Irish Sugar, Rum, Slaves, and Jail
So was there ever a real confirmed case of the Irish being sold into slavery or kidnapped as indentured servants?
Apparently, "YES." And, it didn't end until right before the Civil War. This occurred early in Ireland. We see at least one case in the newspapers. (See above). 
Well, we know in that timeframe, where there's Hispanola "sugar" the rum and slaves are not far behind.
Apparently, "YES." And, it didn't end until right before the Civil War. This occurred early in Ireland. We see at least one case in the newspapers. (See above).
23th September 1783, #48787
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| July 1774 Belfast Charitable Society image: Clifton House Belfast |
So when I was commissioned to work on the Cunninghams Pre-Revolutionary War, I was prepared for anything pre-Revolutionary War up to the Civil War. Waddell Cunningham a Belfast ship owner was involved in the rum, sugar, and slaves trade between Belfast and British West Indies. However, it has not been confirmed that Waddell Cunningham was one in the same as William Cunningham noted for kidnapping Irish people to sell as indentured servants.
Was it Waddell or William who proposed slavery in Belfast? Was it Waddell or William who kidnapped the Irish in order to sell them as indentured servants in 1744? Which one had to go to "goal" [jail] for which crime?
This note clearly states this was William, not Waddell Cunningham. It has been proven that William Cunningham was in the slave trade. and we see a reference to him below as early as 1744.
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But was William and Waddell one in the same? (Status and/or answers below to these questions).
The Key?
Pull the originals or, at minimum, avoid extracts like that below, and get the full image copies.
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| Ireland Bibliographies |
Tracing Waddell was easy! He was known for being uber-rich thanks to his sugar, rum, and slave trading business. He was also known for being generations to charitable societies and churches. The newspapers loved him as early as the 1760s. And he used them as his own personal social media platform.
We first see Waddell when he tried to murder Thomas Forsey for, let's say, "defamation." This contract disagreement spilled over to public interest.
Waddell served time, had to put up a bond, and finally Robert Ross Waddell joined to support Waddell Cunningham. Well, as luck will have it, we are now connecting families.
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"The Forsey Appeal" by Waddell Cunningham, 1765 There are volumes worth of court records and such for Waddell Cunningham, so be sure to use available indicies and abstracts to narrow your search.  |
Waddell feeling slighted by Forsey led us to the earlier works of Waddell Cunningham, allowing us to uncover his trading business and business partner and my desire to use the various bibliographies.
Great Place to Start
If your early rich Irish and Scots-Irish had dealings, you will want to use the bibliographies. They will lead you to the documents. And, in my case, quick answer: Is Waddell Cunningham and William Cunningham one in the same? Appears not! The early William Cunningham incident occurred in 1744 in Massachusetts. There were later William Cunningham, some were dated as late as 1846. We know Waddell Cunningham was in business as early as 1760. So the 1744 William Cunningham will still need more research.
Time to flesh out what we have, and what we know.
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| Waddell Cunningham, of Belfast, and the Spanish Sugars |
Looking at the Original Questions?
Was it Waddell or William who proposed slavery in Belfast? This was definitely Waddell. However, Belfast was anti-slavery and his proposal quickly failed.
Was it Waddell or William who kidnapped the Irish in order to sell them as indentured servants in 1744?
Supposedly it was William Cunningham. However, as mentioned, it does not appear that Waddell Cunningham and William Cunningham are one in the same. More work is needed.
Which one had to go to "goal" [jail] for which crime?
We know Waddell Cunningham was in "goal" (jail) for attacking T. Forsey.
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| The New-Hampshire gazette and historical chronicle. [volume] (Portsmouth, N.H.) 1763-1776, December 14, 1764, Image 3 |
Happy Irish-American Heritage Month
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