House’s grim history of pirates and slaves
A RUNAWAY slave, pirates and an abandoned baby are part of the turbulent history of one house in Bristol.
It was built on the profits of slavery but the movement for its abolition also gained momentum right on its doorstep, the third series of the BBC Two hit A House Through Time has found.
It uncovers how No.10 Guinea Street came to be built in 1718 for Captain Edmund Saunders as the city evolved into Britain’s biggest slaving port.
Presenter David Olusoga said: “Saunders was one of Bristol’s most prolific slave traders. He can be linked to over 40 voyages that trafficked 12,000 people from Africa to slavery in the Americas. It was a trade that made his fortune and built the house.”
One of the property’s many shocking episodes took place when it was occupied by Captain Joseph Holbrook, from 1751. Holbrook made his money by importing sugar, rum and ginger.
David, 50, said: “Holbrook was part of the Atlantic economy selling goods produced by enslaved peoples on plantations in the Caribbean.”
Among the household was Thomas, a black servant from Jamaica. David, who is Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester, added
“In April 1759 Holbrook put an advert in his local paper announcing Thomas had run away and offered a reward.”
One expert believes Thomas may have gone to sea. Professor David Dabydeen said: “Bristol was rife with pirates and privateers sanctioned to loot Spanish and other foreign ships. So if you wanted money, sex and adventure, you had to go to sea.”
Another slaver linked to the house was Captain Joseph Smith, who was twice captured by the same pirates in the West Indies in 1721.
The programme also revealed that an ill-fated baby girl named Martha had been abandoned on Smith’s doorstep, though the reason remains a mystery.
Finally, Methodist founder John Wesley built a chapel opposite No.10 in 1779 and later held a rally calling for the abolition of the slave trade.
● A House Through Time, BBC Two, 9pm, Tuesday.