Collection search - Clarkson Papers fonds [textual record (microform)]

Record information – Brief
1
Clarkson Papers fonds [textual record (microform)]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1791-1828.

Reference:

R18385-0-0-E, MG21-Add.MSS.-41262A-41264

Type of material:

Textual material

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

183172

Context of this record:

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Clarkson Papers fonds
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Record information – Details

Fonds includes:

4 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1791-1828.

Place of creation:

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent:

1 microfilm reel.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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The fonds consists of microfilmed documents, 1791-1828, relating to the emigration of eleven hundred Black Loyalists from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone and the development of the colony under its founder, the Sierra Leone Company. Includes correspondence to and from John Clarkson, an advertisement, petitions, tickets of land grants, notebook of John Clarkson, 1791, correspondence of Thomas Clarkson, journal of Isaac Du Bois on the state of the colony; letterbook of incoming and some outgoing correspondence of John Clarkson following his departure from Sierra Leone and documenting the state of the colony; handwritten account of the history of the colony of Sierra Leone, memorials, and notebook maintened by the colony's surgeon. This material is located on microfilm reel A-1981.

Provenance:

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Clarkson, John, 1764-1828

Biography/Administrative history:

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Clarkson, John, 1764-1828 : Abolitionist.

John Clarkson (1764-1828) was the son of the Rev. John Clarkson and his wife, Anne Ward. He joined the Royal Navy at age eleven and was appointed Lieutenant in 1782. He opposed flogging as the means of maintaining naval discipline and left the Royal Navy because he viewed war as conflicting with the Christian Gospels. In 1789 he was appointed a member of a committee studying the mortality in slave-ships. In that year, he also became a member of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. In 1791 he volunteered to organize Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia who wished to emigrate to the new colony of Sierra Leone.

In all, 1,196 Blacks boarded ships in January 1792, commanded by Clarkson. He became the governor of the colony, remaining in Sierra Leone until 31 December 1792. In 1793, he was informed by the Sierra Leone Company that his services were no longer required. He subsequently became a banker in East Anglia, marrying Susanna Lee in 1793. Throughout the remainder of his life he devoted much of his time to the abolition of the slave trade.

The Rev. Thomas Clarkson, (1760-1846) John's brother, published a number of works on the evils of the slave trade. He was actively involved in attempting to legalize the abolition of slavery in Great Britain.

Finding aid:

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(No finding aid) A description of all eight volumes is found in the British Museum's catalogue of its holdings for the year 1925.

Additional information:

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Custodial history:

The British Library (Museum) acquired the "Clarkson Papers" in 1925. The National Archives has acquired copies on microfilm of a portion of the Clarkson Papers, volumes 1 to 4, consisting of John Clarkson papers. Not copied is later material dealing with the colony in Sierra Leone, from its founding until 1826, volumes 5 to 8.

Location of originals note:

Originals are located in the British Library.

Associated material note:

An account by John Clarkson of his mission to improve the lives of the Black population of Nova Scotia, 1791-1792, is located in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia. It was edited and published in 1971 as follows: Fergusson, Charles Bruce, Clarkson's Mission to America, 1791-1792, Publication No. 11, Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S., 1971.

Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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121-020359-6
1994/0100
MG21-Add.MSS.-41262A-41264

Former archival reference no.:

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MG21-Add.MSS.-41262A-41264
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Conditions of access:

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Textual records: microform

[Consultation95 Open, no copying]

Microfilm reel A-1981

[Consultation 95 Open, no copying]

Terms of use:

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There is no restriction on the consultation of these papers. All requests for photocopies of individual documents on the reel or copies of the reel itself must be directed to the British Library.

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