{"id":942,"date":"2022-01-12T15:21:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T15:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/?page_id=942"},"modified":"2022-01-12T16:27:17","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T16:27:17","slug":"the-trial-of-samuel-sharpe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/the-trial-of-samuel-sharpe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Trial of Samuel Sharpe"},"content":{"rendered":"

These are notes of the testimony and verdict in the trial of Samuel Sharpe at a Special Slave Court held in Montego Bay on 19 April 1832.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sharpe stood accused of being a principal leader in an insurrection.<\/em><\/p>\n

Witnesses appear to have been examined by George Crawford Ricketts, the Clerk of the Peace, who was responsible for overseeing the work of the court and arranging and preserving a record of its proceedings. Ricketts was a white slaveholder.<\/em><\/p>\n

William Stanford Grignon, a local white slaveholder and plantation manager as well as a lawyer, cross examined the witnesses.<\/em><\/p>\n

Magistrates John Coates, Robert Thomas Downer, and Henry Augustus Plummer presided over the trial and decided the verdict. All three were white men. Coates and Downer were slaveholders with large properties in the Parish of St James. Plummer was son of one of the biggest plantation owners in the district.<\/em><\/p>\n

The court identified Samuel Sharpe\u2019s \u2018owner\u2019: an homonymous white attorney at law from the parish of St James who was also a middling slaveholder, claiming possession of twenty-three enslaved people in 1832.<\/em><\/p>\n

The court found Sharpe guilty. He was executed on 23 May 1832.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The original source for this transcription may be found at The National Archives, Kew, England: CO137, vol. 182 at f.373<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saint James. The King against Samuel Sharpe. Copy evidence at the trial and the Sentence. Exd. Geo. C. Ricketts C.P.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Part of the original document from which this transcription was made, held at The National Archives, Kew, CO137, vol. 182.<\/p><\/div>\n

Jamaica SS<\/p>\n

Saint James<\/p>\n

The King against Samuel Sharpe \u2013 a slave to Samuel Sharpe Esquire<\/p>\n

Evidence at Trial<\/p>\n

19th<\/sup> day of April 1832<\/p>\n

Joseph Martin a Mulatto Slave to Philip Anglin Scarlett Esqre sworn<\/p>\n

Knows prisoner. Saw him at Retrieve. Saw him there Friday week before Xmas, this was the only time he saw him there \u2013 It was at a meeting there & I saw him swear the people, it was at night and they were all slaves \u2013 the meeting was at Tucker\u2019s House \u2013 there was a great many people there \u2013 Prisoner swore me amongst the rest he said we were to be free & after Xmas we were to go to Work he said nothing else \u2013 he (prisr.) swore all the rest of the people \u2013 Saw Sharpe afterwards at Cambridge, he came there often \u2013 saw him there Tuesday in Xmas \u2013 he went to George Bird\u2019s House \u2013 saw him also at the meeting house at Cambridge \u2013 did not see him swear the people there \u2013 he had prayers only \u2013 saw prisoner with a party on Thursday after Xmas \u2013 about 20 men \u2013 more than half of them had guns some had macheats & some lances & swords \u2013 prisoner had a little macheat the party always followed him, & he gave orders to them \u2013 the party met on the cross road by Hazelymph \u2013 they then went on towards Ginger Hill \u2013 I went with them when we were on the road Sharpe told me they had sent to call him at Ginger Hill \u2013 that they wanted help \u2013 when we got to Ginger Hill Sharpe told me we were to go on to Ipswitch [sic] \u2013 we were going on and when we got part of the way, it began to rain & we turned back Sharpe went to Content where he has a Wife & I went to Master\u2019s Mountain \u2013 the day after, Sharpe came to Cambridge by himself \u2013 about two days after this Sharpe went with a party to Cowpark \u2013 6 or 7 men walked with him from Cambridge \u2013 a large party met at Cowpark, Gardner came there also with his party \u2013 they slep\u2019d there that night \u2013 next day Sharpe went with his party to Struie \u2013 when we got there they said a party of militia were coming to burn down the negro\u2019s houses \u2013 Gardiner\u2019s [sic] party had gone on to Struie the night before \u2013 Sharpe\u2019s party and the others fired at the militia \u2013 saw one of the men chop a white man and kill him & I heard that another one was shot \u2013 Sharpe commanded the party he went with to Struie \u2013 he had only macheat \u2013 Gardner commanded his own party \u2013 Sharpe returned to Cambridge the same day with his party where they separated \u2013 & Sharpe went home \u2013 Sharpe had a fowling piece at Cambridge.<\/p>\n

