On This Day in History: 22 November. Edward Teach/”Black Beard,” a pirate was killed by Royal Navy sailors in what is now North Carolina. Piracy posed a grave danger to mariners in the 17th and early 18th Centuries. It also provided opportunities for Anglo-American settlers to get quality merchandise at a discount. I’m publishing this here because I fear piracy by someone with whom I shared early information about this research project.

London, 20 September 1687.  The Royal African Company to Captain John Low. 

“You are desired to have the carrying of the Black boy Charles to his Freinds upon your ship the “St. George” we consent to it (god sending you wel to return) we expect that you take account or give us some other good proofe of his delivery.  He being, as we are Informed sonne to the Messuca of Cabenda who is brother to the King of that Country and is in greatest authority under him whereby hee is able to do us much prejudice or Furtherance in our Trade for which reason is our Desire to please him.  He trusted his sonne to Capt. Seys, but what Instruction he had about more than to deliver him to us we know not, Capt. Seys having Been ill ever since he Came over but we understand by other Masters [NB: ship captains] that have since been on that [West African slave] coast that his father expects him back we have therefore Clothed and sett him out in such Maner as we are advised may be acceptable to his friends w’ch we recommend to your Managem’t soe as may not only be advantageous to your Selfe but allsoe to our futer trade in that place soe wishing you a good voyage.”  

The British Royal African Company ship “Oxford,” Evan Seys commanding, departed London for the African coast on 16 August 1685.  Seys had made two previous slave-trading voyages for the company, commanding the “Swallow” in 1678-1679 and in 1680-1681.  Before this he could have been an officer serving on a slaver, then was promoted to be captain.  I don’t know. 

The “Oxford” loaded 426 slaves at Cabinda, then sailed for Jamaica.  The voyage between Africa and the Caribbean might take six to eight weeks, or much longer if winds and current did not favor the ship.  The composition of the slaves was: 49.6 percent men, 33.2 percent women, 10.8 percent boys, and 6.4 percent girls. 

The “Oxford” arrived at Jamaica on 31 July 1686. It disembarked 369 surviving slaves.  It had been 349 days since it left London. 

NB: So, Charles was in Jamaica during August and September 1686.  What did he see? 

The “Oxford” sailed from Jamaica for London on 6 October 1686.  A normal voyage between Jamaica and London might take twelve or thirteen weeks. 

[NB: so, the “Oxford” could have reached London in December 1686 or January 1687.  What did Charles do between January and September 1687?]   

1. By what route did the boy Charles arrive in London, then return to Cabinda? 
2. Why was he sent on the “Oxford” by his father?  How well did that long voyage fulfill this mission? 
3. Based on what the boy Charles had seen  on his journey, how much information might have been available to one African ruler about the nature of the “Middle Passage”  between Africa and the Caribbean and about the nature of plantation slavery in Jamaica? 
4. Why were the directors of the Royal African Company so concerned about one young African in England?  How concerned are they that he arrive safely home and with a good opinion of the country?  What does this suggest to you about how the slave trade operated on the African coast? 
5. Evan Seys, the captain of the “Oxford,” belonged to an influential and prosperous Welsh family.  He had relatives who were graduates of Oxford University, lawyers, landowners, members of parliament, and sheriffs of their county.  Charles was the nephew of a king and—one might expect—slated for high office in his own country.  Did these two men have more in common than set them apart, or were there differences greater than their social roles?