Killings on the Zong, 1781

(19 crew and 440 slaves) when they left São Tomé

The usual maximum number of slaves carried by a slaver of the Zong’s size was around 250.

no more than four days’ supply of rationed water for themselves and 380 captive Africans

The Zong finally arrived in Black River, southwest Jamaica, on 22 December 1781, where it sold its remaining 208 slaves

It had an inexperienced captain – Luke Collingwood, a surgeon by trade who had never commanded a slave vessel.

Luke Collingwood, despite being desperately ill, made his way immediately after the sale of slaves from the Zong to Kingston, in which town he quickly died

Only one slave ship in the Transatlantic Slave Trade Data Base goes by the name of the Zong.

becalmed somewhere off the south-west of Jamaica

Some crew then took 54 women and children from the hold and threw them overboard. No African man was killed in this first and especially pivotal action.

throw overboard 42 “stout healthy Men slaves”

On the final occasion, ten slaves leapt into the sea

There was no insurrection on the Zong.

After 132 slaves had been thrown overboard and a further 36 had died (with 30 left dead on the decks rather than being thrown overboard

This was an action on a policy of insurance, to recover the value of certain slaves thrown overboard for want of water.

were obliged to throw overboard 150 other negroes

against loss by throwing overboard on any account whatsoever