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Continued in Part III, and Part IV of the United States District Court "Final Records"
Return to Part I of the United States District Court "Final Records"
"'Final Records' (part 2) January 23, 1840, U.S. District Court, Connecticut, taken from U.S. Supreme Court Records, January, 1841."
And at a special [court] District Court of the United States
of America holden at Hartford within and for the district aforesaid on the 18th day
of Septemer A.D. 1839 by order of the District judge Jose Ruiz of Puerto Principa
[sic] in the Island of Cuba filed in this Court a libel
in the words folloing to wit
United States of America
District of Connecticut [Ss?]
To the Honorable Andrew T Judson Esq. Judge of the District Court for said District.
The libel and complaint of Jose Ruiz of Puerto Principe in the island of Cuba a subject of her Majesty the Queen of Spain humbly shows that on the 28th day of June last past this libellant embarked on board of the Spanish Schooner Amistad whereof one Ramon Ferrer was master and shipped on board of said Schooner which sailed from Havanna aforesaid to the port of Guanaja, another port in the Island of Cuba, the following goods and merchandise and property belonging to and owned by this libellant viz 10 doz. Glass Knobs, thirty nine and a half thousand needles, 48 rolls of wire, 45 Bottles Essence, 45 Maps of the City of Puerto Principe 13 Maps of the City of Puerto Principe, 6 Mill Rollers, 8 Cog Wheels, 6 pieces Iron, one Box Iron Wedges, three large Iron Pots, one case containing several pieces of Iron 25 Bags Spanish Beans, 25 Boxes Raisins, 20 Boxes Castile Soap, 2 Bags of Rice, 3 Bales containing 500 pounds jerked Beef, 50 pairs Shirts and Pantaloons, 200 Boxes Vermacilla, 1 Box containing 4 percussion Guns, 1 Box containing Books, 5 boxes containing Ribbons, 1 Package of Quills and other small articles of merchandise of the value of Three thousand five hundred dollars -- and likewise Forty nine black male slaves named and known in Havanna aforesaid as follows Antonio, Simon, Jose, Pedro, Martin, Manuel, [Ando_], Edwards, Celidonia, Burtolono. Ramia, Augustin, Evaristo, Casamen, Merchoi, Gabriel, Santorion, Escolastico, Rascual Estanislao, Desidero, Nicholas, Estevan, Tomas, Cosme Luis Bartolo, Julian, Federico, Salustiano, Sadislao, Celistino Epifanio, Eduardo, Benancico, Felipe, Francisco, Hipoleto, Berrato Isidoro. Vicente, Diconisco, Apolonio, Eeiquies, Leon, Julio, Hipoleto & Zenon, of whom several have died as this deponent is informed and believes, and the survivors of them this libellant is informed are known at present by the names following Cinque. Burnah 1st. Carpree, Dammah, Fourru 1st. Shumah, Conomah, Choolay, Burnah 2nd, Baah, Cabbah, Poomah, Kimbo, Peea, Bang-ye-ah. Saah, Carlee, Parale, Morrah, Yahome, Narquor, Quarto, Sesse, Con, Fourru 2nd, Kennah, Lammame Fajanah, Faah, Yahboy, Faquannah, Berrie, Fawnee Chockammaw & Gabbow, which said slaves were and are now the property of this libellant and are of the value of Twenty two thousand dollars, That on the first day of July last past as they were proceeding in the voyage aforesaid the aforesaid slaves arose upon the aforesaid captain, the crew, this libellant and one Pedro Montez. They murdered the captain and the cook, took possession of the aforesaid Schooner and compelled this libellant and the said Pedro Montez to steer towards Africa; but this libellant and the said Montes [sic] contrived to bring them to the Coast of the United States -- That after having been at sea about two months and on the 26th day of August last past when said Schooner was at anchor off Culloden point near Montauck [sic] Point they were taken by the United States surveying Brig Washington commanded by Lieutanant [sic] Thomas R. Gedney and brought into New London in the District aforesaid where said Schooner now is -- And this libellant further shows that a libel has been filed in this Honorable Court by the aforesaid Thomas R. Gedney Lieutanant Richard W. Mead and others belonging to the aforesaid United States Brig Washington -- And this libellant further shows that all of the aforesaid slaves were by him legally purchased and owned in Havanna aforesaid where Slavery is tolerated and allowed by law as in all parts of the said Island of Cuba. And this libellant humbly insists that the aforesaid slaves the property of this libellant and his other property above specified ought by the laws and usages of nations and of these United States of America and according to the treaties between Spain and these United States to be restored to this libellant without diminution and entire Wherefore your libellant prays that the said Gedney Mead and others belonging to said Brig Washington may be subjected to answer this libel with costs, and that process of attachment and proceedings may be issued against the aforesaid slaves & other property of this libellant according to law, all this being within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court and that after proper process this Honorable Court should decree the aforesaid Slaves and other property of this libellant be delivered to him or the representatives of Her Catholic Majesty in these United States as may be most proper in the premises, And this libellant will every pray &c.
