Deposition of Lewis Ferris
7/11/1803
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In this court document, Lewis Ferris swears that he was a boatswain, in charge of equipment and crew, on the ship Charming Sally. 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 confiscate their cargo.
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 confiscate their cargo.
Transcript
I Lewis Ferris now residing in Boston in the County of Suffolk Marinor, testify and say that, I am Boatswain of the Schooner Charming Sally, now in the Harbour of Boston; I arrived in Boston in her about three weeks ago - that, I signed the articles onboard said Schooner at St. Bartholomews about two months ago, as nearly as I can remember and George Horn was or appeared to be Captain of said Schooner, and said Horn came Master of her to Boston, at least he appeared to be the Master of her. I was only a passenger having the care of some [illegible] on freight in said Schooner from Goree to saint Bartholomews from the Coast of Africa and William Robbins was Captain of said Schooner from Goree to St Bartholomews and there were one hundred and six slaves onboard when she arrived at St Bartholomews (all brought from the Coast of Africa in said Schooner) except two that died on the passage - & Captain Robbins was Master of said Schooner when I shipped on board & I signed [illegible] under him at St. Bartholomews _ I was, before the time aforesaid, at Sennigall, and the said Schooner charming Sally was there, and I went to passenger in her to Goree & from Goree on the coast of Africa, to St. Yago and from there to St. Bartholomews as aforesaid. Mrs .Johnson widow of Captain Johnson, who died upon the Coast of Africa, owned a Quarter or half of the said Schooner, as I understood and believe - and I undurstood that part of the Vessell was owned at Philadelphia - andAnd a french Gentleman by the name Polly, put onboard said Schooner on freight on an agreement with Captain Robbins who was then Captain of her, forty six or forty seven slaves, Randall the rest of the slaves on board were owned by Mrs. Johnson except two or three, as I believe - of of which was a boy belonging to M- Robbins, and one woman belonging to Captain Horn - Mrs. Johnson was in said Schooner on the Coast of Africa when I first knew her and she came out in her to Saint Bartholomews, and from thence to Boston, and Captain Robbins also cam in her to Boston but whether he or Horn was Captain I cannot say with certainty - Mrs Johnson lost on or two slaves on the passage to St Bartholomews, and M. Polly lost one slave. The said Schooner, when on the coast of African was called the Petit Victoire, and when at St. Bartholomews, her name was altered tot eh Charming Sally - The said Schooner Charming Sally was on the Coast of Africa , and Captain Johnson was there in a small Schooner from Philadelphia and he died there, I think it was at Senegal; the Schooner Charming
Sally was bought by M. Johnson in Africa before he died, and all the slaves were put on board of said Schooner Charming Sally - The Schooner Charming Sally was under french colors until she arrived at St. Bartholomews - I understood that Captain Johnson, with M. Horn as his mate, went from Philadelphia in a small Schooner to Africa, and Captain Johnson Wife went with him - M. Johnson's sister to Mr horn
Question - Did Mrs Johnson bring a Negro Girl to Boston which was on of the slaves she brought out from the coast of Africa in that Charming Sally?
Answer - Yes
July 11 - 1803 -
his mark
(x)
Lewis Ferris
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk Marinor on the eleventh day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three - Lewis Ferris the aforesaid [illegible] was carefully examined and duly [illegible] to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth and made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him signed is true - Taken at the request of Isaac Sherman of Boston in the County of Suffolk Distiller, to be used in the trial of a Libel by said Sherman against the Schooner Charming Sally, filed by him in
the District Court of the United States [illegible] to be held on at Salem in and for the district of Massachusetts District on the second Tuesday of September next - And not knowing of any person or persons having the Agency or possession of the same or interested int he said Schooner, or their Agent or Attorney, living within One hundred miles of the place of this Captain, and not knowing of any person or persons, or their Agent or Attorney, interested in the event of the trial of said Libel living within one hundred miles of the place of the [illegible] this Captain, no individual person except George Horn was notified of the time an place of the taking of this Deposition - but a notification directed to George Horn and to all persons concerned or interested in the property of said Schooner was duly and reasonably left onboard said Schooner by the Deputy Marshall of the District, giving notice of the time place and intention of the taking of this Deposition - but no person appeared - the said [illlegible] being [illegible] on a voyage to sea is the cause of the taking of this Deposition - taken by and before me and in my hand writing -
[illegible] Judge of the Court of Common Pleas -
Notifications & Summons,
[illegible] of notifications & Summons
[illegible] attendance -
Taking & returning Deposition
Captain and Direction
$2 dol & 50/100
[written sideways on right, the top when paper is folded]
Lewis Ferris dep. 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 Lewis Ferris; 7/11/1803; 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://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/deposition-ferris, April 26, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.