Henrietta Marie an Introduction to the First Slaver Studied in the New World

EPL L - Henrietta Marie An Introduction to the First Slaver Studied in the New World

" By David D. Moore ";:: rJVIE remains of a small mer J. chant-slaver were located in the Florida Keys during the summer of 1972 by Armada i~ Research, Inc., a wholly-owned . ~ subsidiary of Treasure Salvors, Inc., of Key West. The group found. the wreck on New GroUlld Reef approximately 12 miles northwest of the Mar-, quesas Keys, while searching for remnants of the sunken Spanish galleon Nuestra Se nora de Atocha. Under the ex ploration lease issued by the state of Florida, the company was only allowed to investigate the site visually until a salvage lease could be obtained. Initial Examination Although examination of various artifacts indicated that > the wreck was probably ofEng - .c <, .~ ... lish origin rather than Span . ,..~ .: :. ~~~']?r-- ' ~;~ .:/ ::;~~;;~ -.!:':1_ ~ ~ . : ~ .' ~- ~~~~ : ..... ' t. ish, Armada Research re Bronze bell recovered from the Henrietta Marie. turned the following summer with the proper lease and exca shackles. In fact, research has That date coincided perfectly vated the site for approximate indicated that the recovered wi th the dated pewterware and ly two weeks recovering nu i terns of pewterware were actu more importantly the ship merous artifacts. Among these · ally cargo and originally des wreck now had an identity. artifacts were large amounts of tined to be traded for slaves on Historical research ' under pewterware. Some of this pew the Guinea coast of Mrica. taken in England shortly ter, including large bowls, tan Work Resumed thereafter did indeed indicate kards, bottles, and spoons, had The slaver lay virtually un a vessel by the name Henrietta maker's touchmarks stamped disturbed and largely forgotten Marie engaged in the African on them which have been for a decade. Then Neptune Ex slave trade. Hired by Taylor. traced to several artisans in plorations, an historical re English historian and re London, England, and dating search and underwater explo searcher Peter Earle searched between 1694 and 1702. This ration group under the numerous sources before locat tentatively identified the ves direction of Henry M. Taylor, ing the vessel in the Jamaican sel as being of English origin Ill, subcontracted with Treas shipping returns. The Henriet and probably sailing during ure Salvors, Inc., and resumed ta Marie had left London in the late Seventeenth Century. work on the site in June, 1983. September, 1699, traded her Furthermore, and of even On the third trip to the site, cargo for slaves in Africa, and greater interest, the vesseJ had the ship's bronze bell was locat sailed to J amaica. She was now been engaged in the African ed and recovered. The light homeward bound for England slave trade. This was indicated marine growth and calcareous in June, 1700, with a cargo of 0: by the recovery of several ivory concretions encrusting the bell sugar, indigo, cotton, and log tusks or "elephant teeth," were carefully removed reveal wood. thousands of trade beads, and ing a startling sight: "THE The date on the bell would numerous sets of leg and arm HENRIETTA MARIE 1699". seem to indicate that this w a ~ I~ ~J L?) S EAF A RERS, V OL. I 199 jIii

her maiden voyage. However, more recent historical research tells us that the Henrietta Ma Tie made at least one earlier voyage through Barbados in July, 1698, suggesting that her bell had been replaced, and possibly lending evidence of a refit or overhaul of the vessel. Neptune Explorations opted not to undertake any addition: al work on the site the follow the site was ::.. ing summer and again left to the elements. However, during the fall of _ 1,984, Joseph Anton "Tony" Kopp, a Swiss-born salvor, be came interested in the Henri etta Marie and subcontracted with Treasure Salvors, Inc., to continue the archaeological salvage and recovery oper ations that were initiated the year before. Kopp's group worked on the site for approxi mately two months revealing a second cannon and large sec tions of articulated ship's structure. Both the cannon and ) hull structure, while originally of the Henrietta Marie stem remains, include the sternpost (foreground View extends located in 1973, had eluded the and rising keelson running forward from it. The starboard 'fashionpiece' from the stempost. 1983 expedition. right IPhoto by David Moore, Treasure Salvors, Inc. Cl 198"

View of starboard framing compo nents includes one second futtock and 'fashionpiece.' The 'fashionpiece' has two notches cut to receive the first and second tran som timbers.