Jose Ruiz
R.J. Ingersoll
Wm. Hungerford
J B Purroy
Attorneys and of Coucil for the libellants
District of Connecticut
Special District Court at Hartford Sept. 18th 1839.
Personally appears Jose Ruiz the signer of the foregoing libel and made Oath to the truth of the allegations set forth in sd. libel according to his best knowledge and belief.
Attest
Chas A Ingersoll Clerk
And said Court made an order theron in the words following to wit.
District of Connecticut [Ss?].
Special District Court at Hartford Sept. 18th 1839. This libel is allowed and the trial therof is directed to be held at Hartford within and for the District aforesaid on the 19th day of Septembr 1839 at 10 O Clock A.M. and the Clerk of this Court is directed to issue a warrant of seizure and other process according to law
Attest.
Chas. A Ingersoll Clerk
And on said 18th day of Septmeber A.D. 1839 a warrant of seizure issued in pursuance of the aforesaid order and has been duly served and returned into Court by virtue of which said warrant of seizure the Marshall of the aforesaid district on the 18th day of September A.D. 1839 took into his custody and keeping so much of the property mentioned in the foregoing libel as was found on board the said Schooner Armistad [sic] at the time he took possession of said Schooner in the libel of Thomas R. Gedney & others and also the surviving slaves mentioned in the foregoing libel. And on the said 18th day of September A.D. 1839 process of monition issued in pursuance of the aforesaid order returnable to an adjoured Term of said District Court to be holden at Hartford in said District on the 19th day of November A.D. 1839 and the same has been duly served and returned --
And at a special District Court of the United States of America holden at Hartford within and for the District aforesaid on the 18th day of September A.D. 1839 by order of the District Judge. Pedro Montez of Puerto Principe in the Island of Cuba filed in this Court a libel in the words following to wit.
United States of America
District of Connecticut [Ss]
To the Honorable Andrew T. Judson Esq. Judge of the District Court for said District.
The libel and complaint of Pedro Montez of Puerto Principe in the island of Cuba,
a subject of her Majesty the Queen of Spain humbly showeth that on the 28th day of
June last past this libellant embarked on board of the Spanish Schooner Amistad whereof
one ----------------- Ramon Ferrer was Master and shipped on board of said Schooner
which sailed from Havanna aforesaid to the port of Guanaja another port in the island
of Cuba, the following goods and merchandize [sic] and property belonging to and
owned by this libellant Viz four Boxes Merchandise containing 26 pieces of Hamburgh
Listings, 182 pieces of Muslin, 3 pieces of Drillings, 3 pieces of India Goods, 2
ps. Estopillas, 1ps. French Goods, 4 doz. Cambric Hkdfs. 12 dozens Cambric Handkerchiefs,
4 Cambric Shirts, 1/2 doz. Silk India Handkerchiefs, [4 Cambric Shirts]
14 dozen Stockings and twenty pieces of Cambric being of the value of Eight hundred
dollars and likewise three black female slaves, a black Boy, also a slave being the
property of this libellant which said girls & boy were named and known in Havanna
aforesaid as follows Juana -- Francisca -- Josefa and [left blank] and who are known
at present by the names following Viz Teme, Kagna, Mahgra and Carria, which said
Slaves were and are now the property of this libellant and are of the value of One
thousand three hundred Dollars -- that on the first day of July last past as they
were proceeding on the voyage aforesaid some slaves arose upon the aforesaid Captain,
the crew, this libellant and one Jose Ruiz. They murdered the Captain and the Cook
took possession of the said Schooner compelled this libellant and the said Jose Ruiz
to steer towards Africa but this libellant and the said Ruiz contrived to bring them
to the Coast of the United States and after having been at sea about two months on
the 26th day of August last past when said Schooner was[attacked]
at Anchor off Culloden Point near Montauk Point they were taken by the United States
surveying Brig Washington, commanded by Lieutanant [sic] Thomas R. Gedney and brought
into New London in the District aforesaid where said Schooner now is, and this libellant
further shows that a libel has been filed in this Honrable Court by the aforesaid
Thomas R. Gedney Lieutanant Richard W. Mead and others belonging to the aforesaid
United States Brig Washington -- and this libellant further shows, that all of the
aforesaid slaves were by him legally purchased and owned in Havanna aforesaid where
slavery is tolerated and allowed by Law as in all parts of the said Island of Cuba.
