Slavery in Detroit

Slavery began almost with the settlement of Detroit. Some of the Native Americans who had gathered near the fort brought with them, captives taken in battle, and some were transferred to the French.
In 1760, there were both Native American and African American slaves in Detroit. Most of the Native American slaves were from the Pawnee tribe, and a few from the Osage, Choctaw and other western tribes who had been captured in war and sold to French and English residents.

Herein are transcriptions of letters from a letter-book of Phyn & Ellice located at the Buffalo Historical Society: includes any spelling or grammical errors
July 7, 1760
Mr. H. Levy:
Before this reaches you we hope every former order will be completed. Above we send you a small memorandum which we beg you'll execute immediately on receipt. We shall be pleased to hear how beaver is selling. If you have wampum, pipes and moons, you may send them by first opportunity and we'll make a trial of them at Detroit this winter.
Yours, & c.
P.S. Do not fail to purchase the blacks by first opportunity, as the person for whom they are, has contracted to deliver them at Detroit early in the fall.

August 23, 1760
Mr. James Stirling, Detroit
Sir,
We now inclose you Invoice per L____(UNREADABLE), the loading of 6 boats is under the direction of James McDonald, who is engaged to proceed with them to Detroit. We have tried all in our power to procure the wenches and negro lads, but it is impossible to get any near your terms. No green negroes are now brought into the Province. We can purchase negroes from 80 pounds to 90 pounds and wenches from 60 pounds to 70 pounds. If such will be acceptable, advise and you shall have them in the spring, and perhaps under, if we can meet with Yankees in the winter.
With Great Esteem, Yours: P & E

August 13, 1770
Mr. Levy:
Sir - We have received 2 negro boys, the oldest will do for Mr Stirling, at Detroit and is entered in our order book. But we are entirely at a loss what to do with that fat-gutted boy, having orders for none such for any of our correspondents, and we don't by any means want him for ourselves. Pray, are not bills of sale necessary with these African gentlemen?
We are, & c.

March 22, 1771
Mr Carpenter Wharton:
Sir - Upon your arrival at Philadelphia, pleas advise us by letter addressed to the care of Mr. Samuel Franklin, Jun. if you can purchase for us two negro lads from 15 - 20 years old, for about 50 pounds, New York currency, each. They must be stout and sound, but we are indifferent about their qualifications, as they are for Frenchmen at Detroit.
Yours, P & E

(undated)
To Mr. John Porteous, Detroit,
Dear Sir - We have contracted with a New England gentleman for some green negroes to be delivered here the first of August, and then your wench will be forwarded, together with a negro boy, in case she may sometime there after choose a husband. We apprehend he will be useful to you, or advantageous about the sloop, or you can dispose of him as you find best. The price is 50 pounds each.
Yours, & c.


Official returned made to the Governor-General in 1773, showed that there were then 96 slaves at the settlement, Detroit; 5 years later there were 127. After another 5 years the number was reported at 175 and in 1782, there were 78 male and 101 female slaves.
Among other old records in Detroit, there is a document given by John Askin, grandfather of the late E.A. Brush, dated September 6, 1766, stating "I set at liberty and give full freedom unto my Pawnee slave Monnette, which I had from Mons Barrussa at Michilmackinac."
On October 17, 1794, the same John Askin bought of James May, a negro man, Pompey for 45 pounds, and on January 3, 1795, he sold him to James Donaldson for 50 pounds.


