Captured ship: Conquis or Concord or Conquest of La Rochelle (master Joseph Compere...

Captured ship: Conquis or Concord or Conquest of La Rochelle (master Joseph Compere or Campere).

History: a French slave trader ship (160 tons, 20 guns), bound from La Rochelle to Loango and the French Antilles, transporting around 140 enslaved people; taken in fight on 9/19 April 1697 on the coast of Loango by the English slave trader ship Johns Bonadventure (John Ford commanding) and the Dutch privateer Dolphin of Middelburg (Mathieu Boegart commanding); the captors divided the goods and enslaved people between them at Angola but ransomed the badly-damaged Conquis back to Compere, and the Johns Bonaventure then sailed for Carlisle Bay, Barbados, where the captives were sold by inch of candle.

Documents:-

Ship's papers numbered SP 30-SP 50 from the larger bundle of SP 1-SP 77, all in folder HCA 32/1865/24; descriptions of the Conquis's ship's papers continue from HCA 32/1867/24A and are continued in HCA 32/1867/24C:

• SP 30: letter to Compere from his brother; hoping that his health is improved; king's captives are supposed to arrive the next day and he will try not to take too many women; [La Rallade?], 18 February 1697;
• SP 31: letter to Compere from Gomme; suggesting some medicine to help him sleep; is sending him some fine cloth; dissatisfied to have received only one enslaved woman from the mafouque on that day; Loango, 3 March 1697;
• SP 32: letter to Compere from Gomme; about the purchase of enslaved people, including children, and dissatisfaction that they are mainly women; Loango, 28 February 1697;
• SP 33: letter to Compere from Gomme; about the purchase of enslaved people; has given some guns to the mafouque and is sending him two strong enslaved men, one from the king’s mother and one from the mafouque, as well as three women; still in need of powder and pistols; Loango, 2 March 1697;
• SP 34: list of the state of merchandise; addressed to Compere from Ginocher; 9 February 1697;
• SP 35: letter to Compere from Gomme; he was unable to speak with the king but was told that the king thinks they prevent ships from coming; has not yet spoken with the Portuguese regarding trade of cloth; Loango, 8 February 1697;
• SP 36: letter to Compere from Gomme; about the purchase of enslaved people; has received an enslaved man from the mafouque; he was expensive, but worth the price; the Portuguese said that, at the next moon, the captives would come from further, and that the trade would be better; will await his orders on that matter; Loango, 6 March 1697;
• SP 37: letter to Compere from his brother; happy to have been able to see him recently; Loango, 4 April 1697;
• SP 38: letter to Compere from Ginocher; assures him that they did not make a mistake with the account of merchandise; thinks that those who guard the merchandise do not keep a close enough eyes on them and that the enslaved people might steal some; Loango, 22 February 1697;
• SP 39: letter to Compere from Gomme; arrival of a ship with enslaved people onboard; seven of them are dead, one wounded and many sick; the ship will stay two months for the trade; Loango, 26 March 1697;
• SP 40: letter to Compere from Gomme; visit from the mafouque who informed him that some enslaved people on their ship are dead; is sending him more enslaved people; Loango, 22 March 1697;
• SP 41: letter to Compere from Gomme; visit from Captain More who brought bananas and wine; is sending him more enslaved people; Loango, 23 March 1697;
• SP 42: letter to Compere from Br. Godefroy du Saint Esprit; asking if he can send palms for Palm Sunday; hoping his health is better; on board Le Conquis, 30 March 1697;
• SP 43: letter to Compere from Ginocher; informing him of the death of [Mr. ?] which he knows will give him pain; asking for some supplies (hammer, split pins and powder); on board Le Conquis, 13 February 1697;
• SP 44: letter to Compere from Ginocher; hoping his health is improving; did not go ashore the day before as their boat needs repairs; on board Le Conquis, 30 March 1697;
• SP 45: letter to Compere from Ginocher; is sending him guns according to orders; still working on repairing the boat; on board Le Conquis, 1 April 1697;
• SP 46: letter to Compere from Gomme; received his letter informing he will come and visit them; thinks it is necessary for Compere to see the king; needs more merchandise; Loango 27 March 1697;
• SP 47: letter from D. George [no addressee but probably Compere]; informing him that they finished the barrels according to his order; undated;
• SP 48: letter to Compere from Gomme; about the capturing of enslaved people; went to see the king but could not see him as he was asleep; the mafouque sent a young enslaved man; Loango, 24 March, 1697;
• SP 49: letter from Br. Godefroy du Saint Esprit [no addressee, but probably Compere]; informing of the death of Mr. Alare and his burial on the next day; on board Le Conquis, 13 February 1697;
• SP 50: letter to Compere from Gomme; relating to negotiations with local authorities for the slave trade; went to see the king and gave him some silk; gave some more cloths to the mafouque for the king; the latter told him they could trade in peace; Loango, 4 April 1697.