British Politics

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The slave-ship Creole was part of the 'coastwise' US slave trade, the movement of usually American-born slaves from one part of the US to another by ship.

The Creole was carrying 135 slaves from Richmond, Virginia, to New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the slaves onboard was Madison Washington, who had seemingly already escaped slavery to Canada some years prior and been recaptured*. On 7 November 1841 he led a group of 18 other men in an attack on the crew and passengers, with one passenger - a slave trader - being killed and one slave dying later; they successfully took the ship. One slave, Ben Blacksmith, was aware that there had been previous cases of slaves arriving in the British West Indies being freed upon landing**, so they set sail for the Bahamas.

When the Creole reached Nassau, it was met by the harbour pilot and his crew - all black - who told the slaves they should go ashore at once. The situation was politically delicate and the US Consulate became involved, the Creole and all on board ended up being guarded by a force of local British troops - all black, except for their officer.

Incredibly, the US Consulate then organised an attempt by American sailors to board the ship and sail her out of Nassau; but this was foiled when the approaching sailors were spotted and the black and white British soldiers on Creole threatened to open fire on them.

Afterward, the slaves onboard - apart from the 19 who had rose up - were given the freedom to leave the Creole as free people, with many later taking a paid-for onward journey to Jamaica.

The 19 were held in custody for about 6 months, during which two died, but when their case was heard in Nassau they were found, according to Maritime and British law, to have committed no crime, as persons illegally detained have the right to fight for their freedom.

There was significant outrage in the United States over this loss of property, and a diplomatic rift between the US and Great Britain over this and other incidences led, eventually, to a compensatory agreement - but no individuals were returned to bondage. Sadly, five slaves - all women and children - had remained hidden on Creole, and so were returned to slavery when the Creole was released back to American sailors.

In 1843, in Parliament, Viscount Palmerston asked Her Majesty's Government if, as a result of cases like the Creole, and the diplomatic problems it caused, there was any change to orders for British governors who may encounter such situations, Lord Stanley replied: "there [has been] no deviation from the instructions issued by the late Government. The instructions were, that in case any complaint was made to the British governor, upon credible testimony, that any persons in a British port were detained against their will, it was the duty set forth, to afford such persons relief and protection."
 
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The slave-ship Creole was part of the 'coastwise' US slave trade, the movement of usually American-born slaves from one part of the US to another by ship.

The Creole was carrying 135 slaves from Richmond, Virginia, to New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the slaves onboard was Madison Washington, who had seemingly already escaped slavery to Canada some years prior and been recaptured*. On 7 November 1841 he led a group of 18 other men in an attack on the crew and passengers, with one passenger - a slave trader - being killed and one slave dying later; they successfully took the ship. One slave, Ben Blacksmith, was aware that there had been previous cases of slaves arriving in the British West Indies being freed upon landing**, so they set sail for the Bahamas.

When the Creole reached Nassau, it was met by the harbour pilot and his crew - all black - who told the slaves they should go ashore at once. The situation was politically delicate and the US Consulate became involved, the Creole and all on board ended up being guarded by a force of local British troops - all black, except for their officer.

Incredibly, the US Consulate then organised an attempt by American sailors to board the ship and sail her out of Nassau; but this was foiled when the approaching sailors were spotted and the black and white British soldiers on Creole threatened to open fire on them.

Afterward, the slaves onboard - apart from the 19 who had rose up - were given the freedom to leave the Creole as free people, with many later taking a paid-for onward journey to Jamaica.

The 19 were held in custody for about 6 months, during which two died, but when their case was heard in Nassau they were found, according to Maritime and British law, to have committed no crime, as persons illegally detained have the right to fight for their freedom.

There was significant outrage in the United States over this loss of property, and a diplomatic rift between the US and Great Britain over this and other incidences led, eventually, to a compensatory agreement - but no individuals were returned to bondage. Sadly, five slaves - all women and children - had remained hidden on Creole, and so were returned to slavery when the Creole was released back to American sailors.

In 1843, in Parliament, Viscount Palmerston asked Her Majesty's Government if, as a result of cases like the Creole, and the diplomatic problems it caused, there was any change to orders for British governors who may encounter such situations, Lord Stanley replied: "there [has been] no deviation from the instructions issued by the late Government. The instructions were, that in case any complaint was made to the British governor, upon credible testimony, that any persons in a British port were detained against their will, it was the duty set forth, to afford such persons relief and protection."
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God Bless Britain.

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