Briton Hammon
Encyclopedia
Briton Hammon was a slave in the middle of the 18th century, who, after leaving his master, may have encountered more hardships outside his sanctioned slavery than as a slave. He recorded, and published, his "uncommon" story as a slave and his many hardships. Some of these include being captured by Indians
after a the deaths of all persons but himself on the ship and being held in captivity twice, once for almost five years. He described many attempts of escaping his captives, almost ending his life in a very poor state, and finally prevailing as a free man.
in Boston on his first expedition with the permission of his master, General Winslow
. He intended to go to Plymouth and from there Jamaica
. However on the June 15, 1748, the ship where Hammon was currently located was cast away, not far from the shore of Cape-Florida
. The captain ordered the ship’s crew to, in smaller groups; make for the shore in a smaller boat. At the point when half of the crew was ashore, they were attacked by a group of 60 Indians, who bound, and captured them. Then after killing the remaining crew, which was currently on the ship through burning the ship, returned and killed those who were bound. During which Hammon seeing his eminent death, attempted his escape in swimming away. This was an unsuccessful attempt however he was the only of the crew to survive, as he was held captive by the Indians, and despite his current state, was fed well. However, Hammon escaped due to an acquaintance on a Spanish
ship, which arrived there from St. Augustine
. The captain of which made a deal with the Indians, giving them 10 dollars to keep Hammon, as well as making sure the would not hereafter kill any other persons but capture as many as they could and bring them to the Captain for which they would be sold for 10 dollars.
in the Castle. After about 12 months he (and others) was accosted in the street by a "Press-Gang" and taken to jail. He spent a night in jail, then refused to work upon a Spanish ship and was put in a dungeon
, where he remained for almost five years. He petitioned prison visitors to communicate with the Governor. This was unsuccessful until a Mrs. Betty Howard pleaded his case to a visiting Boston ship's captain who visited Hammon in his "deplorable Condition" and secured his release through the Governor. The Governor sent an order to release him, and Hammon returned to live with him in the castle for about a year.
, and ordered with quite a few other slaves to carry a Bishop
through the country. He was employed in this way for about seven months.
, and from there on to London
. On his way to London the ship which he was aboard had a conflict with another ship, killing 70 and leaving him wounded in the head with a small shot, which left him incapable of working. He then stayed a while in the Greenwich Hospital, where he soon recovered. After working again for a short time, he was became sick with fever and was confined in London for six weeks. While ill he exhausted his money and was left in a very poor state. After recovering and while working aboard a ship, Hammon was reunited with his old master after nearly 13 years. Both were very delighted to be brought back together.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
after a the deaths of all persons but himself on the ship and being held in captivity twice, once for almost five years. He described many attempts of escaping his captives, almost ending his life in a very poor state, and finally prevailing as a free man.
Encounter with the Indians
On December 25, 1747, Briton Hammon left MarshfieldMarshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,132 at the 2010 census.See also: Green Harbor, Marshfield , Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff and Brant Rock....
in Boston on his first expedition with the permission of his master, General Winslow
John Winslow (British army officer)
Major-General John Winslow , descendant of Pilgrim Edward Winslow, was an officer during the French and Indian War....
. He intended to go to Plymouth and from there Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. However on the June 15, 1748, the ship where Hammon was currently located was cast away, not far from the shore of Cape-Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The captain ordered the ship’s crew to, in smaller groups; make for the shore in a smaller boat. At the point when half of the crew was ashore, they were attacked by a group of 60 Indians, who bound, and captured them. Then after killing the remaining crew, which was currently on the ship through burning the ship, returned and killed those who were bound. During which Hammon seeing his eminent death, attempted his escape in swimming away. This was an unsuccessful attempt however he was the only of the crew to survive, as he was held captive by the Indians, and despite his current state, was fed well. However, Hammon escaped due to an acquaintance on a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
ship, which arrived there from St. Augustine
St. Augustine
-People:* Augustine of Hippo or Augustine of Hippo , father of the Latin church* Augustine of Canterbury , first Archbishop of Canterbury* Augustine Webster, an English Catholic martyr.-Places:*St. Augustine, Florida, United States...
. The captain of which made a deal with the Indians, giving them 10 dollars to keep Hammon, as well as making sure the would not hereafter kill any other persons but capture as many as they could and bring them to the Captain for which they would be sold for 10 dollars.
Living in the Havanna
After this venture, Hammon lived with the governorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
in the Castle. After about 12 months he (and others) was accosted in the street by a "Press-Gang" and taken to jail. He spent a night in jail, then refused to work upon a Spanish ship and was put in a dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
, where he remained for almost five years. He petitioned prison visitors to communicate with the Governor. This was unsuccessful until a Mrs. Betty Howard pleaded his case to a visiting Boston ship's captain who visited Hammon in his "deplorable Condition" and secured his release through the Governor. The Governor sent an order to release him, and Hammon returned to live with him in the castle for about a year.
Attempts to Escape
During his second period with the Governor, Hammon attempted to escape three times. The first attempt included him boarding a ship, where he then spent the night concealed. When it departed he revealed himself and the Captain of the ship ordered the boat back to return him to shore. After a time of living with the Governor again he made his second attempt to escape, again trying to board a ship, this time bound to Jamaica. He was, again, almost immediately sent back by order of the Guard. Hammon was promptly liberatedLiberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
, and ordered with quite a few other slaves to carry a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
through the country. He was employed in this way for about seven months.
His Liberty
After working for Bishop for a time, Hammon was set free to work in his previous city and work for himself, no longer as a slave. And so seeing nothing further to do he left on a ship to JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, and from there on to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. On his way to London the ship which he was aboard had a conflict with another ship, killing 70 and leaving him wounded in the head with a small shot, which left him incapable of working. He then stayed a while in the Greenwich Hospital, where he soon recovered. After working again for a short time, he was became sick with fever and was confined in London for six weeks. While ill he exhausted his money and was left in a very poor state. After recovering and while working aboard a ship, Hammon was reunited with his old master after nearly 13 years. Both were very delighted to be brought back together.