Extract from the journal of Thomas Ludlam, Governer of Sierra Leone

Extract of a journal dated November 19, 1807 by Thomas Ludlam, Governor of Sierra Leone, detailing the arrest of an American slave ship.

Thomas Ludlam (c.1775–1810), colonial governor, was the elder child of William Ludlam, the mathematician and writer on theology. In early life he was apprenticed to a printer, and later joined the Sierra Leone Company. After going out to Africa he became a member of the colony's council and later served as its governor. He retired his governorship when the company's rights were ceded to the British government, and was commissioned to explore the neighbouring coast of Africa. He died on the frigate Crocodile at Sierra Leone on 25 July 1810.

Source: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Accessed: 29/01/08

The incident documented in this extract arose when the slave ship, named Triton had attempted to dupe local natives on board with promises of rum, only then to kidnap them into slavery. Captain Bradford was not committing an offence under American law at this time, and Ludlam was left in an invidious position, knowing that he had no real jurisdiction over a foreign national, but fearing savage reprisals from the local native population if he was not seen to act decisively. In view of this Ludlam decided to apply the newly created British law to the incident - but this due process raises disturbing details as to exactly how the abolition of slavery was actually handled both by the authorities and by the native populations themselves. Two local people died in the incident - but Ludlam states that under their native law, the punishment was a fine - payable to them - of three slaves, a puncheon of rum and a little gunpowder for each. He adds : '…I had little scruple about taking slaves from Bradford, but I was very unwilling to deliver them to the natives who might sell them again immediately…' Even more disturbing is a passage dealing with the release of the slaves, and in particular a boy named Peter who originated from the neighbourhood. When he was informed that he now had the opportunity to go back to his own country : '…he replied that he would not leave the colony or trouble himself about his relations 'even if any one should curse his mother' - a stranger expression a native could not use, but it seems some of his own family had sold him. ' In another passage he states that one of the other boys was sold into slavery by his grandfather 'for a puncheon of rum'. Given the general criticism of Britain and its involvement in the slave trade in this particular incident the British emerge with great credit and humanity against a local native population, ruled by local Kings such as 'King George' who were a heavily involved in the slave trade as the white slavers themselves. The Brig 'The Triton' appears to have had a considerably long association with slaving. It is listed as having been intercepted by the American ship 'The Constitution' in 1799 and again in 1861.

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