January 1840

Manuscript document

Title: [Antonio G. Vega's deposition given to United States District Attorney William S. Holabird]

States "that the Spanish edict prohibiting the importation of slaves from Africa, was not considered as applicable to that Island and was [inserted: then] wholly disregarded after slaves were landed... that the slaves on the plantations kept their native languages for years... that the ships papers, of the Amistad are... in the usual form, & not necessary to practice any fraud to obtain such papers from the proper officers... that the Barracoons are public markets where all description of slaves are bought and sold-" Mentions the deposition of Richard Robert Madden, British…

GLC05636.08

January 10, 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Document signed

Title: [Antonio G. Vega's deposition given to United States District Attorney William S. Holabird]

Signed deposition read before the court stating "that the court of mixed commissions had no jurisdiction except in cases of capture... that newly imported African Negroes were constantly brought to the Island, & after landed, were bona fide transferred from one owner to an other without any interference by the local authority, or the mixed commission, and were held by the owners, and recognized, as lawful property, that slavery was recognized in Cuba by all the Laws that was considered in force there... " Appears to be a complete version of GLC 5636.07 and an edited version of GLC 5636.…

GLC05636.09

January 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Manuscript document

Title: [Notes of Holabird, United States District Attorney for Connecticut]

Contains testimony of Dwight G. James (an abolitionist), Captain Green (who came into contact with Amistad Africans on shore, prior to their capture), N. Wilcox (Norris Wilcox, United States Marshal for the District of Connecticut), and E. Osborne (who notes the value of the cargo). Wilcox notes the cargo on board the Amistad, and Green identifies persons in the courtroom who he had seen on shore. Possibly created in Connecticut, where the District Court heard the case.

GLC05636.10

November 1839

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimonies regarding the capture of the Amistad]

Created at Connecticut District Court in November 1839. At the top, states: "Schooner Amistad plea to jurisdictions & matter of it- Baldwin says most extraordinary objections & c Circuit Court said only that so long as the matter was pending before the District Ct that Court should not dismiss & c..." Relates events that took place 26 August 1839, when Captains Henry Green and Peletiah Fordham, [Fithy?], Sherman, Conklin met the Africans from the Amistad on the shore near Culloden Point, New York. Green would later enter a salvage claim for the ship and its contents. A faint…

GLC05636.12

1839-1840

Manuscript document

Title: U. States v. Cinqué & others...

... (title continues) Charged with murder & robbery (piracy) on board the Spanish Schooner 'Amistad'- The offense committed by foreigners, on the high seas, & on board a vessel belonging exclusively to subjects of foreign states... Have the Courts of the U.S. jurisdiction of the offense?" Contains a summary of the results of several cases, and how their verdicts affect the Amistad case. Cases include: U.S. v. Palmer et al. 3 Wheat 610, U.S. v. Pirates 5. Wheat 195, U.S. v. Keesler 91 Baldwin's Rep, U.S. v. Davis 2 Sumner's Rep 482, and 5 Halls Am Law Journal 459 case of the Almeda…

GLC05636.15

6 January 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Forsyth discusses the Amistad case, revealing the administration's assumptions regarding the verdict of the trial. States that the Spanish minister had applied to the State Department for the "use of a vessel of the United States in the event of the decision of the Circuit Court in the case of the Amistad being favorable to his former application, to convey the negroes to Cuba, for the purpose of being delivered over to the authorities of that Island." States that President Van Buren has agreed, and "ordered a vessel to be in readiness to receive the negroes from the Custody of the Marshal…

GLC05636.18

January 17, 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Fearing that his letter of 12 January had not reached Holabird, Forsyth reiterates President Van Buren's instructions regarding the Amistad. Writes "... I have to acquaint you with the desire of the President that you take the necessary measures to carry the case by appeal to the Circuit Court, both on that branch of the decision which relates to the negroes, and that which grants salvage on the vessel and the goods found on board. That part which concerns the slave Antonio is not to be disturbed, and instructions will be forwarded to you designating the parties to whom he is to be…

GLC05636.19

25 March 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Encloses a letter from the Spanish minister at Washington, D.C., a translation of the letter, and the printed copy of a treaty (not included) from 1835 between Great Britain and Spain intended to enforce restriction of the slave trade. Intends for Holabird to use the documents at the upcoming Circuit Court Amistad trial. Instructs Holabird to return the treaty to the State Department on the request of the Spanish minister.

GLC05636.21

30 April 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Relates that the Africans' defense team requested President Martin Van Buren to instruct Holabird to present copies of the 1817 Decree of the King of Spain, the 1838 ordinance of the Queen of Spain, and the 1817 Treaty between Spain and Great Britain in the Circuit Court hearing of the Amistad case. These documents, which had previously been used when the Amistad trial was held at the District Court level, pertain to the slave trade in Spanish territories. Van Buren does not question the authenticity of the documents, but does not feel he has the right "to interpose in the manner desired of…

GLC05636.22

17 July 1838

Andes, fl. 1838

Document signed

Title: Comandancia de matriculas [In Spanish]

Relates Selestino [Celestino] is the property of José Ramon Ferrer and will attend his master for the duration of the voyage aboard the Amistad.

GLC05636.42

26 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion General De Rentas Reales Marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Don Pedro Montes including silk, onions, and cologne.

GLC05636.43

27 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad destined for Guanaja (a bay island of Honduras in the Caribbean). Lists items to be shipped for Don Estrada. Numbered "2" on verso.

GLC05636.44

26 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad destined for Guanaja (a bay island of Honduras in the Caribbean). Lists items to be shipped for Don Alejandro Bartia. Numbered "3" on verso.

GLC05636.45

27 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad destined for Guanaja (a bay island of Honduras in the Caribbean). Lists items to be shipped for Don Ramon Ferrer including ham. Numbered "4" on verso.

GLC05636.46

27 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad destined for la Guanaja (a bay island of Honduras in the Caribbean). Lists items to be shipped for Don Ramon Ferrer including noodles. Numbered "5" on verso.

GLC05636.47

27 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Don [illegible] including iron and copper. Numbered "6" on verso.

GLC05636.48

27 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad la Guanaja (a bay island of Honduras in the Caribbean). Lists items to be shipped for Don José de Armas including books. Numbered "7" on verso.

GLC05636.49

26 June 1839

Document signed

Title: Administracion general de rentas reales marítimas [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Forrcusets [?] [The "D" for Don has been struck], including rolls of wire and bottles of essence. Numbered "8" on verso.

GLC05636.50

26 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading issued at Havana. Lists items to be shipped for Don Ramon [Berness?]. Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja.

GLC05636.51

26 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading issued at Havana. Lists items to be shipped for Don Jose [Arrt?] Fellenir. Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja.

GLC05636.52

26 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Arne and Laca (the printed "D," signifying "Don," has been crossed out). Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja.

GLC05636.53

25 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Don Jose Valls. Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja.

GLC05636.54

27 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Don Ramon [Berness?]. Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja.

GLC05636.55

27 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Don Luis Cerruda. Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja.

GLC05636.56

25 June 1839

Administracion general de rentas reales maritimas, fl. 1839

Document signed

Title: [Official document citing goods on board the Amistad] [In Spanish]

Partially printed. Bill of lading for the schooner Amistad. Lists items to be shipped for Don F. de Sandoval. Cites the Amistad's destination as Guanaja. States "por [by] Carpineti Carranera" at the bottom of the page.

GLC05636.57