The Middle Passage

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The Middle Passage

• The Slave Trade in the Atlantic World

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Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)

• B. West Africa
• Enslaved at 10 and transported to Americas
• Slave in Virginia briefly, then in British navy
• Bought his freedom in 1766 (age 21) active
  mariner
• Published his autobiography in 1789
• Died in London, 1797

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18th-C Triangular Trade Circuitas initiated in
Britain or France
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Typical 18th-C. Atlantic Slave Ship

• A standard brig, brigantine or sloop of 140 tons
  shallow draft built for speed crew of 25
• Not specially designed, but decks adapted to
  accommodate two stacks of horizontal slave bins
• Full complement of slaves upwards of 350
  individuals young men preferred
• Average mortality rate during 6-10 weeks of
  Middle Passage from west Africa to Caribbean on
  order of 20

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John Brown (1736-1803)Rhode Island Revolutionary
Slaver
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Brigantine

• Of the type of Sally used for slaving in 1764-65
• Owned by Nicholas Brown Brothers
• Captained by Esek Hopkins crew of 15
• Somewhat smaller than typical slave ship (120
  tons?)
• Designed to accommodate 196 slaves only 60 lived
  to be sold in Americas

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Gaff-rigged Top-Sail Schooner

• Of the type of Wheel of Fortune
• Used for slaving by Brown Brothers in 1757
• Captured by French privateer enroute to West
  Africa

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Brief Bibliography

• David Eltis, The Rise of African Slavery in
  the Americas (2000)Jay Coughtry, The Notorious
  Triangle R.I. And the African Slave Trade
  (1981)
• James B. Hedges, The Browns of Providence,
  (1952)
• Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of
  Oloudah Equiano 1789 (1995)