Slavery, Exploitation and Trade in the West Indies, 1759-1832 - Key Data

Nathaniel Phillips (1733-1813), was a British plantation owner who moved to Jamaica and rode the wave of burgeoning wealth of the island during its lucrative position in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In the 18th and 19th century, Jamaica became a major destination for the delivery of enslaved Africans and emerged as one of the busiest markets in the world. The collection offers a unique perspective on the activities of a West Indies plantation owner between the crucial years of 1759 to 1832.

Phillips’ early years in Jamaica are well documented through a range of material in this collection. Drawn from the National Library of Wales, this collection contains a wealth of information regarding Philips’ activities in the West Indies, including financial documents, letters relating to the running of Phillips’ estates, legal papers and personal diaries. The subject matter of the material ranges from correspondence expressing anxiety about potential slave insurrections to the treatment of those people who were enslaved during day-to-day life on Phillips’ plantations.

This collection is also accompanied by a detailed online guide by Professor Kenneth Morgan. This collection would be particularly beneficial to researchers and students who are interested in the economic and social history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.