The Amistad: A Detailed Timeline

1839

1865 drawing depicting the capture of Africans

January

 Sengbe Pieh (Cinque) is kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Early April

Portuguese ship Tecora is loaded with enslaved Africans off Lomboko.

1815 map of Cuba

Late June

Jose Ruiz buys 49 adult male Africans for $450 each. Pedro Montes buy four 

children, three of them girls.

June 22-26

Montes and Ruiz obtain passports to transport “ladinos” (Africans born in the 

New World) to Puerto Principe, Cuba.

Oil painting of Pieh (1840)

June 28

Ruiz, Montes, and the 53 captive Africans board La Amistad.

July 1

Pieh (also known as Cinque) and Grabeau free and arm themselves, then the 

others.

Engraving of the Amistad revolt (1840)

July 2

The captive Africans, led by Pieh, revolt around 4:00am.

Sail from the reconstructed Amistad (Max Bosio)

Late August

Amistad has several encounters with pilot boats off New York, leading to rumors of pirates.

August 25

The Amistad anchors off Long Island and a shore party lands to get provisions.

Oil painting depicting seizure of the Amistad

August 26

Lt. Richard W. Mead of the USS Washington seizes the Amistad and escorts it 

to New London in the morning. Claims a salvage award.

The Old Statehouse also housed the Circuit Court

August 27

Amistad reaches New London, CT. At an inquiry with U.S. Federal District 

Judge Andrew T. Judson aboard the Washington, Ruiz and Montes demand 

as property the 39 surviving adult African males, the four children, and the 

Creole cook Antonio. Judson decides to put the matter to a grand jury at U.S. 

Circuit Court in Hartford in September. The African captives are taken to jail 

in New Haven, CT.

Portrait of Lewis Tappan

September 4

New York abolitionists announce the formation of the “Amistad Committee” 

to raise funds for the legal counsel and to support the Africans while jailed. 

Lewis Tappan, Rev. Joshua Leavitt and Rev. Simeon Jocelyn take the lead.

September 6

Spanish minister in Washington formally demands that the Africans be re- turned to Cuba to stand trial for mutiny and murder.

James Covey’s deposition for the Amistad captives

September 9

Yale professor Josiah Gibbs finds Mende speakers on the docks of New York 

- James Covey and Charles Pratt - and takes them to New Haven to interview 

the Africans. New York abolitionists Lewis Tappan, Joshua Leavitt, and Rev. 

Simeon Jocelyn from the Amistad Committee to raise funds for the defense of 

the Amistad captives.

Connecticut’s Old Statehouse

September 19

First trial begins in the U.S. Circuit Court at Hartford, Judge Thompson pre- siding.

While in custody the Mende would exercise on the New Haven 

Green

September 23

Though he expresses doubt as to the legality of the Africans’ enslavement, 

Judge Thompson denies their motion for writ of habeas corpus, keeping them 

in custody in the New Haven jail.

Portrait of Lewis Tappan

October 17

 Tappan has several of the Africans bring civil suit against Ruiz and Montes 

for assault and battery and false imprisonment. The Spaniards are arrested in 

New York City.

October 22

Hearings begin in the New York Court of Common Pleas, Judge Inglis presid- ing. Within a week, the court frees Montes, and reduces Ruiz’s bail. Montes 

flees to Cuba. Ruiz eventually makes bail and flees as well.

Connecticut’s Old Statehouse

November 19

The second trial opens at the federal district court in Hartford, Judge Judson 

presiding. Abolitionists try to get the case dismissed on grounds the “salvage” 

should have been taken to New York. They then introduce evidence demon- strating that the Africans were not legally enslaved. The court postpones the 

hearing until January and moves it to New Haven.

1840

Portrait of John Forsyth

January 2

Secretary of State John Forsyth orders the Navy to prepare to transport the 

Africans to Cuba as soon as the district court ruling is reached, before an 

appeal can be lodged. The Navy dispatches the USS Grampus to wait in New 

Haven harbor.

Drawing of Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinque) published in 1839

January 7

District court proceedings resume in New Haven. U.S. District Attorney for 

Connecticut William S. Holabird announces that the Spanish government has 

merged the claims of Ruiz and Montes with those of the U.S. Various witnesses testify that the blacks are Africans, Mendes, bozales (not native to the 

country).

January 8

Cinque testifies, describing his capture, enslavement, middle passage, sale in 

Havana, revolt and encounter with Green. Grabeau and Fuliwa also testify.

Portrait of Martin Van Buren

January 13

Judge Judson affirms the jurisdiction of the district court, and dismisses 

Green’s salvage claim. The court awards salvage to Gedney and the two Spaniards. The court also rules that the Africans were not legally enslaved. On the 

question of murder and piracy, the court holds that only a Spanish court can 

rule, but since Spanish law would have effect only if the Africans were bozales 

- and they were not - there was no point in returning them to Cuba. The court 

places the captives in the charge of the U.S. President, to be returned to Africa. 

President Van Buren orders the U.S. District Attorney to appeal the District 

Court ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court in April. The Spaniards also appeal.

Portrait of Adams (1843)

April 29

Trial opens at the Circuit Court at New Haven, Judge Thompson presiding. 

Thompson eventually affirms the decision of the District Court, setting the 

stage for a show down at the U.S. Supreme Court.

December 10

In the U.S. House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams accuses the Van 

Buren administration of falsifying documents in the case. A committee is appointed to investigate the affair.

1841

House of Representatives in session (1905)

January 4

The House of Representatives adopts Adams’ committee report, but does not 

censure the administration.

Portrait of Roger Baldwin

February 22

The U.S. Supreme Court begins hearing the Amistad case.

February 23

Baldwin, who agreed to open for Adams, concludes his arguments.

February 24

Adams begins presenting his argument.

Portrait of Justice Story (1844)

March 9

Justice Story delivers the decision of the Court, affirming the Africans’ freedom.

Bible and accompanying letter from the Mende

November 19

John Quincy Adams receives a Bible sent to him by Pieh and the other Mende 

involved in the Amistad case. The Bible is now among over 14,000 volumes 

in the Stone Library at Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, Massachusetts.

November 27

Thirty five survivors depart New York for Africa aboard the barque Gentle- man, accompanied by two black Americans, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wilson, and 

three whites, Rev. and Mrs. William Raymond and Rev. James Steele, to min- ister the “Mendi Mission.”

1842

1803 depiction of Sierra Leone

January

The Mende reach Sierra Leone.

Source: This timeline was derived from a timeline featured in the pamphlet “John Quincy Adams and the Amistad Event” produced 

by Adams National Historical Park.