200 SEAFARERS, VOL. I v The artifacts recovered from the Henrietta Marie represent a wide variety and large cross section of late Seventeenth Century shipboard furnishings and slave trade merchandise. Many of the artifacts are indic ative of the different "legs" or routes taken by the vessel while engaged in the transat lantic triangular trade system. The first leg of the Henrietta Marie's voyage from London to Africa is aptly represented by the pewter, trade beads, and guns. These items were identi fied as cargo through examina tion of manifests and accounts of slaving vessels operating during the same period as the Henrietta Marie. Many of the Pewterware set assemblage pewter bowls were recovered {Photo by David Moorc, Treasure Salvors, Inc. ~ 198 41 still stacked (17 in one in stance) with remnants of paper and straw packing material be tween each one. Such large amounts of pew terware were recovered from the site that it was confusing at first. But the journal from an other slaver may have given us a clue as to why our vessel had so much of this cargo left after a trip to the African coast. A slaver named the Albion Frig ate, also from London, sailed Pewter plate touchmarks for Africa in January, 1699, ap {Photo by David Moore, Treasure Salvors, Inc. 0 19841 proximately eight months be fore the Henrietta Marie. Marie probably ran into the ing to London pewterers James Barbot, the vessel's su same trading conditions that George Hammond, Thomas percargo or person in charge of the Albion had earlier in the Winchcombe, and Joseph slaving operations, kept an ac year, perhaps explaining why Hodges. count which mentions that so much pewterware has been There have been at least two there was little demand at that recovered from the si te and not sizes (one and two quart) of particular time among the na so much as one manila. pewter tankards recovered tives for certain items, to wit, Pewterware with two different style lids, cc ••• objected against ... Of all the pewterware recov thumbpieces, and denticula wrought pewter ...our basons, ered from the site, the predomi tions, which seems to indicate tankards, yellow beads ... nant type is the bowl or "Guin two different artisans. Unfor g u green beads ... " They chose ea bason." Con temporary tunately, there are no touch E instead the brass or copper manifests indicate that these marks visible, only "hall rings called manilas that were "basons" were produced in one, marks" on the lids and these worn around the legs and two, three, and four-pound have not been positively iden arms. It is reasonable to as sizes, of which the three and tified. A few tankards in the sume that two privately owned four-pounders are represented state of Florida's possession slavers registered in the same in the Henrietta Marie's as were tentatively identified as port would naturally tend to semblage. Intelligible touch being produced by William Ed trade at the same locations marks on the rim bottoms of don, but this has not been sub along Africa's Guinea coast. It some of the better examples stantiated. would seem that the Henrietta have been identified as belong- Some of the more interesting

SEAFARERS, VOL. I 201 pewter objects located on the Unfortunately the jug bears no served all of these functions. shipwreck site are bottles touchmark, but appears to be Several examples of small which bear a slight resem of the same style (bearing simi lead mirror or picture frames blance to the common dark lar concentric circles) as the have been recovered from the glass "onion" bottles dating previously described un site. Various manifests indi from this period. Though all of touched pewter bottle which cate that mirrors or "looking the pewter bottles appear to be seems to suggest the same arti glasses" were carried by the the same size and shape hold san. dozens for trading purposes ing slightly more than one The pewter plates (nine-inch and so it is probable that the quart of liquid, there are actu diameter) which have been re Henrietta Marie was also car ally two separate styles repre covered could have been cargo, rying them. sented. One style is slightly (118 but more probably belonged in Perhaps the most common