Xexd. by Mr Grignon.<\/p>\n

The first place I saw Sharpe was at Retrieve \u2013 did not see any other person swear the people but Sharpe \u2013 he had the Book read it and gave it to them \u2013 he gave them the Book and said they must take their oath not to work after Xmas unless they know what they are to work for \u2013 never heard Sharpe called Captain \u2013 has heard Gardner called Colonel \u2013 when we returned from Struie we came round by Hazelymph.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

James Clarke, a negro slave to same owner<\/p>\n

Sworn. Says he knows prisoner \u2013 saw him coming through an interval of a cane piece at Cambridge about a week after Xmas & he went towards Ducketts \u2013 he told me he was going to war & going to fight and he asked me to go with him & I said I can\u2019t go he said he was going up Whittingham\u2019s way to Struie to fight white man \u2013 he had a short pistol & walked before and the party followed him \u2013 half of the party had guns & the others had lances and macheats \u2013 the next day in the afternoon they returned by Hazelymph way to Cambridge \u2013 he said he went to Struie and had had a battle there \u2013 they had fired at white man there & the white man ran & they ran after him and chopped him & killed him \u2013 the next morning the party eat breakfast at George Reid\u2019s at Cambridge and after Breakfast Sharpe called all his men and said freedom was due to them a long time & they must now seek and fight for it, and the one that fell back when they went to battle, the others must shoot him \u2013 some of the people called him Mr Sharpe and others Sam Sharpe.<\/p>\n

Xexd by Mr Grignon<\/p>\n

He called me the day he was going to Struie to go with him, and I said I cut my foot and my pickenniny [de?] with me & I can\u2019t go \u2013 is sure he saw Sharpe with a pistol.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Robert Rose \u2013 a negro slave to same owner<\/p>\n

Sworn. Knows prisoner \u2013 recollects seeing him at Retrieve before Xmas \u2013 met him there many times at prayers \u2013 first night at Johnson\u2019s House & the next night at Tucker\u2019s House which is a larger one than Johnson\u2019s there was a large party at both meetings \u2013 after prayers I took the oath at the two houses \u2013 Saml Sharpe put the Book on the table & asked me if I will take it & I said yes \u2013 he said we must all agree to sit down after Xmas \u2013 I said yes \u2013 and so did every body in the house say yes \u2013 he said we must sit down we must not trouble any body, and raise no rebellion we must sit quite peaceable \u2013 I took the oath and every body in the house did the same \u2013 after Xmas I did sit down \u2013 we did not swear to burn any where or to fight \u2013 I set down all Wednesday & all Thursday after Xmas \u2013 I saw Sharpe at Cambridge Xmas night he eat supper at George Reid\u2019s \u2013 next day he went away to Content & George Reid\u2019s and myself went with him \u2013 We came back the same evening to Cambridge \u2013 I saw him again on Thursday \u2013 he was walking with a crowd of people \u2013 half had guns & half had macheats & lance \u2013 Sharpe had a cutlass \u2013 Sharpe went with the party to Ginger Hill \u2013 they said I must go with them \u2013 that the people there sent to call them \u2013 we went to Ginger Hill & when we got there the people there said the white people were coming to murder & they had sent for Sharpe and his party to help them move away the things \u2013 We met a party at Ginger Hill & they wanted us to go to a neighbouring estate Ispswitch [sic] \u2013 we did not go but returned to Content that evening & slep\u2019d there \u2013 next morning I went to Master\u2019s Mountain & left Sharpe at Content \u2013 2 or 3 days after Sharpe came to Cambridge by himself \u2013 saw him another day come through Cambridge with some people \u2013 near 20 \u2013 some had fire arms & some macheats and lances \u2013 can\u2019t say if Sharpe had a gun that day \u2013 saw him one day with a gun \u2013 he did not ask me to go with him that day \u2013 I went with him another day with a party to Cowpark \u2013 all armed as before \u2013 we slep\u2019d at Cowpark that night \u2013 next day we went to Struie & had a fight there with the white people and killed a white man \u2013 they were riding \u2013 the party then came away down to Hazelymph & came home to Cambridge \u2013 Sharpe came with me \u2013 saw Gardner at Struie \u2013 Sharpe directed the party I was with \u2013 Sharpe had a fowling piece at Struie \u2013 Sharpe was with the party I met at Retrieve \u2013 Thursday after Xmas I went to Retrieve & met a party there at the negro houses middle of the day \u2013 they were all armed & Sharpe with them \u2013 the party marched down towards Hazelymph & Sharpe marched with them till he catch at Cambridge & he and I went through Cambridge \u2013 I stopped to endeavour to put out a fire at the overseer\u2019s kitchen \u2013 Sharpe went on & I followed him & met him coming back with half of the party \u2013 these were the same party I went with to Ginger Hill.<\/p>\n

