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Myths of the “Slave Tunnel”

Myths of the “Slave Tunnel”. Siham Abed. The Browns and the Slave Trade . Not major slave traders By Mercantile Elite standards 1736 James Brown dispatched Mary Returned with “several” slaves Small-scale trade for two decades For provisioning voyages. Financial Hardships.

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Myths of the “Slave Tunnel”

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  1. Myths of the “Slave Tunnel” Siham Abed

  2. The Browns and the Slave Trade • Not major slave traders • By Mercantile Elite standards • 1736 James Brown dispatched Mary • Returned with “several” slaves • Small-scale trade for two decades • For provisioning voyages

  3. Financial Hardships • In 1759 the Wheel of Fortune was sent to Africa • Substantial financial setback • 1763 the economy was suffering • Brothers needed capital • Sent Sally to Africa

  4. Sally and the Aftermath • Nine month journey • 109 of the 196 captives perished • Remaining 87 auctioned for ₤5 in Antigua • Second Failed Mission • Nicholas, Moses, and Joseph withdrew from trans-Atlantic slave trading

  5. John and the Slave Trade • 1769 dispatched the Sutton • Ended partnership between brothers • Sponsored at least 3 more missions • Slaves as Commerce • Large risks and rewards

  6. Anti-Slavery Legislation • 1774 Direct importation from Africa into colony prohibited • 1784 Gradual Abolition Act • 1787 Slave trading was prohibited • No will or resources to prosecute • 1795 John Brown Prosecuted • 1st American to be prosecuted in federal court for illegal slave trade

  7. Tunnel Discovery • In 1901 Marsden J. Perry purchased the John Brown House • Began renovations • Thomas E. Manney, plumber discovered cornerstone and “tunnel”

  8. The Tunnel • “Passage starts from two locations: SE and NW corners of the mansion- meeting at the SW corner. • Large enough for “two men to crawl through together- too big, it seems to me, for a drain pipe.” –Manney • Architect Alfred Stone “does not hesitate in ascribing drainage as the intended function of the conduit.”

  9. Secret Tunnels • To hide involvement, tunnels were supposedly dug from the waterfront to various houses. • Later used in the Underground Railroad • No evidence

  10. Practicality of Tunnel Making • Two tunnels do exist: • A bus tunnel and an abandoned train tunnel • Construction in early 20th century: • Took weeks • Employed explosives • Heavy equipment • Many workmen -Really noticeable as people for miles around knew what was going on.

  11. Tunnel Necessity • Easier and cheaper ways to sneak people around • Enough crawl space for just two people is a difficult journey uphill • Not at all cost-effective to build tunnels • Those who did notice, took no notice when bribed

  12. Tunnel: Fact or Fiction? • The slave tunnel is merely an urban legend • The anecdotes can all be disproven • Far too expensive for something that was not all that necessary • No evidence survives to prove its existence today

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