, ; " inch) taller than the other, has· the captain's quarters. Both type of slave trading merchan , ,' no touchmark, and bears plates were well used with nu dise are the many styles, sizes, !.::: ;.! etched concentric circles merous knife cuts provoking and colors of beads that the Af I'~' around its body in various loca some interesting studies into rican natives prized very high tions. The slightly smaller ver the eating habits aboard ves ly. All slave ships carried an sions are stamped with the sels. The plates also bear both abundance of these beads and touchmark of John Emmes, an the "hallmarks" and the touch this vessel was no exception. other London pewterer. All of marks of Joseph Bodges as Several thousand trade beads the bottles recovered to date well as a "London and Crowned have been located and recov ha ve been empty, some Rose" secondary mark. The ered from the site. Some have crushed, and with no apparent most interesting marks, how been found encrusted to var seal. They may have been used ever, are the initials "HM" ious other artifacts, but the for spirits of some type as alco which ordinarily would indi majority have been found scat holic beverages were in great cate the plate's owner, but in tered throughout an area en demand on the African coast, this case suggests' the name of compassing approximately 75 particularly by the tribal the vessel. square feet. Most are composed chiefs. Ongoing research has Other Finds of glass and colored blue, yet to reveal a comparable ex Additional slave trade goods white, yellow, or green with a ample and so they remain a recovered from the Henrietta few larger striped varieties rarity. However, it is possible Marie include several muskets commonly called "Gooseber that they are the "Guinea and two sizes of brass blunder ries." Recalling Barbot's jour Juggs with Corks," mentioned buss or musketoon barrels. The nal and his statements con in the accounts of the slaving barrels have maker's marks, cerning the Albion's trading vessel King Solomon (ca.1720). but have not yet been identi difficulties, it is interesting to Perhaps the most exciting fied as to their maker or origin. note that approximately three pewter discovery on the Henri Several swords or cutlasses fourths of the recovered beads etta Marie was a large two gal have also been excavated. have been either green or yel lon capacity jug with spout and While commonly· carried for low, lending additional evi two handles. A threaded pew slave trading purposes, both dence that the Henrietta Marie ter top recovered the year be firearms and swords could experienced the same pro b fore fits this container perfect have belonged to the vessel for lems. ly. Interestingly, the log of the defensi ve purposes or for the Perhaps the most indicative i '. slaver Hannibal (from London, suppression of on-board slave of all the artifacts excavated on 1693) mentions, "The goods revolts. It is probable that they the Henrietta Marie are the they most covet are pewter ba sons, ... and large screw'd pew ter jugs, which they did much affect." Even more interesting European trade beads were prized was the fact that, when recov by the African ered, the jug contained 72 pew 'tribesmen during ter spoons bearing the bust of the Seventeenth William III (reigned 1689- and Eighteenth Centuries. 1702) and stamped with the IPho t o by Dav id M oo re, touchmark of Stephen Bridges Treas ure Sal\'u rs, In c . C , "' 19841 (London). An additional num ber of these "Royal Portrait" spoons have been recovered from different areas of the site.

202 SEAFARERS, VOL. I many sets of iron leg and arm lutely essential for the every to the pointer or needle and an shackles used to manacle the day operation of the ship. All associated gimble ring. slaves during the "Middle Pas wooden sailing vessels leaked Hull Timbers sage" or the second leg of the no matter how well-built or The majority of the 1983 sea voyage from the Guinea coast tightly caulked their seams son was spent redefining the to the West Indies. A large were. When water collected in wreck site'and locating and re number of these shackles will the bilge or bottom of the vessel covering surface scattered arti usually indicate that a ship it had to be removed as quickly facts utilizing a prop-wash de was involved in the slave and efficiently as possible, flector and underwater metal trade. In addition to the recov hence a bilge pump or series of detectors. Detectors were not ery of shackles and trade goods pumps depending on the size of used in 1972 and 1973 and con and the historical research the ship. The upper section of sequently many artifacts re made possible by the discovery one of the vessel's bilge pumps mained undetected over much of the ship's bell, we have fur was located and recovered in of the site. Near the end of the ther evidence that the Henriet 1983. While it is not altogether 1983 season, scattered and dis ta Marie had been in Africa. In rare to find evidence of pumps articulated timbers began ap addition to slaves and perhaps on shipwrecks, it is fortunate pearing in the search patterns gel~dust when available, slav to be able to examine first hand that were being conducted in ers were instructed to obtain as the actual mechanical oper the southeastern quadrant of much ivory as they could af ation of the pump from the the site. Before the weather be ford. These "elephant teeth" Henrietta Marie. came too rough to work, sever brought high profits back in The other indispensible item al representative timbers were England and the Henrietta needed by the Henrietta Marie recovered for closer examina Marie had a small portion on and recovered at the site was tion and analysis including an board when she sank. the ship's compass. Though intact frame component and a The only artifactual evi slightly crushed, the brass section of planking. However, dence indicative of the vessel's compass bowl with putty and no articulated structure was last leg from the West Indies to glass fragments embedded observed before the season England are numerous exam within was located in addition ended. ples of dyewood or logwood, a: commonly used as a red dye "'~ g stuff. This wood was normally u harvested around the Yucatan .: -- -- ~. region of Mexico and shipped to c ~ Jamaica and other islands for Vl ~ eventual sale and transport ~ ~ back to Europe. The other car f-o ~- go items listed as being carried . ~ I ::;: by this vessel, cotton, indigo, 0; >. and sugar, were readily perish A ""c able and probably disintegrat . ~ ed shortly after the vessel 1-1 •- , 9. broke up. -1\1 In addition to the many arti facts associated with actual slave trading practices that have been recovered from the wreck of the Henrietta Marie, many representative items of ship's furnishings and fittings have also been excavated. Of 1-1 . , course the most significant N HENRIETT A MARIE artifact recovered was the 8 Mo 130 ship's bell which gave us an ex act date and the vessel's name. Pump Assembly, While the bell itself was made Recovered 3 Oct 1983 of bronze, its clapper was hand wrought iron. Two additional items recov ered from the site were abso-

