From Africa to Jamaica: The Making of an Atlantic Slave Society, 1775-1807

207 Pages·2010·2.41 MB·English

by  Audra A. Diptee

From Africa to Jamaica
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
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From Africa to Jamaica
The Making of an Atlantic Slave Society, 1775–1807
Audra A. Diptee
University Press of Florida
Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton
Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers/Sarasota
Copyright 2010 by Audra A. Diptee
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America. This book is printed on
Glatfelter Natures Book, a paper certified under the standards of
the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). It is a recycled stock that
contains 30 percent post-consumer waste and is acid-free.
First cloth printing, 2010
First paperback printing, 2012
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Diptee, Audra.
From Africa to Jamaica: the making of an Atlantic slave society,
1775–1807/Audra A. Diptee.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-3482-9 (cloth: acid-free paper)
ISBN 978-0-8130-4200-8 (pbk.)
1. Slavery—Jamaica—History 2. Slave trade—Jamaica—History—
18th century. 3. Blacks—Jamaica—History—18th century. I. Title.
HT1096.D56 2010
306.3'620972929–dc22 2010004892
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency
for the State University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M
University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast Uni-
versity, Florida International University, Florida State University,
New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of
Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and
University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611–2079
http://www.upf.com
For D—My friend and hero. For saving me from myself.
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Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
List of Abbreviations xv
Introduction 1
1. The Atlantic Crucible 8
2. “Provided they arrive in health” 25
3. “We took man, woman, and child” 50
4. The Atlantic Crossing 73
5. African Expectations, Jamaican Realities 89
Epilogue 115
Appendix. Thirteen Documents Relating to the Voyage
of the Slave Ship African Queen (July 1792–May 1793) 119
Notes 143
Bibliography 165
Index 179
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Illustrations
Plates
Plate 1.1. African Hospitality 19
Plate 3.1. The Slave Trade 51
Maps
Map 1. The Atlantic Basin xvi
Map 2. Key slaving regions in Africa xvii
Map 3. Jamaican parish boundaries, 1770–1813 xviii
Map 4. Jamaica Point, Sherbro Island (Sierra Leone) 2
Figures
Figure 1.1. African captives purchased for sale in Jamaica, 1701–1808 10
Figure 1.2. Africans forcibly transported to Jamaica, 1775–1808 12
Figure 2.1. Percentage of captive men, women, and children put on
British slave ships, 1776–1800 31
Figure 2.2. Areas of provenance for captives transported to Jamaica,
1776–1808 47
Tables
Table 3.1. Age and Sex of Captives Embarked by Area of Provenance,
1776–1808 54
Table A.1. Captives Transported to Jamaica, 1751–1775 139
Table A.2. Captives Transported to Jamaica, 1776–1808 139