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Slave Ship's Log

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD
Slave Ship's Log
"WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AFTER THE AUCTION ENDS BY THE AUCTIONEER ONCE ALL BIDS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED TO DETERMINE THE WINNER FOR EACH LOT."
Seventy page slave ship's log spanning April 1766 to September 1767. Written by Captain Jonathan Parsons, Jr. (1735-1784) of Lyme, Conn. and son of Reverand Jonathan Parsons who led the congregation at Newburyport, Mass., one of the largest in America. Jonathan's brother was General Samuel Holden Parsons who fought at Bunker Hill. A fascinating journal, at the conclusion of which Parsons pens seven pages entitled, ''An Earnest Address to my Countrymen upon Slavery'' where he ironically lays out and refutes each argument for slavery. In small part, “…my Heart fails me again, for when I think…of this inhumane practice, I fear, I greatly fear, that it is want of Honesty, more than want of light, which continues it in the world…I am almost asham’d to mention the pleas I have heard used as Arguments in its favour…Will you plead they are fit for nothing else, and therefore ought to be slaves?…it is not true that they are Naturally Stuped: many, whose genious have been Cultivated, have appeard not a whit behind their Brethren…as Christ has taught us to look upon all men as Brethren, I cannot see why it should not extend to this instance as well as Others…'' The bulk of the journal records daily longitude and latitude, weather and general observations of the voyage and crew. In part, ''…Saw a Sail bareing W…threatened to Sinck me if I did not get out my bote Immediately and Come on board…he gave me Chase two or three Hours to no purpose. We out Sailed him…'' and ''…Saw a man of war and Booby’s [tropical bird]…part of the Iland of Barbados…the the Rocks off it are Dangerous therefore ought to be Verry Carifull…'' Measuring 8'' x 12'' written in dark ink on front and versos. Well preserved and in very good condition.