And this libellant humbly insists that the aforesaid Slaves the property of this
libellant and his other property above specified ought by the laws and usages of
Nations and of these United States of America according to the treaties between Spain
and these United States to be restored to this libellant without dimenution and entire.
Wherefore your libellant prays that the said Gedney, Mead and others belonging to
said Brig Washington may be subjected to answer this Libel with Costs, -- And that
process of attachment and proceedings may be issued against the aforesaid Slaves
and other property of this libellant according to Law, all this being within the
jurisdiction of of [sic] this Honorable Court and that after proper process this
Honorable Court should decree the aforesaid Slaves and other property of this libellant
to be delivered to him or to the representatives of Her Catholic Majesty in these
United States as may be most proper in the premises and this libellant will ever
pray &c --
Pedro Montez
R.J. Ingersoll
&
Hungerford
Attorneys and counceil for the libellants
District of Connecticut [Ss],
Special District Court at Hartford Sept. 18th 1839. Personally appeared Pedro Montez the signer of the foregoing libel & made oath to the truth of the allegations set forth in said libel according to his best knowledge and belief.
Attest
Chas. A Ingersoll Clerk
And said Court made an order theron in the words following to wit.
District of Connecticut [Ss]. Special District Court at Hartford September 18th 1839 -- This libel is allowed and the trial therof is directed to be held at Hartford within and for the District aforesaid on the 19th of September 1839 at 10 O Clock A.M., and the Clerk of this Court is directed to issue warrant of seizure and other process according to law --
Attest
Chas. A Ingersoll Clerk
And on said 18th day of September A.D. 1839 a warrant of siezure issued in pusuance
of the aforesaid order and has been duly served and returned into Court by virtue
of which said warrant of siezure the Marshall of the aforesaid District on the 18th
day of September A.D. 1839, took into his custody and keeping so much of the property
mentioned in the foregoing libel as was found on board the said Schooner Amistad
at the time he took possession of said Schooner on the Libel of Thomas R. Gedney
and others, and also the said Slaves mentioned in the [following]
(^foregoing) libel --
And on the said 18th day of September A.D. 1839 process of munition [sic] issued in pursuance of the aforesaid order returnable to an adjourned Term of said District Court to be holden at Hartford in said District on the 19th day of November A.D. 1839 and the same has been duly served and returned --
And at the District Court of the United States holden at Hartford in said District on the 19th day of September A.D. 1839 The United States filed in this Court a libel and claim in the words following to wit
District of Connecticut [Ss] --
At a special District Court holden at Hartford September 19th A.D. 1839
Thomas R. Gedney &c.
vs.
Schooner Amistad Libel
Be it remebered that on this the 19th day of September in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine into the District Court aforesaid comes
Wm S Holabird Attorney for the United States for the District aforesaid who for the
United States gives this Court to understand that since the Libel aforesaid of Thomas
R. Gedney and others was filed in this Court to wit within the present month of September
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, the duly accredited
minister of the United States of [Amercia] her Catholic Majesty
the Queen of Spain has officially presented to the proper department of the United
States (^Government a claim which is now pending upon the United States) setting
forth that the vessel aforesaid called the Amistad, and her Cargo aforesaid, together
with certain slaves on board the same Vessel all of them being the same as descibed
in the Libel aforesaid are the property of Spanish subjects and that said Vessel,
Cargo, and slaves while so being the property of said Spansih subjects arrived wthin
the jurisdictional limits of the United States and were taken possession of by the
said public armed Brig of the United States under such circumstances as make it the
duty of the United States to cause the same Vessel, Cargo, and slaves being the property
of said Spanish subjects to be restored to the [said] true propreitors
and owners of the same wthout further hindrance or detention, as required by the
treaty now subsisting between the United States and Spain. Now the Attorney aforesaid
in behalf of the United States prays this Hon. Court on its being made legally to
appear that the claim aforesaid of the Spanish Minister aforesaid is well founded
and is conformable to the treaty aforesaid, that this Court make such order for the
disposal of the said Vessel, Cargo and Slaves, as may best enable the United States
in all respects to comply with their treaty stipulations and preserve the public
faith inviolate -- But if it should be made to appear that the persons aforesaid
described as slaves are negroes and persons of Color who have been transported from
Africa in violation of the laws of the United States and brought within the United
States contrary to the same laws the said Attorney in behalf of the United States
claims that in such case this Hon. Court will make such further order in the premises
as may enable the United States if deemed expedient to remove such persons to the
