Preparation

1.1 Purchase and ship

Introduction

The MCC built her own ships on the wharf in Middelburg. The build of The Unity lasted four years. After the voyage the ship was restored and cleaned on the wharf in Middelburg. The cargo that was loaded on board in Zeeland, the cargason, consisted mainly of goods for Western Africa.

Documents

Werkbladen

Download the worksheets below:

• Introduction Lesson 1.1 Purchase and ship
• Lesson 1.1 Purchase and ship – Math
• Lesson 1.1 Purchase and ship – Language
• Lesson 1.1 Purchase and ship – WO

Extra

Archival research aided by the Internet

This assignment for young archival researchers is about making connections between documents. By comparing different documents about the same event or the same subject with each other, you can discover how, why and when something occurred. Archival research is like detective work!

In the MCC archives you will find various documents. Including all the documents about the voyage taken by The Unity. Many of these documents are on the MCC Slave Voyage The Unity website.

Based on the archival documents about the build of a ship, you can, for instance, create a 3D image. You can collect as much information as possible and create an image of what the ship might have looked like. This was done for The Unity. You can also read when what adjustments were done to prepare it for the transport of the African prisoners to the West Indies and when the adjustments were taken down again.

Assignment

Have a look at the information about the build of the ship. Here you can find the measurements of the ship and the information about the build, the embellishments and the naming of the ship.

Have a look at the information about the reconstruction of the ship. Once you have gathered enough information, not just about this ship, but also from similar ships, you can create a reconstruction. This can be drawings, scale models, but also moving images, in a video.

Have a look at the information about the adjustments of the ship to prepare it for the transportation of the slaves. Based on the information from the logbook we know what adjustments were done and when. From archival research we know where on the ship the adjustments were made.

Have a look at the information about the life of the Africans on board The Unity. Through archival research you come to know what life on board was like and how little space the Africans had, but also where they were and were not allowed on board.

Answer the following questions:

1. Based on the first mate’s notes in his log, can you determine which adjustments were made to The Unity to prepare it for the transport of the Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies? To make your search a little easier we’ve listed links to the first mate’s logbook entries below, just click on the date.
   What was done to prepare for the transport of the African’s on:
   • November 18, 1761
   • December 10, 1761
   • December 12, 1761
   • February 8, 1762
   • February 14, 1762
   • February 17, 1762
2. Based on the first mate’s notes in his logbook, can you determine what adjustments were made to the ship after the Africans were sold? To make your search a little easier we’ve listed links to the first mate’s logbook entries below, just click on the date.
   What was taken down after the sale of the enslaved Africans on:
   • August 19, 1762
   • August 20, 1762
3. This questions is for the true detectives: while cleaning and taking down the adjustments to the ship for the transport of the Africans, the first mate wrote down one adjustment which he did not write down when the adjustments were made. Which adjustment was this?
4. Based on all the information you have read, would you now draw the ship and make it look as close to the actual ship as possible? Or would you make a scale model from clay, wood or another material?

Worksheet extra assignments

Download the worksheet below:

• Worksheet extra assignments

1.2 Crew

Introduction

At the time of departure the crew of The Unity consisted of 36 members. A number of crewmembers knew each other well; they had made several voyages together. The captain was lord and master aboard his ship. The captain through the third mate were officers. The master carpenter through the corporal were non-commissioned officers. Next in line were the sailors. Prior to departure the crew was required to sign the ships articles. This document explained the rules they needed to abide by.

Documents

Worksheets

• Introduction Lesson 1.2 Captain and crew
• Lesson 1.2 Captain and crew – Math
• Lesson 1.2 Captain and crew – Language
• Lesson 1.2 Captain and crew – WO

Extra

Viewing assignment – film (internet)

Watch the clip about the life of young boys on the ships of the United East India Company (VOC). The VOC sailed to Asia and did not deal with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. However, life on board a VOC-ship in the 17th and 18th century is very comparable to life aboard the ships of the West India Company and the Middelburg Commerce Company from that same time period.

• Translation of the literal spoken text in the SchoolTV Clip – Jacob Sets Sail

View the video clip of NTR SchoolTV above and answer the following questions:

1. What does Jacob bring aboard?
2. What is ballast?
3. Many crewmembers fall ill, which illness do most of them have?
4. What is the cause of this illness?
5. What are the consequences for the patiënt having this illness?

Worksheet extra assignments

Download the worksheet below:

• Worksheet extra assignments