James De Wolf
Encyclopedia
James DeWolf nicknamed "Captain Jim", was a United States Senator
from Rhode Island
, a long-time state legislator and a successful Privateer
during the war of 1812.
to a shipping family, DeWolf shipped as a sailor on a private armed vessel
during the American Revolutionary War
. He participated in several naval encounters and was captured twice by the British. He became captain of a ship before he was 20 and engaged in commercial ventures, including trading in slaves, with Cuba
and other West Indian islands. In 1790, he married Nancy Ann Bradford, the daughter of William Bradford, who would become U.S. Senator of Rhode Island before him.
In 1791, DeWolf was indicted for murder by a Newport, Rhode Island grand jury. He was alleged to have had a female slave sick with typhoid fever
thrown overboard while gagged and tied to a chair, this after almost his entire crew refused to participate in the murder. DeWolf heard the indictment and immediately left for the Gold Coast of Africa. Two members of the crew, one of whom had participated in the killing, stated in a 1794 deposition taken in St. Eustatius, Leeward Islands that the action was necessary in order to save those on board from the disease. DeWolf testified in St. Thomas, West Indies in 1795 with no one present to oppose his testimony, and the judge ruled in his favor. The case was dismissed, upon petition from the district attorney, as being without merit. DeWolf went on to finance another 25 slaving voyages, usually with other members of his family. His business empire included three sugar plantations in Cuba.
During the War of 1812
, DeWolf fitted out privateers under the authority of the President of the United States. One of his ships, the Yankee, became the most successful privateer of the war. DeWolf was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from 1797–1801, again from 1803–1812, 1817–1821, and 1829-1837. He served as speaker of the House from 1819 to 1821. He was a pioneer in cotton manufacturing and built the Arkwright Mills in Coventry, Rhode Island
in 1812. DeWolf became the wealthiest man in the state, if not the region, and by the end of his life was said to be the second richest person in the United States.
DeWolf was elected as a Democratic-Republican
(later Crawford Republican) to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1821, to October 31, 1825, when he resigned.
He died in New York City
in 1837 at the age of 76, and was buried in the DeWolf private cemetery, Woodlawn Avenue, Bristol.
, which described the DeWolf family's role in the slave trade.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, a long-time state legislator and a successful Privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
during the war of 1812.
Biography
Born in Bristol, Rhode IslandBristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
to a shipping family, DeWolf shipped as a sailor on a private armed vessel
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He participated in several naval encounters and was captured twice by the British. He became captain of a ship before he was 20 and engaged in commercial ventures, including trading in slaves, with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and other West Indian islands. In 1790, he married Nancy Ann Bradford, the daughter of William Bradford, who would become U.S. Senator of Rhode Island before him.
In 1791, DeWolf was indicted for murder by a Newport, Rhode Island grand jury. He was alleged to have had a female slave sick with typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
thrown overboard while gagged and tied to a chair, this after almost his entire crew refused to participate in the murder. DeWolf heard the indictment and immediately left for the Gold Coast of Africa. Two members of the crew, one of whom had participated in the killing, stated in a 1794 deposition taken in St. Eustatius, Leeward Islands that the action was necessary in order to save those on board from the disease. DeWolf testified in St. Thomas, West Indies in 1795 with no one present to oppose his testimony, and the judge ruled in his favor. The case was dismissed, upon petition from the district attorney, as being without merit. DeWolf went on to finance another 25 slaving voyages, usually with other members of his family. His business empire included three sugar plantations in Cuba.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, DeWolf fitted out privateers under the authority of the President of the United States. One of his ships, the Yankee, became the most successful privateer of the war. DeWolf was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
from 1797–1801, again from 1803–1812, 1817–1821, and 1829-1837. He served as speaker of the House from 1819 to 1821. He was a pioneer in cotton manufacturing and built the Arkwright Mills in Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 35,014 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water...
in 1812. DeWolf became the wealthiest man in the state, if not the region, and by the end of his life was said to be the second richest person in the United States.
DeWolf was elected as a Democratic-Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
(later Crawford Republican) to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1821, to October 31, 1825, when he resigned.
He died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1837 at the age of 76, and was buried in the DeWolf private cemetery, Woodlawn Avenue, Bristol.
Legacy
DeWolf was featured prominently in a 2008 documentary, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep NorthTraces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North
Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North is a 2008 documentary film directed by Katrina Browne, Alla Kovgan, and Jude Ray.-Plot:The film focuses on the descendants of the DeWolf family, a prominent slave trading family from Rhode Island...
, which described the DeWolf family's role in the slave trade.
External links
- James De Wolf at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Traces of the Trade (a documentary about Senator James D'Wolf and his family)
- Inheriting the Trade (a memoir about the legacy of James D'Wolf and his family)