Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-02-13
DIMMOCK CHARLTON-HIs STORY CON
FIRMED.

Our readers will remember the romantic and
touching story OF "Dimmock Charlton and his
| Grandchild," which appeared in the Standard OF
August 29th. The main features of tn It story
we're the following: That Dimmock was native
of Africa; that, when he was boy, he was kid
mapped and taken on board Spanish SLAYER; thai
the SLAYER, after being three weeks at sea- cap
tured by q British cruiser and taken to England
thas Dimmsck was put on the British ship Peacock
as cabin boy, and, when that vessel was captured
by the American schooner, Hornet, was taker
prisoner along with the rest of the crew that he
fell in charge of Lieut.. afterwards President)
| william Henry Harrison, and was subsequently,
for some unex planned reason, sent to Savannah,
Co., where he vas placed under the care Of Judge
Charlton, well known lawyer of that city, who,
when the boy was sent for by Lieut.. Harrison, to
be disposed of with the rest of the prisoners Of the
Peacock, reported him dead Of fever; that the
Judge held him as slave, and sold HIM to aFrench-
man named Joh p. Setz tailor to discharge q
debt; that Setz took him to Augusta, where, after
changing owners several times, he was at length
sold to Mr. Robinson, OF Savannah, who agreed
to give him his freedom for $500; that Robinson,
when the money had been earned by extra labor
and placed in his hands, instead of fulfilling his
engagement, pocketed the amount and sold the
kidnapped man to Mr.. James Kerr; that Dimmock
again bought his freedom, agreeing to pay 500,
the sum for which he bad teen sold; that, being
enable to read he put into the hands of HE master
by mistake, the sum Of $3.50, which the master
dlshonorAbly pocketed that Dimmock, who had
become q husband and father, then made bargain
with his master to buy bis wife and children, who
were the property of one Pratt, the sum agreed
upon being - 600; that Dimmock had paid $ 500
of this SUN, when his master went privately to
Pratt and bought the family for 5000; that Kerr.
when reproached with this breach Of trust, and
called to account for the balance Of 5000,
laughingly said it WAS safe in the bank,
oh lirrn, fpri tE-f 10
obligation was afterwards stolen from Dmmock S
trunk, under circumstances which left little room
for doubt as TO the author of the theft; that for
many years Dimmock and his family lived content
edly with Kerr, supposing their freedom TO be se'
cure; that at length Kerr sold him to one man, his
wife to another and scattered some of the children
about among various owners that after this he
told the story of his life to his neH master in con-
sequence of which he was twice sold; that at
length he fell into the hands of Mr., GGrman.w
honestly permitted him to buy himself once more,
when he left Savannah and came to New York.
The truth of this story was naturally doubted by
many, bat we were satisfied, after due reflection
and inquiry, that it was substantially true. lie
came to us for aid in securing the freedom OF his
little grand child, who had been brought to this
city by two sisters of one of his former masters
That object secured by decision of competent
court, ard the child being placed in the hands of a
responsible guardian, Dimmock went to England
of the truth of his story and thus of establishing
bis claim for indemnihcation as q British subject
who had served on board British man-of.war, and
been taken prisoner whilst in the service. He
took letter of introduction from John Jay, Esq.,
of this city to Mr.. John Cropper of Liverpool
We now learn, from the London Anti- Harery
Reporter for January that he fortunately succeed
ed in discovering in Greenwich Hospital "A pension
er who was serving on board the Peacock at the
time she was captured. The following is the dec.
aration of this important witness, as we find it in
The Reporter:
81, THOMAS TRETHowAN, aged 81, native of
Kenwen, near Truro in the county of Cornwall.
formerly on board the Peacock, an English brig
of war, and now an inmate Of Greenwich Hospi-
tal do solemnly and sincerely declare that was
serving in the capacity of servant to Captain
William Peek, commander of the Peacock, an
eighteen gun English brig of war, in February,
one thousand eight hundred and twelve. when she
was attacked of the Spanish Main and sunk by
the Hornet, a twelve gun ship, belonging to the
United States of America, and commanded by
Capt Lawrence; ihat was rated as boy on the
ships books that there was on board colOured
boy, who, to the best of my recollection at this
distance of time, came on board at Demerara
that during the engagement he remained in the
captains cabin, which was used as cockpit
that remember hs uttering several shrieks when
our mainmast fell overheard that saw that boy
on board the Hornet-he having been saved