Volume I Part 52 (1/2)
”Agreeable to a Resolve of Court we send to Castle Island and place under your care the following Negroes, viz.:
[19] Men, [10] Women, [5] Children,
lately brought into this Port in the Spanish retaken s.h.i.+p Victoria. The Men are to be employed on the Fortifications there or elsewhere in the Harbor, in the most useful manner, and the Women and Children, according to their ability, in Cooking, Was.h.i.+ng, etc. They are to be allowed for their subsistence One lb. of Beef, and one lb. of Rice per day each, which Commissary Salisbury will furnish upon your order, and this to continue until our further orders.
”_By Order of the Board_.”
In accordance with the order of the Legislature, made on the 24th of June, the president of the Board of War, Samuel P. Savage, wrote a letter to the Ma.s.sachusetts delegates in Congress, dated ”War Office June 29th 1779,” calling attention to the re-captured Negroes. The letter closed with the following:--
”Every necessary for the speedy discharge of these people, we have no doubt you will take, that as much expense as possible may be saved to those who call themselves their owners.”
The writer was at pains to enumerate, in his letter, such slaves as he was enabled to locate.
”5 Men 4 Women 4 Boys 1 Girl belonging to Mr. Wm. Vryne.
”9 Men 1 Woman belonging to Mr. Anthony Pawley.
”1 Man belonging to Mr. Thomas Todd.
”2 Men 3 Women belonging to Mr. Henry Lewis.
”2 Men 2 Women belonging to Mr. William Pawley.
”One of the negroes is an elderly sensible man, calls himself James, and says he is free, which we have no reason to doubt the truth of. He also says that he with the rest of the Negroes were taken from a place called Georgetown.”[598]
Pending the action of the _lawful_ owners of these captives, the council instructed the commandant of Castle Island, Col. Paul Revere, to place out to service, in different towns, some of the Negroes, with the understanding that they should be delivered up to the authorities on their order. Some were delivered to gentlemen who desired them as servants. But in the fall of 1779 quite a number were still on the island, as may be seen by the following touching letter:--
”BOSTON, Oct'r. 12. 1779. A Return of y'e Negroes at Castle Island, Viz.:
”NEGRO MEN.
”1. ANTHONY. 6. BOBB. 11. JUNE.
2. PARTRICK. 7. ANTHONEY. 12. RHOd.i.c.k.
3. PADDE. 8. ADAM. 13. JACK.
4. ISAAC. 9. JACK. 14. FULLER.
5. QUASH. 10. GYE. 15. LEWIS.
”_The above men are stout fellows_.
”NEGRO BOYS.
”No. 1. SMART.
2. RICHARD.
”_Boys very small_.
”NEGRO WOOMEN. NEGRO GIRLS.
”No. 1. KITTEY. No. 1. LYSETT.
2. LUCY. 2. SALLY 3. MILLEY. 3. MERCY.
4. LANDER.