The whaling port of New Bedford became a prime destination for fugitive slaves.
“A fugitive, a fugitive, was the cry as I sprung ashore...Had never heard the word ‘fugitive’ before and was pretty well scared out of my wits. But a slave had little to fear in a New Bedford crowd... they stood aside and let me pass.”
- Joseph M. Smith, stowaway on a lumber ship
”
New Bedford Quakers
Early Quakers settled in Nantucket and
southeastern Massachusetts, a relatively safe distance from the hostile Puritan
government in Boston. The violent whaling industry seems like an ironic choice
for peace loving Quakers but many became wealthy through the sea. Because
of the Quaker influence New Bedford was
more welcoming to runaway slaves than
most northern communities, although
there could be hostility from some residents.
Whale Fishery
- by Currier and Ives
- by Currier and Ives
Diversity
New Bedford whalers made their first voyages to the Cape Verde Islands,
off western Africa in 1765. Soon crew members of African descent were
recruited there. Whaling voyages to the Pacific brought crew members
from the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and Tahiti. Because whaling was
dangerous and pay was low, owners were open to hiring black sailors
and even white fugitives from justice. Thus there was an element of self
interest in accepting fugitive slaves.
George Temoh
In his eloquent autobiography, George Temoh described New Bedford as “the fugitive’s Gibraltar.” He also praised the Bush family, African-Americans who sheltered fugitives free of charge in their boarding house.
A view of present day New Bedford
- New
Bedford Tourism and Marketing
A view of present day New Bedford with period buildings. While waterfront neighborhoods could be rough, and aliases were common, there was some opportunity in New Bedford for African-Americans.
- New Bedford Tourism and Marketing
Runaway Slaves Petition
- Massachusetts Archives
Many runaway slaves living in New Bedford signed this petition to the Massachusetts government protesting the seizure of free black seamen in the south and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which brought “slave catchers” to northern cities.
- Massachusetts ArchivesName Games
Whaling captains sometimes gave names to Pacific Islanders based
on their ship board role. This accounts for unusual names like “Tar
Bucket” and “Rope Yarn.” Some were named for famous Americans.
Hawaiian crew members also had names like “John Adams” and
“John Quincy Adams.”