Trouvadore
Encyclopedia
The Trouvadore was a Spanish
slave ship
which was shipwrecked near East Caicos
in the course of a run transporting Africans to be sold to the sugar plantations
in Cuba
.
, as the country had outlawed the slave trade
. However, governors in Cuba often turned a blind eye to the trade as it was required to maintain the economic viability of the sugar plantations. The exact route of Trouvadore is not known but the records state that new crew members were picked up in São Tomé
, a Portuguese colony off the coast of Africa, and still legally traded as enslaved Africans.
The exact numbers of Africans boarded onto Trouvadore is not recorded but would have been around 280-300. When the ship wrecked off East Caicos
in March 1841 all the 20 crew members and 193 Africans aboard survived, suggesting that around 100 had died during the Atlantic crossing, a typical loss for a venture of this kind. On landing on East Caicos a number of the Africans fled into the bush, one being shot dead.
East Caicos was a large deserted Island in 1841. The initial assistance came from residents from the neighbouring Island of Middle Caicos
, who also got news of the wrecking to the authorities on the Island of Grand Turk
, the political capital of the Turks and Caicos
. The Authorities dispatched British soldiers
to secure the crew and bring all back to Grand Turk whilst a decision was made on their future. Residents from Middle Caicos had disarmed the Spanish crew so when Lt. Fitzgerald arrived with his men there was no need for force. The ships crew were arrested.
On Grand Turk the ships crew were placed under armed guard and eventually taken to Nassau with 24 of the Africans. As slavery had been abolished in this British territory
in 1834 the remaining 168 Africans were freed into a one year Apprenticeship during which time they were taught a skill, baptised and learnt English. These 168 individuals increased the population by 7% and would have had a major impact on the country.
Since 2000 one of the main researchers uncovering the story of Trouvadore and its legacy has been Nigel Sadler, former director at the Turks and Caicos National Museum (2000–2006). His research has placed the story of Troubadour not only into Turks and Caicos Islands history but also in the context of the illegal slave trade, British military intervention in capturing slave ships and who aided the Africans liberated from the vessels and Cuba where economic growth was fuelling the demand for the importation of illegally captured Africans.
On November 25, 2008, marine archaeologists, as stated through AP news reports, claimed to have found the remains of the Trouvadore slave ship off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The wreck that is thought to be Trouvadore is known as the Black Rock wreck.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
slave ship
Slave ship
Slave ships were large cargo ships specially converted for the purpose of transporting slaves, especially newly purchased African slaves to Americas....
which was shipwrecked near East Caicos
East Caicos
East Caicos is the fourth largest island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. To the west, it is separated from Middle Caicos by Lorimer Creek, a narrow passage that can accommodate only small boats. To the south is South Caicos....
in the course of a run transporting Africans to be sold to the sugar plantations
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
in 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...
.
Voyage of the Trouvadore
Slave trading was illegal in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, as the country had outlawed the slave trade
History of slavery
The history of slavery covers slave systems in historical perspective in which one human being is legally the property of another, can be bought or sold, is not allowed to escape and must work for the owner without any choice involved...
. However, governors in Cuba often turned a blind eye to the trade as it was required to maintain the economic viability of the sugar plantations. The exact route of Trouvadore is not known but the records state that new crew members were picked up in São Tomé
São Tomé
-Transport:São Tomé is served by São Tomé International Airport with regular flights to Europe and other African Countries.-Climate:São Tomé features a tropical wet and dry climate with a relatively lengthy wet season and a short dry season. The wet season runs from October through May while the...
, a Portuguese colony off the coast of Africa, and still legally traded as enslaved Africans.
The exact numbers of Africans boarded onto Trouvadore is not recorded but would have been around 280-300. When the ship wrecked off East Caicos
East Caicos
East Caicos is the fourth largest island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. To the west, it is separated from Middle Caicos by Lorimer Creek, a narrow passage that can accommodate only small boats. To the south is South Caicos....
in March 1841 all the 20 crew members and 193 Africans aboard survived, suggesting that around 100 had died during the Atlantic crossing, a typical loss for a venture of this kind. On landing on East Caicos a number of the Africans fled into the bush, one being shot dead.
East Caicos was a large deserted Island in 1841. The initial assistance came from residents from the neighbouring Island of Middle Caicos
Middle Caicos
Middle Caicos, also Grand Caicos, is the largest island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. To the west, it is separated from North Caicos by Juniper Hole, and to the east, from East Caicos by Lorimer Creek, both narrow passages that can accommodate only small boats.Middle Caicos has an area of 144.2...
, who also got news of the wrecking to the authorities on the Island of Grand Turk
Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with . It contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town and the JAGS McCartney International Airport...
, the political capital of the Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
. The Authorities dispatched British soldiers
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to secure the crew and bring all back to Grand Turk whilst a decision was made on their future. Residents from Middle Caicos had disarmed the Spanish crew so when Lt. Fitzgerald arrived with his men there was no need for force. The ships crew were arrested.
On Grand Turk the ships crew were placed under armed guard and eventually taken to Nassau with 24 of the Africans. As slavery had been abolished in this British territory
British overseas territories
The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
in 1834 the remaining 168 Africans were freed into a one year Apprenticeship during which time they were taught a skill, baptised and learnt English. These 168 individuals increased the population by 7% and would have had a major impact on the country.
Modern interest in the Trouvadore
This story was long forgotten until the Founder of the Turks and Caicos National Museum Grethe Seim, and Dr Donald Keith started searching in the USA for objects from the Turks and Caicos. They discovered a letter book written by Grand Turk resident George Judson Gibbs, containing letters written in the late 1870s trying to sell some of his collection. This included 2 'African Idols' from a Spanish slaver that wrecked off East Caicos in 1841. Research was begun and in the British National Archives the story was uncovered.Since 2000 one of the main researchers uncovering the story of Trouvadore and its legacy has been Nigel Sadler, former director at the Turks and Caicos National Museum (2000–2006). His research has placed the story of Troubadour not only into Turks and Caicos Islands history but also in the context of the illegal slave trade, British military intervention in capturing slave ships and who aided the Africans liberated from the vessels and Cuba where economic growth was fuelling the demand for the importation of illegally captured Africans.
Search for the wreck
There have been three field seasons to search for the remains of the ship. In 2004 a survey located a wooden wreck in the right location. In 2006 a test excavation was carried out but unfortunately no diagnostic material was found. In 2008 the third field season also sought to find two American navy vessels that sank in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands whilst on anti piracy/anti slavery patrols. Further fieldwork is plannedOn November 25, 2008, marine archaeologists, as stated through AP news reports, claimed to have found the remains of the Trouvadore slave ship off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The wreck that is thought to be Trouvadore is known as the Black Rock wreck.