Bury the Chains; Chapter 1

In the early eighteenth century, the business of trading slaves while receiving crops in the West Indies was one that many young Englishman took part in. John Newton was raised around the slave-trade business as early as the age of 11 when joining his father on many voyages. His record of this era is detailed and revealing. By this time the slave trading business had become a rewarding one for many captains, dating all the way back to when the Atlantic slave involved Britian in 1555. As described as "the foundation of our commerce , the support of our colonies, the life of our navigation, and first cause of our national industry and riches" (14), the thought of ending this tradition seemed inconceivable. This entrepreneurial era is compared to the gold rush of the next century. The country's wealthiest figures, while living lavish lifestyles that were envied by fellow countrymen, were the most successful slave traders of the time. The parts of Africa that were popular amongst slave traders were also under their own systems of slavery. Sometimes as many as thousands of Africans were force-marched onto ships and traded to ship captains. Amongst this all, women and children were victims of heinous crimes committed by the "white savages." After Newton entered Africa in an attempt to gain a share in management of the slave trade, a vessel owner Joseph Manesty lost trust in him and tried to convince "young John's" father to retrieve him back to Britian. After a near sinking of the voyager John Newton was on, he credited God in saving his life and vowed to expand his successful career in slave trading. One of his voyages across the ocean left 62 slaves dead before reaching the port at Charleston. After marrying Mary Catlett in 1750, he continued the triangle voyages. Goods were traded in Africa, then slaves to the Carribean and North America, then sugar, coffee, cotton, rice, and rum back to Europe. Newton kept a detailed account of these voyages. When more and more slave traders took the same voyage as Newton, the competition increased and the business became more riskier. His accounts detail many of the slaves on board dieing during the long trips, as well as white sailors falling ill to diseases they had never experienced. Newton spent most his thorough searches on the Sierra Leone coast. While expanding his business, he had gained a wealth of approximately 68 million (present value.) Like Oswald, the ultimate sign of slave trade wealth was never setting foot in Africa. While recording in his journal that he believed the slaves were becoming more happy with their situations, he continued to take his faith very seriously in his voyages. The "divine interventions" that Newton experienced were all the result of his help from God. While he was quick to admit that his success was driven by the power of God, never once did he see a moral dilemma with his career choice.