The American State Papers (Volume 1 pg 146) contain an account of an effort to have slavery legalized in this region. On November 22, 1802, Governor Harrison issued a proclamation notifiying the people of an election to be held on December 11, 1802, to nominate delegates of a convention to be held December 20, 1802. The main object of the convention was the question of considering the suspension of Article 6 of the Ordinance of 1787, which prohibited the holding of slaves in the territory. The comittee determined to refuse to suspend the articles, and the Territory remained free.
The imporation of slaves was discontinued by law on September 17, 1792 of the Canadian Parliament, any slave born there after was to be freed at the age of 25 years. Under the Jay Treaty of November 19, 1794, the inhabitants of the Territory surrended to the United States should be protected in their property. The question as to whether slaves could be legally holden were adjudicated in 1807.
A case in the Supreme Court of the Territory by Richard Patterson, of Sandwich, sought to apprehend his slaves, Joseph Quinn and Jane then residing in Michigan. The case tried on September 29, 1807, was against the claimant, Patterson, because the only slaves allowed in Michigan Territory were those of the British settlers, who were within the Territory on July 11, 1796. Those who held slaves under British rule continued to hold them, and the 1810 census shows that 17 slaves were held in Detroit.
The tax assessor of Wayne County gave notice on March 11, 1818 that made "negro and mullato slaves rateable for taxes for the current year."
The 1830 census shows 32 slaves in Michigan, but by 1836, all slaves were either manumitted or had died. An advertisement of runaway slaves appears in the Gazette as late as 1827.
An Act of April 13, 1827, provided that after May 1st, all "colored" persons should be registered in the county clerk's office; and no blacks were to be permitted to reside in the Territory unless they could provide a certificate of freedom. The certificate was to be placed on record. The "coloreds" were also required, within 21 days, to file bonds with one or more households of freemen, the sum of $500. If this law was not complied with, they were to be sent out of the Territory.
On June 14, 1833, Thornton Blackburn and his wife, who resided in Michigan for almost two years, were claimed and arrested as fugitive slaves from Kentucky. During their examination before the Justice of the Peace, a small crowd of African-Americans collected and threatened to resist any execution of returning the Blackburns . During the consideration, the Blackburns were placed in jail and several vistors came to see them, one a female, exchanged clothing with Mrs Blackburn, and allowed her to escape. Meanwhile the crowd had armed themselves with clubs and assembled near the jail, but as night drew near, they disbursed. The next morning, the crowd, in larger number now, gathered and while the sheriff drove up in his carriage, the crowd rushed in, rescued Blackburn put him in a cart and he escaped to Windsor.
Sheriff Wilson was dangerously injuried and several African Americans were arrested. Seeing no means of preserving order, Governor Cass ordered a company of troops from Fort Gratiot to aid the civil authorities to support the law. They established a city watch which would last until the trial was either over or discharged against the African Americans currently in jail for helping Blackburn.


The public began to increasingly oppose slavery and on April 26, 1837, the Detroit Anti-Slavery Society was organized. The officers of the first association in 1837 were: Shubael Conant, Edward Brooks, Edwin Cowles, Cullen Brown, Charles Henry Stewart, Geroge F. Porter, William Kirkland, Alanson Sheley and Peter Boughton. The Society only existed a short time, but it's spirit did remain, and its principals became more popular.


In January 1842, an exslave, Henry Bibb, came to Detroit. He lectured in 1844 and 1845 in Michigan of the Liberty Association, a political organization which sought to promote the election of anti-slavery candidates.
On September 18, 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act. It provided that slaves arrested in any state, are appointed special officers to secure their arrest, and that any testimony of fugitives, in any trial growing out of their arrest, could not be admitted to the next fugitive's trial. This greatly increased the strength of the anti-slavery sentiment.
Slaves frequently passed through Detroit because of its close proximity to Canada, where slaves became free men.
In October 1850, the arrest of an African American man named Rose created so much disruption in Detroit that General Schwartz had to call out three volunteer companies to preserve peace. Slaveholders were beginning to become completely outwitted by an extensive chain of persons extending from the slaves states, who organized relief and transportation of fugitive slaves to the North. A paper in their interest, called The Voice of the Fugitive, was published at Sandwich, then in Windsor, by Henry Bibb.
In order to aid runaway slaves a Refugees Home Society was organized in Detroit; and officed by the active members of the Liberty Association. The society bought a large quantity of land and aided in settling nearly 50 families. It was in operation from 1854 to 1872.


On March 12, 1859, John Brown arrived in Detroit with 14 slaves from Missouri. One of these slaves gave birth to a son on the journey, who was named John Brown and lived in Windsor many years.
Frederick Douglass happened to be in Detroit doing a lecture the same day Brown arrived with the slaves. After his lecture, Douglass, Brown, George DeBaptiste, William Lambert, John Richards, Dr J. Ferguson, William Webb and a few others, met at the house of William Webb and held a preliminary meeting which resulted in the organization of Harper Ferry's Raid. Their plan was to use the vicinity of Harper's Ferry as a place to assemble fugitive slaves and protect them and their freedom.


On February 26, 1863, a mulatto man, named William Faulkner was arrested for alleged "outrage" on a little girl. The actual trial started on March 5, 1863 and on his way back to jail from court, he was struck in the head with a paving stone. The mob surrounding him tried to seize him, however officers were able to get him back to the jail. The next day, he was sentenced to life in prison, and while being conveyed back to jail a group of people attacked the guards and sheriff, one man was shot and killed. Infuriated mobbers then began to attack African Americans. Their buildings were set on fire, and they waited outside of these burning buildings with stones to keep them inside.
It was seven years later, when a number of gentlemen contributed money and hired Faulkner a new trial. He was pardoned and released December 31, 1869.


On October 26th and 27th of 1843, the African Americans petitioned to the State Convention for the privilege of citizenship. It was of course, denied. They re-petitioned in 1850 and 1865, however, the African Americans were not granted citizenship or the right to vote until the 15th Admendment was added to the Constitution on March 30, 1870.



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