Archive · With the French army and fleet, 1781 to 1782
January 6, 1782
William Fitzhugh: five people “on Board of The Magnanime”
A Maryland planter asks Washington to write the French admiral about five people from his estate who sailed with the French fleet after Yorktown, and encloses their names.
What it says, in plain language
Colonel William Fitzhugh of Calvert County, Maryland, asks Washington to write to the comte de Grasse about “five Valuable slaves of Mine” who were on the French ship of the line Magnanime when the fleet left the Chesapeake in November 1781. His sons had been told the people were aboard; an agent went out to the ship and “See the Slaves & And Demanded them,” but the admiral would not release anyone without proof of ownership, “As many Impostures had Avail’d themselves in Similar Cases.” The enclosed list names a family: George Wilks, about 30, a pilot; his mother Sukey, about 50, a cook; his sister Sal, about 25, a weaver; his brother Ben, about 15; and his sister Rachel, about 12. George, it says, had been “a Pilot & Gunner” on enemy barges and should be kept apart from his family “to prevent His Escape.”
What it adds to the boards
Board 2 says the orders at Yorktown sent people “back into slavery.” Some got away. This letter and Washington’s reply to de Grasse are the clearest written evidence that Black people from the Yorktown garrison left on French ships, and they name five of them. Whether the Wilks family chose the French or were simply held aboard is not stated; Washington’s letter says they were “taken in the Bay.”
No image of the original is shown here yet. The manuscript is in the Washington Papers at the Library of Congress; no page image is reproduced here yet.
Transcription
Calvert County Maryland Janry 6th 1782.
Dear General
When I had the Pleasure to Meet You at Annapolis, Considering Your short stay with us, & being unwilling to Disturb you with private Business, I omitted to solicit your Excellencys Application to the Count De Grasse, respecting five Valuable slaves of Mine, who were on Board of The Magnanime, & sail'd with the French Fleet, These slaves If they can be recover'd will be a Considerable Acquisition to me, Considering the very great Losses I have sustain'd by the Enemy, Permit me therefore to Entreat you, in the Course of Your Correspondance with the Count De Grasse, & by the first Oppertunity to solicit His attention to this Subject, & If the slaves are still on Board His Fleet, or have been Landed in any of the Islands, that His Excellency wou'd be pleas'd to direct them to be Secured, & Sent by any Conveyance which may Offer, Either to Maryland or Virginia, & I will Pay their Passages or If by Custom, or Other wise they Shou'd have been Sold, that the Value may be remitted to me. My sons had Advice from the Capt. of the Magnanime before they left York, that my Slaves were on board that Ship, or wou'd be deliver'd to their Order; in Consequence of Which My son Perry gave an Order to Mr Stephon Steward junr who promis'd to Call for them, but neglected it, & My Sons having left york Mr John Allen Thomas, went on board the ship, a Day or two before the Fleet Sail'd, See the Slaves & And Demanded them, but was refus'd for want of a Proper Authority to receive them, The Capt. Sent His Barge & an Officer with Mr Thomas on board the Admirals Ship, And the Admiral wou'd not Order the Slaves to be deliver'd without a proper Power from the owner, or other Authority, As many Impostures had Avail'd themselves in Similar Cases, I inclose a List & Discription of the Slaves, & shall be Infinitely Oblig'd to Your Excellency for your friendly Interposition in my favor.
[Three paragraphs on family news and the Maryland Assembly's supply bill follow.]
Willm Fitzhugh
a List of Slaves belonging to Colo. William Fitzhugh of the State of Maryland, & were on Board the Magnanime a ship of the French Navy When the Fleet Sail'd from the Bay of Chesapeake under the Command of His Excellency The Count De Grasse in Novr 1781.
Viz. George, Call'd George Wilks, a Stout Molotto Man about 30 Years of Age was a Workman & Pilot in the Bay.
a Negro Woman Nam'd Sukey about 50 years of Age, She was a Cook, & Mother to George.
Sarah, Call'd Sal, a Molotto Woman about 25 Years of Age She was a Weaver, & Sister to George.
a Molotto Boy Nam'd Ben about 15 Years of Age, He was a House Servant & brother to George.
a Molotto Girl Nam'd Rachel about 12 Years Old, & sister to George.
The above mention'd George was a Pilot & Gunner to Several of the Enemies Piratical Barges. When they Burn'd Many Houses & Comitted Several Murders. It may be prudent to Secure Him seperate from His Family to prevent His Escape.
Willm Fitzhugh
Maryland Janry 6th 1782
Text from Founders Online (National Archives). Original spelling kept; the manuscript’s long dashes are shown as commas; modern editorial notes are not reproduced.