Thread by @drjohnaeharris

Emilio Sanchez is one of the most interesting and important abolitionists you've never heard of. He was an anti-slave trade spy in #NewYorkCity in the 1850s and 1860s //THREAD

Born in Cuba, Sanchez was a merchant in New York by the 1850s, when the illegal slave trade to the island had become rampant. Hundreds of ships left Manhattan for Africa in these years, bringing 164,000 captives to Cuba. /2

As U.S. authorities largely stood idly by, the abolitionist British consul in New York, Edward Archibald (below), sought eyes and ears on the waterfront. Sanchez, who had recently fallen foul of the traffickers (more in the book), stepped up. /3

For over 3 years Sanchez spied on New York's slave traders, writing hundreds of letters to the British consul, often in cypher (he was rightly terrified of being caught). He got additional info from his brother back in Cuba. /4

As a merchant, he was well-placed to get intel from sailors, captains, dockworkers, and even voyage investors. He engaged them all in what he called "casual conversation" but was probing the whole time. /5

Sanchez's notes are the single best source of information on U.S. involvement on the illegal slave trade. He documented hundreds of voyages - names of vessel, owners, flag, date of departure etc. Here's a sample note on the slave ships Pamphylia. /6

The British consul in New York sent his information to London and then to the African coast, where the Royal Navy was patrolling for illegal slave ships. /7

Sometimes Sanchez's information reached the Royal Navy before New York slavers arrived on the African coast. Armed with Sanchez's description of the vessels, the British lay in wait. When they drew near, the British gave chase. /8

In all, Sanchez's intelligence helped terminate around 30 voyages and prevented about 20,000 enslaved Africans from enduring the middle passage. One of those vessels was Pamphylia (600 captives). The British concluded that the traffic has been "greatly impeded" by his intel. /9

That didn't prevent them cheating him. According to his contract with the British, Sanchez was to be paid according to captures, but the Foreign Office short-changed him again and again (Sanchez protested, see counter claims below, but to no avail) /10

Sanchez continued to work for the the British until 1862, when the slave trade from New York finally ended (see book for why) and the British no longer needed him. Sanchez lived out his days in New York and New Jersey until his death in 1901. /11

His secret seems to have gone to his grave. I contacted some of his descendants recently (in Florida) and they knew nothing of his work. Maybe they should get in touch with @FCDOGovUK for some back pay. /12

For more on all this check out my book, The Last Slave Ships: New York and the End of the Middle Passage /end

yalebooks.yale.edu/book/978030024…