Manuscripts Relating to Slavery

: Brigg Othello Portage Bill for Her Voyage to Africa; Portage bill for the Brig Othello, listing crew names, wages, and term of employment on a passage to the coast of Africa. Notes four men, George Harvey, Michael Keable, John Chace, and Ezekiel Mitchell [Mitchel] that "left the vessel at Virginia." On back, additional detail about wage payments to crew members.

: [Manuscript copy of letter from Thornton & Yates to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Manuscript copy of letter dated October 5, 1774, from Thornton & Yates of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island. Followed by letter dated October 9.

: [Letter from Chs. Yates to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Letter from Chs. [Charles] Yates of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from John Duncan to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter from John Duncan, on the Brig Othello at Annamaboe [Anomabu, Ghana] to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Manuscript copy of letter form Chs. Yates to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Manuscript copy of letter from Chs. [Charles] Yates of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from John Duncan to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter from John Duncan, on the Brig Othello at Annamaboe [Anomabu, Ghana] to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from John Duncan to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter from John Duncan, on the Brig Othello at Annamaboe [Anomabu, Ghana] to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from John Thornton to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Letter from John Thornton of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Bill of sale for a long boat for the use of the Brig Othello]; Bill of sale for a "long boat" for the Brig Othello in Anomabu, Ghana, signed by John Duncan and addressed to William and Samuel Vernon of [Newport] Rhode Island and James Carpenter.

: [Unsigned letter to Messrs. Adams & Griffin]; Unsigned letter addressed to Adams & Griffin from Newport [Rhode Island, in William Vernon's hand].

: [Insurance claim for the Brig Othello]; Insurance claim for the loss of slaves aboard the Brig Othello during a trading voyage to Leeward [Islands, West Indies], due to the "carelessness" and "neglect" of crew members Nathaniel Shearman, Ezekiel Mitchell, and John Bent. Claim submitted in Barbados and created by notary public Thomas Workman.

: [Manuscript copy of letter from John Thornton and Chs. Yates to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Manuscript copy of letter from John Thornton and Charles Yates of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from Samuel and Wiliam Vernon to John Duncan]; Letter to Capt. John Duncan in Newport [Rhode Island] giving command to set sail to the coast of Africa [probably from William and Samuel Vernon]. Copied in Duncan's hand and signed in receipt.

: [Letter from Adams & Griffin to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter dated September 1, 1769, from Adams & Griffin of Richmond [Virginia] to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island regarding the slow sale of slaves shipped on the Brig Othello, citing their poor condition. Followed by a letter signed by Adams & Griffin to that the remaining slaves had been sold. Includes list detailing the "state of the market."

: [Affidavit by John Duncan accounting damages sustained to the Brig Othello during passage to Charleston, South Carolina]; Affidavit submitted by John Duncan, giving account of damages sustained to the Brig Othello during passage to Charleston, South Carolina, with a shipment of slaves.

: [Letter from Chs. Yates to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Letter from Chs. [Charles] Yates of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from John Thornton to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Letter from John Thornton of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from Rich'd Adams to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter from Richard Adams of Richmond [Virginia] to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island, notifying of the arrival of the Brig Othello with a shipment of 90 slaves.

: [Letter from Adams & Griffin to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter from Adams & Griffin of Richmond [Virginia] to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island regarding shipments of corn and slaves on the Brig Othello, owned by the Vernons. Includes mention of the inferior quality of a recent slave shipment with "too great a proportion of children & the grown ones rather too old."

: [Letter from John Duncan to Messrs. Saml. & Wm. Vernon]; Letter from John Duncan in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to William and Samuel Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: [Letter from John Thornton and Chs. Yates to Messrs. Samuel & William Vernon]; Letter from John Thornton and Charles Yates of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Samuel and William Vernon of Newport, Rhode Island.

: Calculation of the loss upon three slaves, to each man's monthly wages; Calculation of cost to Brig Othello crew's wages for the loss of three slaves.