The United States vs. Mary J. Watson: Indictment
11/21/1861
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The case in which this document is filed is a Slave Trading Criminal Case involving Mary J. Watson.
Transcript
Circuit Court of the United States of America for theSouthern District of New-York in the Second Circuit
At a Stated Term of the Circuit Court of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, in the Second Circuit, begun and held at the City of New York, within and for the District and Circuit aforesaid, on the third Monday of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty one and continued by adjournment to and including the twenty first day of November in the same year.
Southern District of New-York, ss. The Jurors of the United States of America within and for the District and Circuit aforesaid, on their oath present, that Mary J. Watson late of the City and County of New-York, in the District and [^Circuit] Court aforesaid, spinster, heretofore, to wit, on the first-- day of October---- in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and fifty sixty, after the passage of the Act of Congress, approved the twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and eighteen entitled “An act in addition to an act to prohibit the introduction (importation) of slaves, into any port or place, within the jurisdiction of the United States from and after the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and eight and to repeal certain parts of the same” did at a place within the jurisdiction of the United States to wit, the port of New York, in the Southern District of New York, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, with force and arms, for herself as owner, fit out, equip, load and otherwise prepare a certain vessel being a bark called the “Mary Frances,” and did cause the said vessel, being the bark “Mary Frances” to be fitted out, equipped, loaded and otherwise prepared for the purpose of procuring and with the intent of her the said Mary J. Watson to employ the said vessel, being the bark Mary Frances, in the trade and business of procuring negroes from a certain foreign country to wit, Africa, to be transported to a certain place to wit, the island of Cuba, to be held, sold and otherwise disposed of as slaves and to be held to service and labor, against the peace of the said United States and their dignity and against the form of the statute of the said United States in such case made and provided.
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And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do further present--------that Mary J. Watson----- late of the city of New York, in the Southern District of New York aforesaid spinster ----heretofore to wit, on the first-------day of October---in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty and after the passage of the Act of Congress approved April 20, 1818, entitled “An Act in addition to an act to prohibit the introduction (importation) of Slaves into any port or place within the Jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, and to repeal certain parts of the same,” at the port of New York, in the Southern District of New York, and within the jurisdiction of the United States, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, with force and arms did, for herself-------as owner, fit, equip, load and otherwise prepare and send away and cause to sail from the said port of New York a certain ship or vessel, being a bark called Mary Frances---with the intent then and there to employ such aforesaid ship or vessel, being a bark--called Mary Frances---in the trade and for the purpose of procuring a large number, to wit, five hundred negroes, mulattoes or persons of colour from a certain foreign country, to wit, Africa, to be transported to a certain place to wit the island of Cuba to be held, sold or otherwise disposed of as slaves, and to be held to service or labor, against the peace of the said United States of America, and against their dignity, and against the form of the Statute of the said United States, in each case made and provided.
And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that Mary J. Frances Watson, late of the City and County of New York in the district and circuit aforesaid, spinster---heretofore to wit, on the first ---day of October ---in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty---and after the passage of the Act of Congress, approved April 20th, 1818, entitled An Act in addition to an act to prohibit the introduction (importation) of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the fourth of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight , and to repeal certain parts of the same, at the Port of New York, in the Southern District of New York, and within the jurisdiction of the United States, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, with force and arms did for some other person or persons, whose names are to the Jurors aforesaid unknown, as factor-----build fit [^out] equip, load, and otherwise prepare and [^cause to be fitted out, equipped, loaded and otherwise prepared] a certain ship or vessel being a bark called the Mary Frances-----with the intent then and there to employ such aforesaid ship or vessel, being a bark—called the Mary Frances----in the trade, and for the purpose of procuring a large number, to wit, five hundred negroes, mullatoes, or persons of color, from a foreign country, to wit, Africa, to be transported to a certain place to wit the island of Cuba ------- to be held, sold, or otherwise disposed of as slaves, and to be held to service and labor, against the peace of the said United States and their dignity, late of the City of New York, in the Southern District of New York, a foresaid, then and there, to wit, on the day and year aforesaid, can after the passage of the said Act of Congress, at the Post of New York, aforesaid, and within the said jurisdiction, did for and against the form of the statutes of the said United States in such case made and provided.
