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"Testimony of Henry Green, November 19, 1839,
U.S. District Court, Connecticut"
Henry Green --
Lives on Long Island. On the 26th of August (1839) Capt. Porter and myself were [going], down on Montaug [sic] and went to Mr.Fithing's house -- four blacks came up for the N.E. one of them naked -- the others blankets on. -- We inquired who they were. Fithing said he did not know. There was a Brig or schooner off the hook -- spoke to the negroes -- inquired if they could speak English or Portugues [sic] -- no reply.
One said in broken English "have you name". Inquired where their Capt. was. They said "black" and "sick on board". Inquired if the mate was black -- they said no. Put hands on my face & said he could speak english. Pointed to the seas then about 12, and said when the sun was here they would make sail and go. They said they had hard winds -- broke the sails but not the schooner -- We went into the house and told Mr. Fithing we would go on board, and try to get her up to Sag Harbour which was 18 miles off, and asked him to go with us. While at dinner the negroes went off to the schooner -- we startled and overtook them. 2 1/2 miles from Fithing's house to the beach. The schooner lay with her fore-top sail [ _ complete] -- Gib & main sail about half set -- We found from 8 to 10 on the beach. They had a fire and were working. Saw a number of demi-johns and a keg or two taking off water -- one held 15 or 20 gallons. Five minutes after we got to the beach three other blacks came down from the 3rd. house a different direction -- The house was on the south side of the island, and the schooner was on the north. On the south side of the island we saw a brig standing to the eastward. The black asked where that came from? Mr. Fithing, said from New York. This last conversation was at the house. I told Capt. Porter if they were determined to go to sea, we would tell them this was a war brig. Asked while on the beach if we could go on board, they said no. Inquired if the master was coming on shore? They said no. The boat was off [row]. He (one of the blacks) pointed to the east and said, make sail and go. We told him he had better not go, for these were two men of war -- that they would fight him. He asked if they would make slaves. We replied yes. The boat went off and brot. back Sinques , and I recognized him to be one who was in the house first. They went aside and jabbered. The one who talked came up and asked, does this country make slaves. I answered no. Any Spanish here? No. Sinques then whistled, waved his hand over his head, and they all ran from the [sand] and shouted. There were four of us present, and 18 or 20 of the blacks -- might be more. We were alarmed and ran to our waggons for our guns -- they then ran up to us -- shook hands -- gave us their guns -- a knife -- a hat -- (2 guns) and handkerchief.
I told them before the shout, it was a free country.
I inquired again, if we could go on board. He said tomorrow, pointed to the east and said "sun here take schooner and go to your place, after "breakfast" They had told me they wanted to got to Sierra Leone, and inquired if I would go there? I told them No. Told us they had plenty of money, and they appeared to have -- they had handkerchiefs tied around them -- I said no money. They then went off to schooner, leaving perhaps six or eight on shore. This was after they had agreed to go to Sag Harbor. They lowered the main sail, and all but fore-top sail. This was about 4 P.M. We drove from the beach to the hills. Saw a brig standing eastward towards Gardner's Point, which is N.W. from Culloden Point about 6 m. The Brig stood past the schooner, say 3 m. and after passing she hauled up. -- We went back and hailed the schooner -- they answered, but could not understand them -- hailed again -- they seemed to have discovered the brig (Washington) A dozen or more came on shore in the boat with two trunks [?], and said the trunks contained 400 doubloons, as near as they could understand. Capt. Fordham took one, carried it to the waggon, and they brot. the other to our waggon. I heard something like money rattle in the trunk, but do not recollect which trunk it was. I inquired of them if I could go on board? They seeing the Washington's boat coming were anxious to have me go. The Washington's boat came up to the schooner, and then came to us, and landed on the beach and inquired who they were. We told them what we had seen in the papers. Mr. Porter said he would take them.
One of the blacks took up one trunk, hove it on his shoulder, and I heard what I call money rattle -- They went off. The schooner was within hail, 25 or 30 rods, from shore. At this time there were 22 on shore. I did not count them. One of our party did. Porter took part in his boat, and the schooner's boat the rest. I know the following were [?]. The schooner would have gone to sea in one hour -- wind and tide in her favor
My talk was with Banna -- a word or two with others. I could understand many words of Banna; but not all -- broken sentences. Saw him first at the house. Banna, Sinqua, Antonio, and the other two I did not know. The brig had hauled up. There were a dozen or more came in the boat to the shore -- "They said 400 doubloons" -- could speak "money" he held up his four fingers. Cannot say whether Antonio was on shore when Sinqua whistled. When the Washington's boat neared the shore, Sinque was on shore. The count of 22 was not by me but by another. There had but one boat [?] gone when I hailed the schooner. I saw no money -- reced. none. Some of our company saw the money. When Porter came on shore, the negroes fell on their knees about me. The schooner lay 25 or 30 rods from the shore in 3 fathom water. Banna held up his fingers, and said "400" [?] and "doubloons" It rattled, on though partly confined in a handkerchief.
In chief: Green says that the persons on shore were Antonio (he was at the house also) thinks he came with [the] trunks, Sinqua, Banna, Burna 2nd, Folu, Gabbo, Fagamah, Sinqua, Banna (he can talk some english). The schooner lay on the east side of Culloden's Point. By shore it would measure about 6 m from Montaug [sic] Point, 20 or 30 rods east of Culloden Point. This point is formed by port--[?]--bay on the west side. Commented shore on Fisher's Island is the nearest land on the north of this point -- say 8 miles from Culloden Pt. to Fisher's Island. N.W. is Gardner's Island.
Cross Examination
The schooner's boat did meet the Washington's boat between the schooner and shore
-- no chase. There was a pistol fired. When they met they were twice the width of
the senate chamber from shore. The Washington's boat was nearly up with the schooner's.
There were 8 to 10 negroes (perhaps 6 or 8) in the schooner's boat, when she came
up. I cannot say how many were left on shore or when the schooner's boat went off.
Both carried all back to the schooner. I hailed the schooner to get the blacks and
the trunks on shore -- it was my object to take possession of the vessel. The brig
was not within gun shot, but was "to Windward" I have a libel
filed, but am testifying to the [?] Two dogs purchased by the negroes, of M. at a
doubloon each, and in the boat.
