Andrew T. Judson Collection (Coll. 247)

An Inventory of His Papers at the G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport

Collection register prepared by the Manuscripts Division

Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
Mystic, Connecticut

Overview of the Collection
Creator: Judson, Andrew T.
Title: Andrew T. Judson Collection
Dates: 1825-1861
Abstract: Letters received by Judson (1825-1849); deed (1843) for property in Canterbury; Judson family letters (3 items, ca. 1856-1861); documents relating to the AMISTAD trial; and ms. autobiographical sketch written by Judson in 1847. AMISTAD documents include: rough notes of testimony from the two Cuban slaveowners taken aboard the brig WASHINGTON (U.S. revenue cutter responsible for the capture of the AMISTAD) at New London, Conn. (1839 Aug. 29); transcript of first day testimony (10 items, 1839) at District Court, Hartford, Conn.; copy of Judson's decision regarding the location of the AMISTAD when it was seized (6 items, 1840 Jan. 13); rough copy of his decision regarding the status of the Africans aboard (4 items, 1840 Jan. 13); and rough notes concerning issue of the specific location of AMISTAD's capture with possible references to legal precedents used by attorneys involved in the trial.
Quantity: 35 items
Identification: Coll. 247

Biography of Andrew T. Judson

Andrew T. Judson (1784-1853) lived in Canterbury, Connecticut, and served the state of Connecticut as a public official holding the offices of States Attorney for Windham County, Representative to the Connecticut House and U.S. District Court judge. From 1839 to 1840 Judson presided over the case of the schooner AMISTAD, out of Havana, Cuba, which sailed from Africa carrying slaves, who several days out of port, rose and murdered the captain and crew, hoping to use the vessel to return to Africa, ending up adrift at sea; responsible for freeing the African captives.

Index Terms
Corporate Entities:
Amistad (Schooner)
United States. District Court (Connecticut)
Washington (Revenue cutter)
Family Names:
Places:
Hartford (Conn.)--History
New London (Conn.)--History
Subjects:
Fugitive slaves--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States
Real property--Connecticut--Canterbury
Slave insurrections--Cuba
Slave insurrections--United States
Slavery--Law and legislation--United States
Trials (Mutiny)--United States
Document Types:
Autobiographies
Deeds--Connecticut--Canterbury
Testimonies
Occupations:
Judges--United States
Slaveholders--Cuba

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Miscellaneous Papers; 1825-1861
Box Folder
1 1 Letter written by Andrew T. Judson to J. A. Rockwell; 1846 (1 pieces)
2 Letters received by Andrew Judson; 1825-1849 (4 pieces)
3 Deed for property in Canterbury, Connecticut, purchased by Judson from Calvin Barstow; 1843 Oct 11 (1 piece)
4 Judson family letters; ca. 1856-1861 (3 pieces)
5 Rough notes of testimony from Don Jose Ruiz and Don Pedro Montez concerning schooner AMISTAD, aboard brig WASHINGTON at New London, Connecticut; 1839 Aug 29 (1 piece)
6 Rough transcript of the first day testimony in the case of the schooner AMISTAD, in District Court at Hartford, Connecticut; 1839 Nov 19 (10 pieces)
7 Copy of Andrew Judson's decision as regards the location of the schooner AMISTAD when it was seized; 1840 Jan 13 (6 pieces)
8 Rough copy of Andrew Judson's decision regarding the status of the Africans aboard schooner AMISTAD; 1840 Jan 13 (4 pieces)
9 Rough notes regarding the specific location of capture of schooner AMISTAD, and possible references to legal precedents used by attorney involved with the trial; ca. 1839 (1 piece)
10 Manuscript draft, "A Short Sketch of My Own Life," written by Andrew Judson; 1847 (8 pages)