The Hanging of Captain Nathaniel Gordon of the Slave Ship Erie — February 21, 1862

On February 21, 1862, Nathaniel Gordon, captain of the slave ship, Erie, was executed by hanging in New York City. Under the Piracy Law of 1820, slave trading was considered to be an act of piracy punishable by death. He was … Continue reading

Update: Clotilda, the Last Slave Ship Found

In January 2018, the news broke that a journalist believed that he had found the burned wreckage of the schooner Clotilda, the last vessel to carry Africans into bondage in the United States. By March, however, further research and excavation … Continue reading

Red Hook WaterStories — 1860: Slave Ship Erie Sold in Atlantic Basin

Red Hook WaterStories delves into the rich and varied past and present of the waterfront of the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.  If you haven’t discovered the site, a project of PortSide New York, be sure to check it out.  Here … Continue reading

Schooner Amistad Sails for Haiti

While the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan arrived in Haiti yesterday and the hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived the day before,  naval ships are not the only vessels sailing to aid the earthquake victims.  The schooner Amistad is on her way bearing both supplies and a … Continue reading