What was the New York slave rebellion of 1741?

The New York slave rebellion of 1741 was a supposed plot by Black slaves and poor white settlers to burn and take over New York City. Fueled by paranoia, the city's white population became convinced of a major rebellion plot. Fires broke out in March 1741, and rumors spread after a witness claimed to see a Black man fleeing one of the fires. Judge Daniel Horsmanden connected these fires to an earlier robbery by slaves, further igniting conspiracy fears. Mary Burton, an indentured servant, testified that slaves and poor whites planned to burn the fort and city, leading to mass arrests and coerced confessions. Ultimately, approximately 30 Blacks and 4 whites were executed, and about 80 more were exiled. Historians now question the factual accuracy of the events, remaining skeptical about the existence of a slave conspiracy.

When and where did the New York slave rebellion of 1741 take place?

The New York slave rebellion, also known as the New York Conspiracy, of 1741, was a supposed scheme by Black slaves and poor white settlers to burn down and take over New York City. Fueled by the white population's paranoia, the events of the spring and summer of 1741 involved a series of fires, the first of which occurred on March 18, 1741, at Fort George. The investigation and trials that followed led to the execution of approximately 30 Black people and 4 white people, with about 80 more being exiled. Daniel Horsmanden's journal, written in 1744, serves as an important primary source, though historians are cautious about its factual accuracy.

Who was involved in the New York slave rebellion of 1741?

The New York slave rebellion of 1741 allegedly involved Black slaves and poor white settlers conspiring to burn down and take over New York City. Key figures involved or implicated: * Slaves Caesar, Prince, and Cuffee were identified as leaders. * John Hughson The owner of a dockside tavern, known for illicit dealings with slaves, was accused of being a central figure. * Mary Burton An indentured servant whose testimony implicated many people. * Peggy Kerry A white prostitute with ties to Caesar, also implicated in the conspiracy. * John Ury A Latin teacher accused of using his Catholic faith to influence the rebellion. Judge Daniel Horsmanden led the investigation and trials, connecting a series of fires and a robbery to uncover what he believed to be a large-scale plot.

What events triggered the rebellion in 1741?

The New York slave rebellion of 1741 was purportedly triggered by a series of fires in New York City, the first of which occurred on March 18, 1741, at Fort George. Fueled by paranoia, the city's white population became convinced that Black slaves and poor white settlers were plotting to burn down and take over New York City. Other factors contributed to the widespread suspicion. England had been at war with Spain for two years, inciting fear of a Spanish attack on New York City and a general sentiment of anti-Catholicism. Additionally, a group of Black Spaniards, who had been free citizens of Spain until they were captured by the British and sold into slavery, harbored resentment and continued to declare themselves free.

How did the government and citizens respond to the rebellion?

The New York slave rebellion of 1741 sparked paranoia among the city's white population, who believed that black slaves and poor white settlers plotted to burn and take over New York City. In response to rumors and fear, the government, led by Judge Daniel Horsmanden, launched an investigation, offering rewards for conspiracy evidence. Around 150 people were arrested, and through coerced testimonies, approximately 30 blacks and 4 whites were executed, while about 80 more, mostly black, were exiled. The harsh reaction exposed the racial tensions and the brutal consequences of the alleged plot, though historians question the plot's actual existence.

What impact did the New York slave rebellion of 1741 have on slavery and society in New York?

The New York slave rebellion of 1741, also called the Negro Plot of 1741, was a supposed conspiracy by Black slaves and poor whites to take over New York City. Fueled by paranoia, the city's white population believed a major rebellion was being planned, but after a series of trials, no specific plot was uncovered. As a result of rumors, false confessions, and accusations, around 30 Blacks and 4 whites were executed, and about 80 more people, mostly Black, were exiled. The rebellion led to stricter codes, harsher punishments, and restricted freedoms for slaves, contributing to increased social control and repression in slaveholding areas.

