Archive · The claimants and the governor, 1782 to 1784
May 3, 1783
Thomas Walke: “no slaves were to be given up”
A Virginia claimant reports to his state’s delegates in Congress on his trip to New York to seize people under Article VII.
What it says, in plain language
Thomas Walke of Princess Anne County went to New York “with a number of others” to reclaim people “wrested from us by the British enimy.” Finding it harder than expected, they applied to Carleton himself and were told by his aide-de-camp “that no slaves were to be given up, who claimed the benefit of their former proclamations,” and that there was no point waiting longer. He calls it “a glareing piece of injustice” and warns that “several hundreds” sailed for Nova Scotia the week before. Congress read the letter on May 8 and sent a copy to Washington.
What it adds to the boards
Walke’s memorial to Carleton of April 28, signed with Captain John Willoughby Jr. of Norfolk and others, asked help recovering “at least 300 negroes.” Willoughby is the man Thomas Newton named to the governor in August 1782 as having lost “upwards of 90.” This letter is the claimant’s own account of what Hugh Walker also found that month.
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Transcription
Philadelphia May 3d 1783.
Gentlemen
In consequence of the 7th: article of the treaty between America, and England; I, with a number of others, have been to New-York; in order to reclaim our slaves that were wrested from us by the British enimy; supposing there cou'd be no obstacle to our recovering, at least such of the slaves as we cou'd find and prove to be our property, but contrary to our expectations, the event has proved the reverse, in as much as, that having discover'd the numberless difficulties attending this matter, we thought it most expedient to apply to Sir Guy Carlton, that through his means the business might be rendered more practicable, than we had before found it; upon which application, we recieved for answer, from his aid de camp, that no slaves were to be given up, who claimed the benefit of their former proclamations for liberating such slaves as threw themselves under the protection of the British government, and that he thought it unnecessary for us to wait longer on business of that nature. This appears to me to be such a glareing piece of injustice, and open violation of the above mentioned article of the treaty, that I think it my duty as well as interest to acquaint you of this matter, that you may lay it before Congress, who will I flatter myself as speedily as possibly, take the necessary steps for preventing a further injury being done to the citizens of this country: if there is not an immediate check put to the proceedings of the British General in this matter, the injury will be inconcieveable, as I am well assured several hundreds of the above mentioned slaves sailed during the last weik to Nova Scotia. I am with the utmost respect and regard
Your Most Obedt. Servt:
Thos Walke
Text from Founders Online (National Archives). Original spelling kept; the manuscript’s long dashes are shown as commas; modern editorial notes are not reproduced.