And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do further present----- that Mary J. Watson-----late of the city of New York, in the District and Circuit aforesaid spinster--- heretofore to wit, on the first day of October--- in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty and after the passage of the Act of Congress approved April 20, 1818, entitled “An Act in addition to an act to prohibit the introduction (importation) of Slaves into say port or place within the Jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, and to repeal certain parts of the same,”at the port of New York, in the Southern District of New York, and within the jurisdiction of the United States, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, with force arms did for some other person or persons—whose names are to the Jurors aforesaid unknown as factor, fit, equip, load and otherwise prepare and send away from the said port of New York---a certain ship or vessel, being a bark called the Mary Frances---
And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do further present that Mary J. Watson,--- late of the city of New York, in the Southern District[^and Circuit] of New York aforesaid spinster--- heretofore to wit, on the first day of October-- in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty and after the passage of the Act of Congress approved April 20, 1818, entitled “An Act in addition to an act to prohibit the introduction (importation) of Slaves into any port or place within the Jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, and to repeal certain parts of the same,” at the port of New York, in the Southern District of New York, and within the jurisdiction of the United States, and within the jurisdiction of the Court, with force and arms did, for some other person or persons whose names are to the Jurors aforesaid unknown as factor, fit, equip, load and otherwise prepare and send away from the said port of New York a certain ship or vessel, being a bark--- called the Mary Frances--- with the intent then and there to employ such aforesaid ship or vessel, being a bark called the Mary Frances--- in the trade and for the purpose of procuring a large number, to wit, five hundred negroes, mulattoes or persons of colour from a certain foreign country, to wit, Africa, to be transported to a certain place to wit, the island of Cuba, to be held, sold or otherwise disposed of as slaves, and to be held to service or labor, against the peace of the said United States of America, and against their dignity, and against the form of the Statute of the said United States, in each case made and provided.
And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that Mary J. Frances Watson, late of the City and County of New York, in the Circuit and District aforesaid, spinster, heretofore to wit, on the first day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty and after the passage of the Act of Congress, approved April 20, 1818, entitled An Act in addition to an act to prohibit the introduction (importation) of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and after the fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, and to repeal certain parts of the same, at the Port of New York, in the Southern District of New York, and within the jurisdiction of the United States, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, with force and arms did, for some other person or persons whose names are to the jurors aforesaid unknown, as factor, aid and abet in fitting out, equipping, loading and otherwise preparing and sending away from the said Port of New York build, fit, equip, load, and otherwise prepare and send away a certain ship or vessel being a bark called the Mary Frances with the intent then and there to employ such aforesaid ship or vessel, being a bark called the Mary Frances in the trade, and for the purpose of procuring a large number, to wit, five hundred negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, from a foreign country, to wit, Africa, to be transported to a certain place to wit the island of Cuba to be held, sold, or otherwise disposed of as slaves, and to be held to service and labor, and that against the peace of the said United States, and their dignity late of the City of New York, in the Southern District of New York, aforesaid then and there, to wit, on the day and year aforesaid, and after the passage of the said Act of Congress, at the Port of New York aforesaid, and within the said jurisdiction, did for and against the form of the Statute of the said United States in such case made and provided.
C. Delafield Smith, U.S. Dist. Atty.
Filed in open Court, the eighteenth
day of February
1862
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185 , the Defendant
arraigned and indict read Deft. Plead Guilty
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185 , the Defendant
Called on Recognizance and
appearing same
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185 , The Defendant
tried Verdict GUILTY.
___________________________
185 , SENTENCE
[Illegible 1]--275
U. S. Circuit Court.
_____________________________
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
Mary J. Watson
____________________________
INDICTMENT. Fitting out the bark Mary Frances for the slave trade.
3 Vol. U. S. St., at large : p 450
Act of 1818 ch §2 & 3
THEODORE SEDGWICK,
E. Delafield Smith
U. S. District Attorney
A TRUE BILL
B. Crandell Forman
Filed Feby 18 1862
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 278425
Full Citation: The United States vs. Mary J. Watson: Indictment; 11/21/1861; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/the-united-states-vs-mary-j-watson-indictment, April 25, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.