(London: 1798-1811).
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Hardcover. Two folio ledgers kept by “Messrs. Harvey, Thornton & Co.” George Harvey and Lee Thornton, of 22 Lawrence-Lane, Cheapside, were London-based merchants with strong Northamptonshire connections. Among the items listed is the provisioning of ships and the sale of slaves.
The first ledger (1798-1807) measures 8¼” x 13” and contains an index and 90 foliated leaves of double-page entries, with the other leaves blank. Bound in contemporary quarter leather and marbled paper over boards, with the letter “D” on front cover, edges stained green. The leather spine back and corners are worn with some loss of leather at the edges, intermittent modest mottling to some leaves, good or better.
The second ledger (1808-1811) is titled at the head of the first leaf: “Messrs. Harvey, Thornton & Co.A” It measures 10” x 14½” and contains 67 foliated leaves of double-page and single page entries, with the other leaves blank. Bound in contemporary reversed calf over boards, with “HT & Co” on front cover, marbled endpapers, edges marbled. Stationer’s engraved label: “Edward Hickson … Cheapside” on front pastedown. The leather is rubbed and worn at the head and tail of spine and corners, the first and final two pages are stained, hinges are neatly reinforced with early linen cloth strips, good or better.
The entries in both ledgers are written in the same neat hand, covering the period from 1798-1811. Account names, ships, quantities, and amounts are recorded. Most or all of the entries documenting the sale or treatment of enslaved persons appear in the first ledger, kept before the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807. Abridged examples from the double-paged entries include:
- C.R. Squire: “1799 April 15: 3 Slaves and OZ 5 gold – 128” and “1801 May 8: 2 Slaves and gold to Capt. Williams – 92/7.”
- Joseph Davies: “1805 January 12: To difference on 11 Slaves – 44.”
- C. J. Wheler & Co.: “1807 June 23: moiety of 25 Slaves – 200.”
- William Bryan: “1803 April: 50 Slaves del. to the Latona Smith – £1750.”
Other abridged examples of long entries in which various enslaved persons are included with other goods and provisions include:
- John Mark Cleland (1805 March 9 to 1807 January 19): “3 Slaves; Sundries; Shirts &c.; Sundry Boards; Dry Goods; Cash to be paid in England; Provisions; Case of Pickles; White Bread; Porter & Corks; Port Wine; Gunpowder; Damages … Contra: 1807: 5 Slaves to Capt. Anderson … .”
- Henry Feilde (1805 April 6 to 1807 February 14): “2 sets of scales & weights; 16 Slaves to Colonel Torrane; 10 Iron bars; Sundry goods; Cash to his Mother … .”
- C.B. Whitehead: “Gold beads; Slaves; Books; 4 Slaves; 1 W. Slave; Refuse slaves; Error on 6 slaves … .”
An historically important pair of primary source ledger books that document the final years of the British transatlantic slave trade. Additional records of Messrs. Harvey, Thornton & Co. can be found at the London Metropolitan Archives and Northamptonshire Record Office.
Item #464182
