Manchester and Slavery
Marika Sherwood's book After Abolition: Britain and the Slave Trade since 1807 (B Tauris & Co Ltd, 2007) (306.362) includes a chapter about Manchester's impact on the slave trade. She has also published the article 'Manchester, Liverpool and slavery' in the North West Labour History Journal, 32 (Sep 2007).
The BBC Manchester web site has a good section about slavery and abolition. This Includes articles about 'Manchester and Slavery' by Washington Alcott and the 'Manchester Slavery Tour'. The Revealing Histories web site is also a good starting point.
The Greater Manchester County Record Office (with Manchester Achives) holds the following material relating to slavery:
- Petition for the end of Negro apprenticeship in the British Colonies 1838 (in Manchester Borough Reeve Letter Book, ref: GB127.M9/61/1/3)
- Copy of bill of charges for sale of 421 slaves, Barbados, 8 Aug 1798 (ref: GB127.MISC/903/1)
- *Case and opinion of Henry Lawrence of Liverpool about money due to family of late James Walker of Cacandia, Africa, by Gilbert Henderson and Robert Sellars, his agents, for trade in slaves and ivory, 1791-1795. 14 May 1815 (ref: GB127.M84/5/7/4)
- *Letters to Francis Taylor of Manchester from the U.S.A. Department of State to Union and Emancipation Society of Manchester, thanking them for their support over past four years, 1865 (ref:GB127.MISC/953/1-3)
- *Calculations of American planters on the time and cost of clearing 600 acres of land and growing cotton using Negro labour, 1802 (ref:GB127.MISC/715 p.138)
- Manchester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society annual appeal with accounts, c.1857 (ref: GB127.M162/Box 54)
- Bequest of "Negroes by James Roberts of Tortola to his children by a free coloured woman", 1797 (ref: GB127.L1/34/94)
- Grant of property in the West Indies and "all the negroes and slaves there", 1787 (ref: GB127.Deed L248).
- 'Odds and Ends', Easter 1888, Includes article "Is he a Man and a Brother?" with sketch by E.G. Thomson of Wm. Lloyd Garrison, leader of the Anti-Slavery Movement in America (ref: GB127.M38/4/2/34). [Odds and Ends was the manuscript magazine of the St Paul's Literary and Educational Society, Bennett Street Sunday School]
- 'Odds and Ends', Easter 1890'. Includes article "Slavery as it existed in Europe" (ref: GB127.M38/4/2/36). 'Odds and Ends', Easter 1865. Includes article "Slavery Past and Present" (ref: GB127.M38/4/2/11).
- Letter from Fred. W. Chesson of Manchester to the Lancashire Public School Association, [22 May 1854]. Enquires if the Anti-Slavery Society can use the Committee room (ref: GB127.M136/2/3/580).
- Letters from M/s R. Whitelerge, of Manchester to the Lancashire Public School Association, 17 Feb - 8 May 1852, 21 Oct 1854. Asks if the Ladies Anti-Slavery Committee can use the Committee room for their meeting (ref: GB127.M136/2/3/3600-3603).
- Manchester Literary Society Volume of autographs and autograph letters. Includes letter from George Thompson, anti-slavery advocate (1804-78) to arrange a meeting, thanking recipient for what he/she has done for India, 8 Dec. 1840 (ref: GB127.M524/13/2 p.2) and 4. Hannah Kilham, missionary, (1774-1832), poem 're' slavery (ref:GB127.M524/13/2 p.4)
- Letter from Mary Carpenter of Bridport, 2 Mar 1885, to Lydia Becker. Sends a speech (not enclosed) of Fred. Douglas, American anti-slavery orator, Marshall of Columbia and Registrar of Deeds in Columbia. Would like to see it in the 'Women's Suffrage Journal.' (ref: GB127.M50/1/2/45 Microfilm at Manchester Room@City Library).