Andrew Payne Head of Education & Outreach The National Archives of the United Kingdom To New Calabar and beyond… What can we learn about the slave trade by predicting the voyage of The Arthur?

The Past is an Alien World …so how can we teach about slavery and the slave trade? 3

4 Engage Prior Understanding (or Ignorance) “ Students come to the classroom with preconceptions about how the world works. If their initial understanding is not engaged, they may fail to grasp the new concepts and information…” Suzanne Donovan & John Brandsford How Students Learn p.1 National Academies Press 2005

Predict the voyage of The Arthur T 70/1213 A Journal of a voyage to New Calabar in the ship the Arthur, Captain Robert Doegood Commander. An the account of the Royal African Company of England of all actions & transactions from Gravesend to New Calabar & from thence to the Island of Barbados, our port of discharge December The 5 th 1677 Signed: George Hingston

6 Gravesend New Calabar Barbados

Mark Predictions on Your Calendar 7

Predict the Journey of the Arthur 1.Mark the departure of the Arthur from Gravesend – 5am Wednesday 5 th December Mark predictions on your calendar for the following: a.Date of arrival in New Calabar (how many weeks sailing) b.Date of departure from West Africa (how many weeks trading) c.Date of arrival in Barbados (how many weeks to cross the Atlantic) d.Date that Hingston left the Arthur (how many weeks to sell all Africans and other cargo) 8

Predict the Journey of the Arthur 3.Add predictions for key events during the voyage to New Calabar a.Weather b.Sightings c.Encounters 4.Add predictions for key events whilst in West Africa a.Weather b.Encounters with Africans – friendly, hostile? c.What was traded and how? d.Problems/difficulties/dangers for Africans? For crew? 9

Predict the Journey of the Arthur 5.Add predictions for key events whilst crossing the Atlantic a.Weather & encounters b.Problems/difficulties/dangers for Africans? For crew? 6.Add predictions for key events on arrival in Barbados a.Activities /problems 7.Predict the following a.Total number of Africans transported b.Total number of African deaths c.Total number of crew deaths (25 crew left England) 10

The Arthur Arrives New Calabar Departs Cape Lopez Arrives Barbados Clears ship Total voyage Human Impact Crew 1 Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Total Africans African deaths Crew deaths Crew 2 Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Total Africans African deaths Crew deaths Crew 3 Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Total Africans African deaths Crew deaths Crew 4 Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Total Africans African deaths Crew deaths Crew 5 Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Date weeks Total Africans African deaths Crew deaths 11

Step 2 – test your predictions Investigate the Journey of the Arthur 1.Skim the transcript looking for factual details to support or counter your predictions 2.What did you accurately predict? 3.What did you partly predict? 4.What did you not predict at all? 5.Do you find anything surprising or shocking about the journey of the Arthur? 6.What questions do you have? 7.What would you like to investigate further? 12

Voyage of the Arthur Departs Gravesend Wed 5 Dec 1677 Arrives New Calibar Sun 10 Feb 1678 (9½ weeks) Cruises West African coast to Sun 14 Apr 1678 (9 weeks) Departs Cape Lopez Mon 15 April 1678 Arrives Bridgetown, Barbados Wed 22 May (6 weeks) Hingston leaves ship Sat 1 Jun (1½ weeks) Total Africans Transported – 374 Total Africans Died – 82 Total Crew Died

What are your top 5 questions about the slave trade for further enquiry? 1.??? 2.??? 3.??? 4.??? 5.??? 14

Other Useful Resources from The National Archives for Slavery and The Slave Trade 15

17

18

guides/slave-trade-slavery.htm 19

person/slaves-and-slave-owners.htm?WT.lp=rg

for-place/coloniesanddependencies 21