An Account of Some of the Principal Slave Insurrections, and Others, Which Have Occurred, or Been A | Page 5

such like
way, that after executed, they may remain more exemplary than any
punishment that hath been inflicted on them."
In the next month, June, the Governor thus writes:--
"We further recommend unto you the repairs of the fortifications about
Charleston, and the amending of the Negro Act, who are of late grown
to that height of impudence, that there is scarce a day passes without
some robbery or insolence, committed by them in one part or other of
this province."
"In the year 1712," says the Rev. D. Humphreys, "a considerable
number of negroes of the Carmantee and Pappa Nations formed a plot
to destroy all the English, in order to obtain their liberty; and kept their
conspiracy so secret, that there was no suspicion of it till it came to the
very execution. However, the plot was by God's Providence happily
defeated. The plot was this. The negroes sat fire to a house in York city,
and Sunday night in April, about the going down of the moon. The fire
alarmed the town, who from all parts ran to it; the conspirators planted
themselves in several streets and lanes leading to the fire, and shot or
stabbed the people as they were running to it. Some of the wounded
escaped, and acquainted the Government, and presently by the firing of
a great gun from the fort, the inhabitants were called under arms and
pretty easily scattered the negroes; they had killed about 8 and
wounded 12 more. In their flight some of them shot themselves, others
their wives, and then themselves; some absconded a few days, and then
killed themselves for fear of being taken; but a great many were taken,
and 18 of them suffered death. This wicked conspiracy was at first
apprehended to be general among all the negroes, and opened the
mouths of many to speak against giving the negroes instruction. Mr.
Neau durst hardly appear abroad for some days; his school was blamed
as the main occasion of this barbarous plot. On examination, only two
of all his school were so much as charged with the plot, and on full trial
the guilty negroes were found to be such as never came to Mr. Neau's

school; and what is very observable, the persons, whose negroes were
found to be most guilty, were such as were the declared opposers of
making them Christians. However a great jealousy was now raised, and
the common cry very loud against instructing the negroes."
From the Boston Weekly Journal, of April 8th, 1724, I make the
following extract:--
"Every reasonable man ought to remember their first villanous attempt
at New York, and how many good innocent people were murdered by
tem, and had it not been for the garrison there, that city would have
been reduced to ashes, and the greatest part of the inhabitants
murdered."
On the 6th of May, 1720, the negroes of South Carolina murdered Mr.
Benjamin Cattle, a white woman, and a negro boy. Forces were
immediately raised, and sent after them, twenty-three of whom were
taken, six convicted, three executed, and three escaped.
In October, 1722, about two hundred negroes near the mouth of the
Rappahannock river, Virginia, got together in a body, armed with an
intent to kill the people in church, but were discovered, and fled.
On the 13th of April, 1723, Gov. Dummer issued a proclamation with
the following preamble, viz.:--
"Whereas within some short time past, many fires have broke out
within the town of Boston, and divers buildings have thereby been
consumed: which fires have been designedly and industriously kindled
by some villanous and desperate Negroes, or other dissolute people, as
appears by the confession of some of them (who have been examined
by authority) and many concurring circumstances; and it being
vehemently suspected that they have entered into a combination to
burn and destroy the town, I have therefore thought fit, with the advice
of his Majesty's Council, to issue forth this Proclamation," &c.
On the 18th of April, 1723, Rev. Joseph Sewall preached a discourse,
particularly occcasioned "by the late fires yt have broke out in Boston,

supposed to be purposely set by ye Negroes." [FN#1]
[FN#1] Diary of Rev. Samuel Dexter.
On the next day, April 19th, the Selectmen of Boston made a report to
the town on the subject, consisting of nineteen articles, of which the
following is No. 9:--
"That if more than Two Indians, Negro or Molatto Servants or Slaves
be found in the Streets or Highways in or about the Town, idling or
lurking together unless in the service of their Master or Employer,
every one so found shall be punished at the House of Correction."
So great at that time were the alarm and danger in Boston, occasioned
by the slaves, that in