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Slave Revolt of 1712
In 1712 New York had a large population of enslaved Africans because of its involvement in the slave trade with the Caribbean. Unlike slaves on large plantation or remote rural areas, enslaved blacks lived and worked in close proximity to free and indentured Whites. They also had some freedom of movement and met with others. On the night of April 6, 1712, a group of blacks, who complained that their masters overworked them, set fire to a house and attacked white colonists who raced to the scene. The slaves killed nine whites and wounded at least six more in a ferocious fight. Soldiers from Fort George and local militias responded to the revolt and captured nearly all the rebels. Twenty slaves were found guilty and executed. As a result of the revolt, the New York Assembly passed repressive laws that limited free movement of slaves in the city. For instance, slaves were no longer allowed to gather in groups of three or more. The laws also limited the number of free blacks in the city by requiring any owner freeing a slave to pay a large amount of money to the government and annuity to the freed slaves.
Slave Conspiracy of 1741
In 1741 a series of unexplained fires blazed in the city. Based on the testimony of an Irish servant named Mary Burton, the authority arrested her employer, John Hughson who was an Irish tavern keeper, and a large group of black New Yorkers. Influenced by the news of black uprisings in other colonies, the authority believed that blacks conspired to destroy the city and overthrow the government. City officials tortured the suspects severely to wring confession and terrify innocents into naming conspirators. The reign of terror reminded people of the Salem Witch Trials in which any suspect was tortured and punished.
