Charles Hodgkin asks the court to compel Thomas Vincent to settle with him in their joint business venture in "the African Trade." In March 1807 Vincent asked Hodgkin, a former slave trader, to act as supercargo on a "Vessel called the Venus" bound for the coast of Africa. Hodgkin invested an amount equal to ten percent of the cost of the voyage. The petitioner and the ship traveled to Sierra Leone where "the trade being unusually dull he compleated his trade and took on board Eighty two Slaves." He sold goods on credit for eight slaves, which he replaced with eight slaves of his own "whom he had obtained in payment of debts." He delivered the 90 slaves (minus 2, who died on the voyage to Charleston) to Vincent for sale; of the delivered slaves, 19 were kept by Vincent, 11 are unaccounted for, and "some" have died. The sale proceeds amount to $16,950, with the average price for a slave set at the "low price of 250 Dollars." Vincent refuses to come to an agreeable settlement with Hodgkin for his portion of the money, which Hodgkin contends is at least $4,000.
Result: Partially granted.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
