Warwickshire News Mine

The exhibition marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.  It illustrates extracts from letters and other items within Warwickshire’s archives that provide an insight into how some of Warwickshire’s most famous families of the time were connected with slavery.

Included on the display is a section on the Ward-Boughton-Leighs of Brownsover Hall.  An extract shows the will of James Laurens of Charlestown, South Carolina, a relative by marriage of Sir Egerton Leigh.  A letter shows how he left all his slaves to his wife except a female, Satira, who was freed.

A section on the Greatheeds of Guy’s Cliffe tells how John Greatheed emigrated to St Kitts bought slaves and made a fortune on sugar production.  When he died, he left his estate to his eldest son, Samuel, who bought lands throughout Milverton and Warwick.

The exhibition shows letters from the Greatheeds to family based in Warwick on how the weather, notably a hurricane, had affected sugar production and tells of an illness to a slave called Tirone.

Another extract is from the brother of Jeffrey Bevington Lowe, a member of a celebrated Ettington family.  Hagger Lowe recounts sitting in the House of Commons and his delight when the bill was passed, citing the figure that only 16 out of 299 who voted were against abolition.

As well as letters, parish registers show baptism certificates and burial notices of former slaves who had taken up a life in freedom in England.  These tend to be dated from the late 17th to the early 18th century.

Lesley Caine, archivist at Warwickshire County Record Office, said:  “Letters and parish registers, contained within our archives, show an amazing amount of detail that allows us to get a real feel for people’s lives from centuries ago.  We know, from these archives, how many of Warwickshire’s landowners at the time felt about the slave trade.  It is a fascinating insight into the subject.”

Slavery:  A Warwickshire Connection will be at the County Record Office at Priory Park, Warwick, until 26 April and will tour the county’s libraries throughout the year before coming to Bulkington Library in May, Bedworth later in May and Nuneaton library in June.

The room housing the exhibition is sometimes closed to the public so visitors are advised to call 01926 738959 before making a special journey.

Link to WCC