Confession of York, New York Conspiracy Trials, 1741
Eighteenth-century New York City contained many different ethnic groups, and conflicts among them created strain. In addition, one in five New Yorkers was a slave, and tensions ran high between slaves and the free population, especially in the aftermath of the Stono Rebellion. These tensions burst forth in 1741.
That year, thirteen fires broke out in the city, one of which reduced the colony’s Fort George to ashes. Ever fearful of an uprising among enslaved New Yorkers, the city’s whites spread rumors that the fires were part of a massive slave revolt in which slaves would murder whites, burn the city, and take over the colony. The Stono Rebellion was only a few years in the past, and throughout British America, fears of similar incidents were still fresh. Searching for solutions, and convinced slaves were the principal danger, nervous British authorities interrogated almost two hundred slaves and accused them of conspiracy. Rumors that Roman Catholics had joined the suspected conspiracy and planned to murder Protestant inhabitants of the city only added to the general hysteria. Very quickly, two hundred people were arrested, including a large number of the city’s slave population.
After a quick series of trials at City Hall, known as the New York Conspiracy Trials of 1741, the government executed seventeen New Yorkers. Thirteen black men were publicly burned at the stake, while the others (including four whites) were hanged (Figure 4.10). Seventy slaves were sold to the West Indies. Little evidence exists to prove that an elaborate conspiracy, like the one white New Yorkers imagined, actually existed.
Source: P. Scott Corbett, et al. US History. Houston: Open Stax, 2014.
https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/4-3-an-empire-of-slavery-and-the-consumer-revolution
https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/4-3-an-empire-of-slavery-and-the-consumer-revolution
THE CONFESSION OF YORK, A NEGROE BELONGING TO PETER MARSCHALK
(JUNE 20, 1741)
Acknowledges that what the Witnesses said on his Tryal Yesterday being the 19 Day of June 1741 was true. That he went on Sunday Morning early above two Years ago to Huson's House with Kipps's Samuel (who has been dead 2 Years) and bought a Quart of Rum and went with it to Mr. Bayards out of Town That Comforts Jack about Christmas last informed him first of the Plot. Jack met York by his gate and told him of the Plot and appointed him to meet at Huson's that he went to Husons and that he was there the Sunday the Feast was as mentioned by the Witnesses at Court, that he has been twice at Huson's and once at Comforts that he was to be a Captain, was Sworn, that many Negroes were present and all Swore and Consented; agrees to the Circumstances told of the Plot in General. Spanish Negroes were there the prisoners with him at the Bar and many other Negroes also were there at Husons. That Huson and his Wife and Daughter Swore first when those who were at the upper End of the Table near Huson swore upon a Book and the others at a Distance without a Book by Thunder etc. He York agreed to Set his Master's house on Fire but say'd he would not do it till he saw somebody Else begin and then he would he was to kill his Mistress. Went to Husons on a Sunday just after afternoon Church out and believes that meeting was about 6 weeks before the Fort burnt, London (his fellow Servant) Was to be a private Man under him Comforts Jack's meeting was two Week's after this At Comfort's House, He and Kipp's Harry were in the Shop, above twenty there, Jack went backwards and forwards from the Shop to the Kitchen Huson proposed to them to get as many other Negroes in as they Could he did not go into the Kitchen but Heard a great many were there Huson told them at his House that the Spaniard knew better than York Negroes how to fight and they were all to Stand by one another and assist the French and Spaniards they were to Stop for them some time and if they did not Come they were to do all themselves everyone in the Shop had knives and they were Sharpening of them and they were to cut the White Men's heads off.
(JUNE 20, 1741)
Acknowledges that what the Witnesses said on his Tryal Yesterday being the 19 Day of June 1741 was true. That he went on Sunday Morning early above two Years ago to Huson's House with Kipps's Samuel (who has been dead 2 Years) and bought a Quart of Rum and went with it to Mr. Bayards out of Town That Comforts Jack about Christmas last informed him first of the Plot. Jack met York by his gate and told him of the Plot and appointed him to meet at Huson's that he went to Husons and that he was there the Sunday the Feast was as mentioned by the Witnesses at Court, that he has been twice at Huson's and once at Comforts that he was to be a Captain, was Sworn, that many Negroes were present and all Swore and Consented; agrees to the Circumstances told of the Plot in General. Spanish Negroes were there the prisoners with him at the Bar and many other Negroes also were there at Husons. That Huson and his Wife and Daughter Swore first when those who were at the upper End of the Table near Huson swore upon a Book and the others at a Distance without a Book by Thunder etc. He York agreed to Set his Master's house on Fire but say'd he would not do it till he saw somebody Else begin and then he would he was to kill his Mistress. Went to Husons on a Sunday just after afternoon Church out and believes that meeting was about 6 weeks before the Fort burnt, London (his fellow Servant) Was to be a private Man under him Comforts Jack's meeting was two Week's after this At Comfort's House, He and Kipp's Harry were in the Shop, above twenty there, Jack went backwards and forwards from the Shop to the Kitchen Huson proposed to them to get as many other Negroes in as they Could he did not go into the Kitchen but Heard a great many were there Huson told them at his House that the Spaniard knew better than York Negroes how to fight and they were all to Stand by one another and assist the French and Spaniards they were to Stop for them some time and if they did not Come they were to do all themselves everyone in the Shop had knives and they were Sharpening of them and they were to cut the White Men's heads off.
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Primary Source Text in Public Domain