The New York Conspiracy: A History of the Negro Plot. Daniel Horsmanden

received) were shipped; which is premised, as a modest hint to our brethren in the West Indies, and the more neighbouring English colonies, that they may see how tender we have been of their peace and security, by using all the precaution in our power, that none of our rogues should be imposed upon them; for it was made an express condition in the several pardons, and likewise the recognizances entered into by the securities for slaves transported, “that the persons pardoned should be transported to the dominion of some foreign prince or state, or the island of Newfoundland, [by a time therein limited] and if any of the negroes or slaves [pardoned by the letters patent] should at any time after [the day therein limited] be found in any of his majesty's dominions, except Newfoundland, the letters patent as to all and every the person and persons so found, should be null, void, and of no force or effect;” which terms have been strictly pursued and complied with, some few instances only excepted.

      Many, it seems, have wondered that this journal has not made its appearance long ago; for, say they, the thing dies away, and is almost forgotten (the more is the pity) and now people will hardly take the pains to give it a perusal.

      To which it is answered, that it was some time before the compiler could submit himself to undergo a drudgery of this kind, for several reasons; the task was not very inviting, and he had borne a sufficient fatigue, under an ill state of health, in the share he had in the proceedings themselves, for a course of six months daily attendance, and it was some time before he could absolutely determine to undertake it; and did set about it in earnest; and since that, the duties of his offices and profession have occasioned many interruptions; and when the attention is withdrawn for a time from a subject, it may not always suit the humour to reassume it, especially a matter of this nature; nor perhaps can the thoughts concerning it be easily collected again; not that this business required much intention, but recollection and care were necessary to introduce every matter properly, and give it connexion in its due order of time, towards which the compiler had the advantage of being all along privy to the proceedings, and all the motions concerning them.

      There were reasons indeed, for making these matters public, which could not be withstood.

      There had been some wanton, wrong-headed persons amongst us, who took the liberty to arraign the justice of the proceedings, and set up their private opinions in superiority to the court and grand jury; though God knows (and all men of sense know) they could not be judges of such matters; but nevertheless, they declared with no small assurance (notwithstanding what we saw with our eyes, and heard with our ears, and every one might have judged of by his intellects, that had any) that there was no plot at all! The inference such would have drawn from thence, is too obvious to need mentioning; however this moved very little: It was not to convince (for that would have been a vain undertaking; the Ethiopian might as soon change his skin ) much less was it to gratify such.

      But there were two motives which weighed much; the one, that those who had not the opportunity of seeing and hearing, might judge of the justice of the proceedings, from the state of the case being laid before them; the other, that from thence, the people in general, might be persuaded of the necessity there is, for every one that has negroes, to keep a very watchful eye over them, and not to indulge them with too great liberties, which we find they make use of to the worst purposes, caballing and confederating together in mischief, in great numbers, when they may, from the accounts in the ensuing sheets, from what they see has happened, feel the consequence of giving them so great a latitude, as has been customary in this city and province, and thereby be warned to keep themselves upon a strict guard against these enemies of their own household, since we know what they are capable of; for it was notorious, that those among them, who had the kindest masters, who fared best, and had the most liberty, nay, that those in whom their masters placed the greatest confidence, insomuch, that they would even have put their own swords into their hands, in expectation of being defended by them against their own colour, did nevertheless turn out the greatest villains. It even appeared that these head fellows boasted of their superiority over the more harmless and inoffensive; that they held them in an inferiority and dependence, a kind of subjection, as if they had got such dominion over them, that they durst not, at any time, or upon any occasion, but do as they would have them; from whence it may be guessed, how likely the defection was to be general.

      The principal inducement, therefore, to this undertaking was, the public benefit; that those who have property in slaves, might have a lasting memento concerning the nature of them; that they may be thence warned to keep a constant guard over them; since what they have done, they may one time or other act over again, especially if there should in future times, appear such monsters in nature, as the Hughsons, Ury the priest, and such like, who dare be so wicked as to attempt the seducing them to such execrable purposes: and if any should think it not worth their while to learn from the ensuing sheets (what by others perhaps may be esteemed) a useful lesson, the fault will be their own; and really it was thought necessary, for these and other reasons needless here to mentions, that there should be a standing memorial of so unprecedented a scheme of villainy.

      But though the compiler was willing to make an offering of his own time, to the public service, by laying these matters in order for the press, yet being under no other influence so to do, than his inclination and readiness to oblige the public, he was at liberty, however, to suit his own convenience; and therefore, considering the multiplicity of the proceedings, it may, after all, rather be thought matter of wonder, that it makes its appearance so soon.

      Perhaps it may not come forth unseasonably at this juncture, if the distractions occasioned by this mystery of iniquity, may be thereby so revived in our memories, as to awaken us from that supine security, which again too generally prevails, and put us upon our guard, lest the enemy should be yet within our doors.

      City of New York, 12 th April, 1744.

       INTRODUCTION.

       Table of Contents

      As a robbery committed at Mr. Hogg's, paved the way to the discovery of the conspiracy, it may not be improper to introduce the ensuing journal and narrative, with an account of that felony, as well as the many fires which alarmed this city, close upon the heels of each other, within less than three weeks, occasioned by this infernal scheme, till they both came under the inquiry and examination of the grand jury, at the Supreme Court: and indeed there is such a close connexion between this felony and the conspiracy, as will appear by the several steps and examinations taken by occasion of the former, that the narrative of the robbery could not well be omitted; for the inquiry concerning that, was the means of drawing out the first hint concerning the other; nay, this felony and such like, were actually ingredients of the conspiracy, as will appear by the sequel.

      On Saturday night the 28th February, 1740–1, a robbery was committed at the house of Mr. Robert Hogg, in the city of New-York, merchant, from whence were taken divers pieces of linen and other goods, and several silver coins, chiefly Spanish, and medals, and wrought silver, &c. to the value in the whole, of sixty pounds and upwards.

      The occasion of this robbery, as was discovered, and will appear more fully hereafter, was one Wilson, a lad of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, belonging to the Flamborough man of war, on this station, who having acquaintance with two white servants belonging to gentlemen who lodged at Mr. Hogg's house, Wilson used frequently to come thither on that pretence, which gained him easy admittance: but Wilson, it seems, had a more familiar acquaintance with some negroes of very suspicious characters, particularly Cæsar, belonging to John Vaarck, baker; Prince, to Mr. John Auboyneau, merchant, and Cuffee, to Adolph Philipse, Esq.

      “The Thursday before this robbery was committed, Wilson came to Mr. Hogg's shop, with one of the man of war's people, to buy some check linen, and having bargained for some, part of the money offered in payment, was of Spanish coin, and Mrs. Hogg opening her bureau to change the money, pulled out a drawer in the view of Wilson, wherein were a considerable quantity of milled