters for the Algerines, but would not deign to look on them. Mr. Stewart left the crews of several vessels behind him, whose only hope of redemption rests on the exertions of Congress. He informs, that the Captains of those crews were more fortunate than Capt. Clark, owing to the humanity of the French and
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Newburyport
Event Date
Last Saturday Evening [Before April 18, 1785]; Incident In 1784
Key Persons
Outcome
crew stripped, enslaved, marked by ear slits, subjected to hard labor and whipping; ransomed by owners (300 louis d'ors for captain, 60 for mate, 30 per seaman); no deaths reported
Event Details
Brig from Savannah, Capt. Clark, loaded with tobacco from Alexandria, VA, in 1784, bound for Mediterranean; captured by three Algerine corsairs after Gibraltar; crew landed at Algiers, imprisoned, sold at auction, galley slaves until ransomed via Leghorn; Mr. Stewart arrived in Newburyport to report, leaving other crews behind hoping for Congress aid