Coast of Africa, to be delivered there to such agent or agents as may be authorized
to recieve and provide for them, pursuant to the laws of the United States in such
case provideded [sic] or to make such other order as to this Hon. Court shall seem
fit right and proper in the premises
W.S. Holabird US Dist Attorney for the District of Connecticut
Upon which said libel and claim of the said United States a warrant of siesure
[sic] issued by order of court dated the 19th day of September A.D. 1839 and has
been duly served and returned into Court, by virtue of which said warrant of siezure
the Marshall of the aforesaid District on the 19th day of September A.D. 1839 took
into his custody and keeping all the persons named in the said libel and claim as
Slaves or Negroes or persons of color, they being the same that were taken into his
custody and keeping, in the warrant which issued in the libel of the said Gedney
and others except those who died previous to his recieving the warrant which issued
in the aforesaid libel and claim of the Unitd States. And the said Court on the 19th
day of September A.D. 1839 was adjourned to the 19th day of [September]
November A.D. 1839 then to be holden at Hartford in said District
And at said District Court holden at Hartford aforesaid on the 19th day of November A.D. 1839 the United States by William S. Holabird Esq their Attorney filed in this Court a separate libel and claim in the words following to wit
District of Connecticut [Ss]
At a special District Court holden at Hartford on the 19th day of November A.D. 1839 --
Thomas R. Gedney & others
vs
Schooner Amistad
Be it remembered that on the 19th day of November 1839 William S. Holabird Attorney for the United States for the District aforesaid for and in behalf of the United States gives this Court to understad, that the duly accredited Minister of Her Catholic Majesty the Queen of Spain to the United States has oficilly presented to the Government of the United States a claim which is now pending upon the United States setting forth and averring [sic] that said Vessel called the Amistad and her cargo aforesaid together with certain slaves on board of the same Vessel all of them being the same as described in the libel aforesaid are the property of Spanish subjects, and that said Vessel, cargo, and Slaves while so being the property of said Spanish subjects arrived within the jurisdictional limits of the United States and of this Court and were taken possession of by said public armed Brig of the United States under such circumstances as make it the duty of the Government of the United States to cause said Vessel, cargo, and slaves being the property of the said Spanish subjects to be restored to the true proprietors and owners of the same without further hindrance or detention as required by treaty now in full force between the United States and Spain
Now said Attorney in behalf of the United States prays this Honorable Court that in case the claims aforesaid of the Spanish Minister aforesaid is well founded and conformable to the treaty aforesaid that this Court will make such order for the disposal of said Vessel, Cargo, and Slaves as may best enable the United States to comply with the treaty stipulations and preserve the faith of the Government
W S Holabird UStates Dist Attorney
And at said Term of said District Court holden at Hartford aforesaid on the 19th day of November A.D. 1839, Antonio G. Vega the vice Consul of Spain resident in the City of Boston in the United States filed in this Court his certain claim in the words following to wit
United States of America
District of Connecticut [Ss]
At a District Court holden for said District before the Hon. Andrew T. Judson at Hartford within and for said Distict on the nineteenth day of November A.D. 1839 comes Don Antonio G. Vega Vice Consul of her C. MY. for this and other States propounds and gives this Honorable Court to understand and be informed that there now is in the Custody of the Marshall of the District aforesaid one Antonio Ferrer who was on board of the Spanish Schooner Amistad of Habanna [sic] of the Island of Cuba aforesaid against which a libel has been filed in this Court by Thomas R. Gedney & others of the Brig Washington within the jurisdiction of this Court and brought into the port of New London, as set forth in said libel -- That said Antonio Ferrer at the time he was so brought into said district was and now is the lawful property of the legal representatives of one Ramon Ferrer who was the Captain and commander of said Schooner Amistad and who was murdered as stated in the libel now pending before this Court. The said Vice Consul would inform this Court that the said Antonio Ferrer the slave and property as aforesaid of said representatives wishes to return to the island of Cuba to the keeping and possession of the said representatives of the said Ramon Ferrer, there to remain the property of said representatives as aforesaid and a subject of her C. MY. the Queen of Spain
Wherefore the said claimant prays the advisement of this Honorable Court in the premises, and that this Court will make such a decree as shall release the said Antonio from the Custody of the Marshall of the Distict and place him within the custody, keeping, and possession of the aforesaid Consul so as to enable said Consul to return him the aid Antonio Ferrer to his lawful owner in said Island of Cuba
Antonio G. Vega
Continued in Part III, and Part IV of the United States District Court "Final Records"
Return to Part I of the United States District Court "Final Records"
