Contents and Arrangement
Toggle
Online

"Journal", 1786 April 1-1787 March 31

1 folder
HAS ONLINE CONTENT
Collection Creator:
Matthews, John, lieutenant in the Royal Navy
Dates:
1786 April 1-1787 March 31
Located In:
Box 1 Middle 101, Folder 2
Extent:
1 folder
Languages:
English
Scope and Contents

Consists of an 80-page journal documenting Matthews's work while employed by the African Company of Merchants on the coast of West Africa, primarily in Sierra Leone. The entries detail his work stocking ships with captured Africans and preparing ships for the transatlantic passage to the Americas. His entries include information on the weather; the arrival and departure of various ships from the dock; difficulties in keeping provisions, particularly rice, from spoiling or being eaten by rats and insects; trading for goods with Portuguese and French ships; and the resistance of captive Africans to their capture and enslavement. Locations mentioned include the Gambia River, Gambia Island, Cockle Bay, the Banana Islands, Bance Island (Bunce Island), and Îles de Los. Vessels mentioned include boats named Hazard, Racehorse, Nelly, United Sisters, Speedwell, Grampus, Walker's Pinnance, and Lyon. Later entries occasionally include inventory lists of Africans forced onto ships, particularly the Lyon.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Credit this material:

"Journal"; Captain John Matthews Papers, C1575, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (hsvm): Box 1
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Kelly Bolding in August 2017. Finding aid written by Kelly Bolding in August 2017.

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists of an 80-page journal documenting Matthews's work while employed by the African Company of Merchants on the coast of West Africa, primarily in Sierra Leone. The entries detail his work stocking ships with captured Africans and preparing ships for the transatlantic passage to the Americas. His entries include information on the weather; the arrival and departure of various ships from the dock; difficulties in keeping provisions, particularly rice, from spoiling or being eaten by rats and insects; trading for goods with Portuguese and French ships; and the resistance of captive Africans to their capture and enslavement. Locations mentioned include the Gambia River, Gambia Island, Cockle Bay, the Banana Islands, Bance Island (Bunce Island), and Îles de Los. Vessels mentioned include boats named Hazard, Racehorse, Nelly, United Sisters, Speedwell, Grampus, Walker's Pinnance, and Lyon. Later entries occasionally include inventory lists of Africans forced onto ships, particularly the Lyon.

Arrangement

Arranged by type of material, then chronologically.

Collection History

Appraisal

No materials were separated during 2017 processing.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Kelly Bolding in August 2017. Finding aid written by Kelly Bolding in August 2017.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

"Journal"; Captain John Matthews Papers, C1575, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Ask Us a Question
Visit Us
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (hsvm): Box 1

Find More

Bibliography

Sources consulted in the creation of this finding aid include: Matthews, J. A Voyage to the River Sierra-Leone, on the coast of Africa; Containing an Account of the Trade and Productions of the Country, and of the Civil and Religious Customs and Manners of the People; in a Series of Letters to a Friend in England. By John Matthews ... during his Residence in that Country in the Years 1785, 1786, and 1787. With an Additional Letter on the Subject of the African Slave Trade. Also, a Chart of Part of the Coast of Africa, from Cape St. Ann, to the River Rionoonas; with a View of the Island Bananas. London, Printed for B. White and Son, and J. Sewell, 1788. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044043321512 Sanderson, F. E. "Liverpool and the Slave Trade: A Guide to Sources." Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, CXXIV (1973). Retrieved from http://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/124-8-Sanderson.pdf Schwarz, S. "'A Just and Honourable Commerce': Abolitionist Experimentation in Sierra Leone in the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries." African Economic History, 45.1 (2017). Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/662699

Names:
Great Britain. Royal Navy
Matthews, John, lieutenant in the Royal Navy