Deposition of Phineas Dean
7/14/1803
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In this court document, Phineas Dean describes the people and behavior aboard the ship Charming Sally. Dean explains that he saw the schooner on the Coast of Africa flying the French flag but that the captain, William Robbins, was American. He also describes that a Mrs. Johnson, the widow of Captain Johnson who had died on the Coast of Africa, mistreated the enslaved people on the ship, including kicking and shackling them.
The marshal and deputies in Massachusetts had been ordered to arrest and take into custody the Charming Sally and her cargo. The ship was being seized for "transportation of slaves contrary to law." An act of Congress passed in 1800 made it illegal for American citizens to engage in the slave trade between any nations, regardless of if the ship originated in the United States or was owned by a U.S. citizen. It also gave U.S. authorities the right to seize slave ships which were caught transporting slaves and to confiscate their cargo.
The marshal and deputies in Massachusetts had been ordered to arrest and take into custody the Charming Sally and her cargo. The ship was being seized for "transportation of slaves contrary to law." An act of Congress passed in 1800 made it illegal for American citizens to engage in the slave trade between any nations, regardless of if the ship originated in the United States or was owned by a U.S. citizen. It also gave U.S. authorities the right to seize slave ships which were caught transporting slaves and to confiscate their cargo.
Transcript
I Phineas Dean residing in Boston in the County of Suffolk Marinor, testify and say, that I was at the Island of Goree in February last past which Island is on the Coast of Africa, and when I was there, I saw at that place the Schooner Charming Sally and she is the same Vessel which I have this day seen in the Harbour of Boston and now lies at Mill Creek Wharf - the said Schooner was, when I first saw her at Goree, under French Colours, and I went onboard said Schooner, and there saw Captain William Robbins who said he was Master of said Schooner, and I understood him to be an American - and I also saw onboard said Schooner a person by the Name of George Horn, and he appeared to Act as Mate, but whether he was in that capacity or not I know not - and I saw a number of Slaves on board said Schooner, but how many there were on board at that time I cannot tel - and I think said Schooner is not far from one hundred Tons Burthen the had no [illegible] her [illegible] in Africa - And I saw onboard said Schooner at Goree Mrs Johnson, widow of a Captain Johnson who died on the Coast of Africa some [crossed out word] time before I was onboard said Vessell - and while I was onboard, I saw her kick two of the naked slaves that were handcuffed, and the she damned them –and I heard her give directions to some sailors to put some the slaves in Irons, that were without them - and I heard her say to some of the slaves that were in Irons that, they would not come out of Irons again very soon - And I understood she was owner of the said Vessel, which she appeared to be, from her behavior onboard - Phineas Dean
Question by Mr Blake - Where near you Born?
Answer - In the town of Bedford in the County of Middlesex in this State - Phineas Dean
July 14 - 1803 -
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk on the fourteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three, Phineas Dean the aforesaid Deponent was carefully examined and duly cautioned to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and made solemn Oath that the foregoing Deposition by him [illegible] in time - taken at the request of Isaac Sherman of Boston in said County [illegible] to be used int he trial of a Libel at the District Court of the United States next to be holden at Salem in and for the District of Massachusetts District [crossed out words] on he Second Tuesday of September next - which Libel then & there to be tried [illegible] is filed in
Said Court by Isaac Sherman aforesaid against the Schooner Charming Sally - Not knowing any person or persons having the Agency [illegible] interested in the said Schooner or their Agent or Attorney living within one hundred miles of the place of Caption and not knowing any person or persons interested in the event of the trial of said Libel or their Attorney, within one hundred miles of said place, no individual person was notified of the time and place of the taking of this Caption, sent a notification directed to all persons concerned or interested in the property of the said Schooner, was duly left onboard said Schooner by the Deputy Marshal of said District which notification gave timely notice of the time and place & intention of this Caption - but no person interested appeared - The said Deponent being bound on a Voyage to Sea in the Cause of taking of this Deposition - taken [illegible] before me an in my hand writing -
[illegible] Judge of the Court of Common Pleas -
Notification and Summons
[illegible] of Notification and Summons
Deponents Attendance
taking & returning Deposition
Caption and direction $2.00
[written sideways on right, the top when paper is folded]
Phineas Dean [illegible]
Sherman 1803
Charming Sally
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 6803894
Full Citation: Deposition of Phineas Dean; 7/14/1803; Sherman, Isaac v. Charming Sally, Schooner; Case Files, 1790 - 1917; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives at Boston, Waltham, MA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/deposition-dean, May 11, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.