XExd by Mr Grignon<\/p>\n

Did not see any white people at Ginger Hill \u2013 Sharpe & Gardner each commanded their own party at Struie \u2013 Edwd Barrett was not at Retrieve the day we were sworn \u2013 Sharpe swore the whole.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

James Stirling \u2013 a mulatto slave to the same owner.<\/p>\n

Sworn. Says he knows prisoner. Saw him at Retrieve \u2013 he gave me an oath not to work after Xmas \u2013 other persons were in the house before I went \u2013 saw Sharpe at Cambridge on the day of the fight at Montpelier \u2013 I went with him to Ginger Hill that evening \u2013 he said they sent to call him up there \u2013 next day we were going to Ipswitch & the rain came & we returned back \u2013 I went afterwards with Sharpe to Struie \u2013 he had a battle there & said they killed two white men. Sharpe commanded the party he went with \u2013 Sharpe had a gun but did not see him fire it \u2013 saw Sharpe at Cambridge at a meeting \u2013 it was prayer meeting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edward Barrett \u2013 to Seven Rivers Estate<\/p>\n

Sworn. Says he knows Sam Sharpe the Prisr. met him at Hazelymph \u2013 went there one night \u2013 a week before Xmas to get some came liquor \u2013 I went to Zinck\u2019s House & saw 4 men come in besides Sharpe \u2013 one was Robert Rose, & one Joe Martin \u2013 Sharpe said we must sit down, we free & we must not work again unless we get half pay \u2013 he brought a Bible with him \u2013 he took it out & swear us all that we won\u2019t work again till we get half pay.<\/p>\n

XExd by Mr Grignon<\/p>\n

Is quite sure Sharpe was the man \u2013 he had the Bible in his hand & make us kiss it all round \u2013 he said we must set down & do nothing at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edward Hilton \u2013 A negro slave to Mountain Spring.<\/p>\n

Sworn. Remember seeing Sharpe at Cowpark came there with a party all armed \u2013 Sharpe had a short gun \u2013 saw him come up \u2013 he put all the others before & he was behind \u2013 he commanded them & they did as he told them \u2013 they called him (Sharpe) Schoolmaster \u2013 the party went to Struie next morning before day to fight the soldiers coming from Westmorland, and they laid in ambush for the company \u2013 Sharpe told we all, we going to get free \u2013 he sent Edward Ramsay to Thomas Reid at Mahony to swear all the people \u2013 they killed a cow and a sheep for Sharpe\u2019s party at Cowpark.<\/p>\n

XExd. I was with no party \u2013 Gardner came to Cowpark \u2013 he came there about 3 times \u2013 it was after the Rebellion began after Xmas \u2013 I was not with the party that killed the white man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

John Davis \u2013 a negro slave to Doctr. Edwd. I Spence.<\/p>\n

Sworn. Says Sharpe placed all his men in ambush at Struie & he gave them orders when he saw the company was coming from Hitchpool \u2013 Sharpe commanded the party & was head man \u2013 his party killed the white man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2013 Case closed on the part of the Crown \u2013<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Evidence called in Defence<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

George Reid \u2013 a slave to Phillip A Scarlett Esquire<\/p>\n

Sworn. Went to Ginger Hill with Sam Sharpe did not see Crawford there \u2013 does not know him \u2013 was at the meeting at Retrieve does not recollect ever having seen Edward Barrett there \u2013 never saw him administer any oaths.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ann Thomas \u2013 a negro slave to Ginger Hill<\/p>\n

Sworn. Knows Sam Sharpe was at Ginger Hill when he came up there with his party.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Copy sentence<\/p>\n

The king against Samuel Sharpe<\/p>\n

Tried and found guilty the 19th<\/sup> day of April 1832<\/p>\n

Sentence. That the said negro man slave named Samuel Sharpe be taken from hence to the place from whence he came and from thence to the place of execution, at such time and place as shall be appointed by His Excellency the Governor and there to be hanged by the neck until he be dead.<\/p>\n

Valued by the jury at the sum of sixteen pounds ten shillings current money of Jamaica<\/p>\n

(signed) Jno Coates<\/p>\n

(\u201c) Robert Thos Downer<\/p>\n

(\u201c) H A Plummer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are notes of the testimony and verdict in the trial of Samuel Sharpe at a Special Slave Court held in Montego Bay on 19 April 1832. Sharpe stood accused of being a principal leader in an insurrection. Witnesses appear to have been examined by George Crawford Ricketts, the Clerk of the Peace, who was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57440,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-942","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57440"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=942"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":953,"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942\/revisions\/953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/slaveryandrevolution\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}