William Wilberforce Day is on August 24.
He led the British Parliament’s fight to end the transatlantic slave trade.
The West Africa Squadron was formed by the Royal Navy to enforce Wilberforce’s law.
It took many years to stop the slave transportation.
Wilberforce never lived to witness an extraordinary international incident which required the diplomatic intervention of Lord Palmerston in 1841.
Most remembered locally for his ‘Palmerston’s Follies’ (Solent forts), he stepped in as Defence Minister to secure the release of Midshipman Jackson of East Cowes built brig Waterwitch.
Joseph White’s famous Royal Navy ship Waterwitch was on West Africa Squadron patrols when Henry Jackson boarded Tigris.
Waterwitch commander, Lieutenant Matson, had intelligence that American merchant vessel Tigris had an African cabin boy aboard.
Matson sent Jackson and seven crew to conduct lawful inspection under the Navy’s ‘right to search’ anti-slavery laws.
Jackson boarded and asked to see the cabin boy.
The Tigris captain, Nathan Frye of Salem, protested that the boy was aboard willingly.
The lad spoke no English.
Jackson disputed Frye’s claim and put him and most of his crew ashore.
They returned to America, unconfined.
Jackson and his crew took command of Tigris plus four retained Tigris men.
They sailed it across the Atlantic to Salem for adjudication by the law courts.
On arrival, Jackson stayed to testify on behalf of the British seizure, on violation of the United States laws against the Slave Trade. He never expected his own arrest later.
Newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic covered the lengthy controversial case.
In December 1840, one American paper expressed anger: "On a groundless suspicion of being engaged in the slave trade, the English navy has used every frivolous pretext to make forcible seizure and detention of our merchant ships.
"It will lead to serious trouble."
Another editorial voiced heated outrage at the Royal Navy for: "Piratical behaviour with an intention to drive American traders from the coast.
"Such petty insolence, increasing in frequency, demands the immediate notice of our Yankee Government."
When Frye’s case came to court in Boston in January 1841, Lt Matson’s letter to the Registrar of the American Court named the boy as Heme: "He is a native of Guillengues near Benguela, from where he was forcibly taken by the crew of the Tigris.
"He was being transported to St Thomas’s, having been sold to a merchant there whose property he now is."
A Boston newspaper reported sympathetically of Heme: "The Tigris crew are charged with having in their possession on the coast of Africa, a slave boy, contrary to United States laws.
"The boy appears bright and intelligent but the snow and courtroom terrified him.
"He wept heartily and believes he is to be fattened for the table."
The defence was that: "Capt Frye is a young man on his first voyage as master.
"Tigris is owned by Brookhouse and Hunt, engaged in the African trade for many years, who deny knowledge of Heme’s transportation."
It was confirmed Frye’s cargo (20,000 lbs of ivory and a quantity of coffee) was not disturbed by Jackson’s crew.
The trial was postponed until a Portuguese interpreter could give Heme’s evidence in English.
Frye, Brookhouse and Hunt were bailed on $500 each.
When next in court, Frye’s defence letter sent to Matson admitted some guilt.
Frye had exchanged one African boy for another, owned by different men in different ports, his ship’s documents did not match this.
He told his crew to lie for him.
Frye apologised: "l am aware this will lead to great censure in the United States."
The Court discharged the Tigris crew, except for Frye and First Mate Burnham.
Frye was bailed on $3,000, Burnham on $1,500.
Their Circuit Court trial was set for May.
Heme stayed in the charge of the District Marshal.
British newspapers supported the legal right of the Royal Navy and Jackson to carry out their duties.
Then Jackson was arrested.
The four Tigris men, used as crew by Jackson, brought a civil case against him.
They claimed he’d brought them home in custody and wanted $4,000 in damages.
His $8,000 bail was guaranteed by Her British Majesty’s Consul (about $1,000,000 today).
Jackson’s defence was he acted on orders and was not personally liable.
America vehemently disputed ‘the legal right to search’ claim.
Official top level letters were exchanged between the two nations.
It became a matter debated in Parliament.
Lord Palmerston began diplomatic efforts to resolve the inflamed situation.
In June, a Boston paper reported bitterly: "The Grand Jury decided evidence against the Tigris was so shallow that Frye and Burnham were found not guilty.
"Nevertheless, America is obliged to pay 8 cents a mile to Mr Jackson for the distance from Africa to New York and home to England (7,000 to 8,000 miles), also $1 and 25 cents a day for witness fees.
"A fine speculation, this suppression of the slave trade!"
Jackson walked free and returned home to Portsmouth to resume his navy duties.
In his absence, Waterwitch, under Matson’s command, had continued anti-slavery patrols.
They freed hundreds more like the young boy Heme.
Joseph White’s East Cowes yard built more Royal Navy vessels.
Prime Minister Palmerston built his chain of forts in the 1860s.
The West Africa Squadron lost 1,600 Royal Navy servicemen in the long sea battle to end the slave trade.
They are remembered here on William Wilberforce Day.
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