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Massachusetts State Seal
Commonwealth Museum   Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin
Commonwealth Museum Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin

Castle Island: The Tyrannicide Affair


During the American Revolution Paul Revere served as commanding officer at Castle Island. The fort was the scene of an early regional controversy over the issue of slavery.


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“That proper measures may be taken for the return of said Negroes…The Negroes are placed on Castle Island.”

- Order on South Carolina slaves taken to Boston by privateers, June 29, 1779

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A fanciful eighteenth-century view of Boston Harbor, showing ships in the harbor with the city in the background. The image is part of the Library of Congress collection.
A fanciful eighteenth century view of Boston Harbor.
- Library of Congress

Detail of a 1773 map of South Carolina by James Cook, showing rivers, creeks, bays, inlets, and islands. The map is part of the David Rumsey Map Collection.

 

A Predatory Age
 On June 16, 1799 two Massachusetts privateers, Tyrannicide and Hazard, escorted the Spanish ship Victoria into Boston Harbor. Along with its cargo of salt and wine, the Victoria held 34 slaves from South Carolina plantations. To weaken the economy, British privateers seized slaves from coastal plantations. This group began its voyage on a British ship. After a sea battle, they transferred to the Spanish ship Victoria. The Victoria was in turn captured by two British privateers. All three ships were then overpowered by Tyrannnicide and Hazard.

Illustration of Castle Island during the American Revolution, featured in the Massachusetts Magazine, 1789. The island is shown with a fortification, likely Fort Independence, which has walls and cannons positioned along the perimeter. The surrounding waters are calm, and there are a few small boats or ships nearby, indicating its strategic importance. The landscape includes some trees and vegetation, giving a sense of the natural environment around the fort.
Castle Island near the time of the American Revolution.
- Massachusetts Magazine, 1789

Historical document describing the withdrawal of the 29th Regiment to Castle Island to prevent disputes with local inhabitants, as decided by Colonel Dalrymple and the council.

Return of Negroes

Document listing names of plantation owners and the number of slaves from each location. Includes a note about an elderly man named James who claims to be free.

The owners

Interred at Castle Island
 The captives were held at Castle Island. While legal in Massachusetts, slavery was increasingly seen as incompatible with the ideals of the American Revolution. However there was also a desire to maintain southern allies in the war against Great Britain. Massachusetts found a way out when the slaves voted to return to South Carolina. The decision may be understandable, considering the experience of three sea battles, followed by confinement and work assignments at Castle Island. Plantation owners were quickly identified and contacted.