New York slave rebellion of 1741

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Also called:: New York Conspiracy of 1741 or the Great Negro Plot of 1741

Date:: 1741

Location:: New York City; United States

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New York slave rebellion of 1741

United States history

Also known as: New York Conspiracy of 1741, the Great Negro Plot of 1741(Show More)

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Top Questions

What was the New York slave rebellion of 1741?
The New York slave rebellion of 1741 was a supposed plot by Black slaves and poor white settlers to burn and take over New York City. Fueled by paranoia, the city's white population became convinced of a major rebellion plot. Fires broke out in March 1741, and rumors spread after a witness claimed to see a Black man fleeing one of the fires.

Judge Daniel Horsmanden connected these fires to an earlier robbery by slaves, further igniting conspiracy fears. Mary Burton, an indentured servant, testified that slaves and poor whites planned to burn the fort and city, leading to mass arrests and coerced confessions.

Ultimately, approximately 30 Blacks and 4 whites were executed, and about 80 more were exiled. Historians now question the factual accuracy of the events, remaining skeptical about the existence of a slave conspiracy.
2 Britannica Sources
1. New York slave rebellion of 1741
2. New York slave rebellion of 1712
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
When and where did the New York slave rebellion of 1741 take place?
The New York slave rebellion, also known as the New York Conspiracy, of 1741, was a supposed scheme by Black slaves and poor white settlers to burn down and take over New York City. Fueled by the white population's paranoia, the events of the spring and summer of 1741 involved a series of fires, the first of which occurred on March 18, 1741, at Fort George.

The investigation and trials that followed led to the execution of approximately 30 Black people and 4 white people, with about 80 more being exiled. Daniel Horsmanden's journal, written in 1744, serves as an important primary source, though historians are cautious about its factual accuracy.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who was involved in the New York slave rebellion of 1741?
The New York slave rebellion of 1741 allegedly involved Black slaves and poor white settlers conspiring to burn down and take over New York City.

Key figures involved or implicated:
* Slaves Caesar, Prince, and Cuffee were identified as leaders.
* John Hughson The owner of a dockside tavern, known for illicit dealings with slaves, was accused of being a central figure.
* Mary Burton An indentured servant whose testimony implicated many people.
* Peggy Kerry A white prostitute with ties to Caesar, also implicated in the conspiracy.
* John Ury A Latin teacher accused of using his Catholic faith to influence the rebellion.

Judge Daniel Horsmanden led the investigation and trials, connecting a series of fires and a robbery to uncover what he believed to be a large-scale plot.
2 Britannica Sources
1. slave rebellions
2. New York slave rebellion of 1741
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What events triggered the rebellion in 1741?
The New York slave rebellion of 1741 was purportedly triggered by a series of fires in New York City, the first of which occurred on March 18, 1741, at Fort George. Fueled by paranoia, the city's white population became convinced that Black slaves and poor white settlers were plotting to burn down and take over New York City.

Other factors contributed to the widespread suspicion. England had been at war with Spain for two years, inciting fear of a Spanish attack on New York City and a general sentiment of anti-Catholicism. Additionally, a group of Black Spaniards, who had been free citizens of Spain until they were captured by the British and sold into slavery, harbored resentment and continued to declare themselves free.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did the government and citizens respond to the rebellion?
The New York slave rebellion of 1741 sparked paranoia among the city's white population, who believed that black slaves and poor white settlers plotted to burn and take over New York City.

In response to rumors and fear, the government, led by Judge Daniel Horsmanden, launched an investigation, offering rewards for conspiracy evidence. Around 150 people were arrested, and through coerced testimonies, approximately 30 blacks and 4 whites were executed, while about 80 more, mostly black, were exiled. The harsh reaction exposed the racial tensions and the brutal consequences of the alleged plot, though historians question the plot's actual existence.
2 Britannica Sources
1. New York slave rebellion of 1741
2. New York slave rebellion of 1712
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What impact did the New York slave rebellion of 1741 have on slavery and society in New York?
The New York slave rebellion of 1741, also called the Negro Plot of 1741, was a supposed conspiracy by Black slaves and poor whites to take over New York City. Fueled by paranoia, the city's white population believed a major rebellion was being planned, but after a series of trials, no specific plot was uncovered.

