Social and Behavioral Sciences E-Campus

H 101 - Lab Exercise: The New York Conspiracy (1741)

The Trial of John Hughson, Sarah his wife, and Sarah his daughter.

Charges

"John Hughson, Sarah, and his daughter Sarah on the indictment on June 4,1741; for the coaxing and counseling the negro Cufee, to burn Mr. Philipe's storehouse. To the indictments they all pleaded not guilty."

Witnesses

For the king, Mr. George Joseph Moore, and John Roosevelt.

For the prisoners, Joseph North, Peter Lynch, John Duscomb, Mary Burton Arthur Price, John Schultz, Jones Mills, Cornelius Brower, Eleanor Ryan , Mr Blanck, Peter Kirby, Adam King, and Gerandus Comfort.

Evidence

Mary Burton deposed before the judges,

  1. That there were many negroes frequently at Hughson's at nights, eating and drinking; in which she has seen more than twenty at a time there; that the negroes used to bring provisions there, in which Hughson, his wife and daughter, and Peggy used, at the meetings to discuss how they were going to burn down the town and kill the people.
  2. At Hughson's house, Caesar(Vaarck's) and Prince (Auboyneau's) negroes (that were hanged) and Cuffee (Philipes's) were usually there in the house in which Hughson swore the negroes into the plot, and the Hughsons themselves and Peggy; that one of the Hughson's daughters carried a bible upstairs, and the Hughson's carried the negroes into a private room; and when they came down again to the rest of negroes, Hughson said they were all sworn; but Mary didn't see them sworn in with her actual seeing.
  3. That she saw Vaarck's Caesar pay John Hughson twelve pounds in silver Spanish pieces of eight, to buy guns, swords and pistols; and that Hughson thereupon went up into the country; and when he returned, he brought with him seven or eight guns and swords, and that he hid them in the house; that she had seen a bag of shot and a barrel of gunpowder there; that the negroes were sworn to burn the fort first; and that they were to go down to the Fly, and so to burn the whole town; and the negroes were to cut their master's and their mistresses throats; and when all this was done, Hughson was to be king and Caesar (Vaarck's) governor.
  4. When she heard them talking about killing the white people and burning down the town, they thought that she would tell; and Hughson told them that she wouldn't tell, she dared not; and the negroes swore if she did tell they would burn or destroy her.
  5. That the Hughson's often tempted her to swear, and offered her silks and gold rings, in order to triumph with her, but she would not.

Verdict

Based on the Law, and the Evidence presented here, what do you think was the verdict? [IMAGE]


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