204 SEAFARERS, VOL. I

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HENRIETTA MARIE SITE .. N CHART AREA) 1

C!J Early in the 1984 season, The timbers of the Henrietta from the notorious transatlan however, metal detecting and Marie are revealing some in tic slave trade and provide a random air lift probes revealed teresting architectural fea unique look into one of the a second cannon 260 feet due tures and allowing an in-depth most dramatic eras of our past. south of the original gun. A se view into late Seventeenth Perhaps Mendel Peterson ries of double timbers or Century ship construction placed it into perspective frames were located approxi-' practices. For example, close when, after diving on an un mately 45 feet to the southeast examination of the structure identified slaver wrecked off of the second or south cannon. has revealed that several non Bermuda, he said, "What lies Once the overburden was re adjacent bottom planks have beneath me is a monument to moved from the entire struc burned inner surfaces. Sir human cruelty and greed - ture, it was apparent that a George C. V. Holmes in An part of the cost of development substantial portion of the stern cient and Modern Ships writes, of the New World." We have section from the Henrietta Ma "Both thick stuff and planks added another such monu rie remained. were prepared by charring the ment. The difference is that we Preliminary examination in inner surface while the outer can call this one by name - the dicated a square stern which surface was kept wet, and this Henrietta Marie. ...f immediately substantiated the process was continued till the historical research obtained plank was brought to a fit con the preceding year. The struc dition for bending to the shape ture is limited to an area ap it was required to take." proximately 20 feet by 12 feet The shipwreck and its asso and extends seven feet deep ciated artifacts preserve an ir into the sand and clay sub replaceable archaeological re strate. The longitudinal axis cord which lends direct support along the keelson lies roughly and complements a large his east-west with the sternpost to torical data bank which sur the east. The entire deadwood vives through various letters, section remains completely in accounts, manifests, and other tact including six and one-half contemporary documents. The feet of sternpost with two asso physical remains of the Henri cia ted gudgeons (rudder etta Marie represent a rare col hinges) and the rising keelson. lection of physical evidence SEAFARERS, VOL. I 205 .-'~ - - , : . ";.,, ,. ' .' .... : ,:'.'~~ :"': ~~l~: , .. ' - ; , . ",' ':. ,,'\.. MEL fiSHER MARrrIME HERITAGE SoCIm INC. ; 200 GREENE smEET, KEY WEST, FL 33041 . (305)294-2633 FAX (305) 294-2633

The Mel flsher Maritime Herltage SocIety is an independent not-for-prom 501 (cl .3 organization, dedicated to exhibition, education, archeology, preservation and research of maritime history In the New World.

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