As a result of rumors, false confessions, and accusations, around 30 Blacks and 4 whites were executed, and about 80 more people, mostly Black, were exiled. The rebellion led to stricter codes, harsher punishments, and restricted freedoms for slaves, contributing to increased social control and repression in slaveholding areas.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

New York slave rebellion of 1741, a supposed large-scale scheme plotted by enslaved Black people and poor white settlers to burn down and take over New York City. Possibly fueled by paranoia, the city’s white population became convinced that a major rebellion was being planned. After a witch-hunt-like series of trials, no specific plot was ever uncovered.

The details of the events that took place in New York City in the spring and summer of 1741 are recorded in numerous historic and later accounts, many of which contain contradictory information. According to nearly all accounts, a fire on March 18, 1741, at Fort George—then Lieutenant Governor George Clarke’s home—was the first in a series of fires in the city that may or may not have been set by enslaved people. The fires occurred at regular intervals and then with increased frequency until April 6, when four fires were set in a single day. Rumors raced across the city when a witness claimed to have seen a Black man, identified as an enslaved man named Cuffee, running from the scene of one of the fires.

A month or so earlier that year, in a seemingly unrelated incident, three enslaved people had robbed a small store owned by a white couple, Robert and Rebecca Hogg. One of the parties, a man named Caesar, had brought his booty to a dockside tavern owned by John Hughson, who was known for dealing in stolen goods and for selling alcohol to enslaved people. His tavern had a reputation as a meeting point for the city’s deviants. Caesar and one of his partners in crime, a man named Prince, were arrested. When it came time to investigate the fires, Daniel Horsmanden, a judge who was appointed to lead the investigation and preside over the robbery trials, was eager to uncover a plot and its perpetrators and therefore connected the fires to the burglary.

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The notion of a conspiracy was brewing. Meanwhile overseas, England had been at war for the previous two years with Spain, inciting a fear of Spanish attack on New York City and a general sentiment of anti-Catholicism. Causing widespread suspicion was a group of Black Spaniards who had been free citizens of Spain until they were captured by the British in the Caribbean and sold into slavery when they reached Manhattan in 1740. Harboring resentment, the Spaniards continued to declare themselves free and that, when captured, they should have become “prisoners of war,” not enslaved. Thus, Roman Catholics, African-born slaves, and Spanish-born Black men were all under suspicion.

A jury was impaneled on April 21, and Mary Burton, a young indentured servant at Hughson’s tavern, was brought to testify before the jury. Under duress, Burton testified that the three enslaved men—Caesar, Prince, and Cuffee—along with a contingent of poor white settlers, had plotted to burn the fort and the city and kill its inhabitants. Burton also implicated a white sex worker named Peggy Kerry, who had ties to Caesar. Kerry was then forced to testify and implicated many Black people in the conspiracy, and, on the basis of her testimony, those named were kept in custody. Those held in custody were also forced to provide testimony and name names, which they did.

In May Caesar and Prince were charged not with conspiracy but with burglary and were hanged. Kerry (who was pregnant with Caesar’s child), Hughson, and his wife were arrested next and were publicly executed in June. Hughson’s body (and possibly those of his wife and Kerry as well) was left hanging for all to observe. Still desperate to uncover a plot, Horsmanden offered rewards (of varying amounts, depending on the informant’s skin color and status) to anyone who would provide evidence of a conspiracy. Over the course of the three-month investigation, some 150 people were arrested and “confessed” or testified. Burton continued her accusations throughout the summer, eventually accusing more than 20 white people, including a Latin teacher named John Ury who was accused of using his Catholic faith to influence the rebellion. By the end of summer, the hysteria had died down and the accusations stopped.

As a result of the rumors, false confessions, and finger-pointing, approximately 30 Black people and 4 white people (the Hughsons, Kerry, and Ury) were executed, and some 80 more people, mostly Black but some white, were exiled. A journal written by Horsmanden in 1744 served as an important primary source on the proceedings of the 1741 conspiracy, revealing important details and offering valuable insight into the context in which the trials took place. In the 21st century, historians of the event were wary of Horsmanden’s factual accuracy, as his book was likely published as justification for his actions, and they remained agnostic about the actuality of a slave conspiracy.

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