Query. 2. Whether the African trade was carried
on thither?" At what Period it commenc-
ed? to what extent it was carried on?
When it began to decline? & when it was
wholly discontinued?
The African trade was never prosecuted to in any
great
degree by the Merchants of
Massachusetts. No records or
memorials remain respecting it in the last Century;
There was not only of was a connection in Trade between
this Colony & that of
Barbadoes, which was planted about the same time;
[Citation in right margin: Holyokes Letter]
& some families went from hence to establish them-
selves there; & it is therefore probable that
Negroes might be have
been introduced by means of that Connexion.
[Citation in right margin: In 1703 &c p 8.]
I have can not find by inquiring of our oldest
Merchants
now living that, more than 3 ships in a year from the Port of Boston
were ever
engaged in the african trade.
[Citation in right margin: Dr Mason.] The Rum distilled here
was the main spring of this traffic. The slaves pur-
chased in
Africa were chiefly sold in the
W Indies or
in the southern Colonies; some which were not so sala- but when
the markets were glutted & ye price low
able they some of them were bro't hither. Very few whole Cargoes
were imported here. One Gentleman says he rem-
embers two or three;
[Citation in right margin: Dexter's letter] I remember one, between
30 & 40 years