Although we collect records reflecting the history of Dorset, we do occasionally have some documents relating to areas outside of the county. This is often because some families based in Dorset also had interests elsewhere. We hold documents relating to the enslavement of people in the Caribbean, often in collections donated by eminent families, such as the Pitt-Rivers collection.
Take a look at the list below of documents relating to slavery. Contact us if you would like to find out more information or take a look at the original documents.
| Reference number | Date | Description of documents |
|---|---|---|
| D-BKL/H/H/1/96 | June 1816 | Parliamentary issues including: a slave revolt in Barbados and the subject of William Wilberforce's Bill for the compulsory registration of slaves. Also mentioned, naval action by the British and Dutch against the Dey of Algiers following a massacre of fishermen under British protection. |
| D-CRI/A/110/3/1 | 19 June 1771 | Mortgage (1) William Halsted (2) Thomas Collet. Murmuring Brook plantation with schedule of 210 enslaved people by name with occupations on plantation. |
| D-LEG/F/21 | 1794-1815 | Letter to H O Wills about politics, slave trade and Mr Wilberforce (pp 93-94). |
| D-PIT/F/54 | 1813-1816 | Letters from William Morton Pitt concerning a plan for a new trust and provision for Beckford's livelihood, with his own proposals; notes of insurance premium and purchase of enslaved people; statement of outgoings on estate including Jamaican property. |
| D-PIT/T/853 | 1773-1807 | The Shrewsbury sugar plantation, with all its lands, properties, and works; numerical schedule of enslaved people in deed of 1773. |
| D-PIT/T/857 | 1815 | Conveyance of eleven enslaved people at Mount Carmel Plantation; with schedule of their names, ages, jobs, condition, valuation, and general remarks. |
| D-WIB/F/48 | 1837-1896 | Pamphlet/postal tract: possible date 1840+ Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade, and for the Civilisation of Africa |
| PE-LBY/MI/1/2 | Jul 1833 | Church of England, Longbredy Parish, Dorset- Bill for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies, for promoting the Industry of the Manumitted Slaves, and for compensating the Owners of such Slaves. |
| NU.1/SP/6 | 1859 | Letter from Maria Weston Chapman to the Revd R L Carpenter about his forthcoming visit to America and the anti-slavery movement there. With printed circular about 25th Anti-Slavery Subscription Anniversary in Boston. |
| PE-WSD/RE/4/1 | 1813-1869 | Church of England, Winterborne Strickland Parish, Dorset "Feb 25 an unbaptised Negro slave (belonging to Mr Vine) was buried" 1702 |
This is by no means an exhaustive list of documents relating to the topic, so if this has piqued your interest why not search our catalogue for more documents, or contact us to arrange a visit with your class to view the documents themselves (where possible).