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Legal Documents Regarding Slavery: Inquest at Michilimackinac, 1801Legal Documents Regarding Slavery: Inquest at Michilimackinac, 1801

Inquest - 1st is a 7 page folio, pgs 1 & 2 appoints Ezekiel Solomons in Mackinaw City, Michigan to serve on a commission with others to take deposition in Michilmackinac in the; state of NY on issues of property ownership including slaves. The remainder of; the pages are the questions in French. Mackinaw City, Michigan...8/20/1801 The 2nd document is also 7 pgs. With the; answers in French corresponding to the # of the questions. Signed twice by Solomons See below the full transcription Ezekiel Solomons, an 18th-century Jewish fur trader is known as Michigan's first Jewish settler. Born about 1735, he was one of the many Bohemian Jews who were expelled by the Empress Maria Theresa about 1746," The Jewish refugees of the 18th century came from Bohemia, a region that is today part of the Czech Republic. He was part of a consortium of five Jewish traders who received permission from the British to establish a trading post at Fort Michilimackinac in 1761. The venture was considered potentially lucrative, but enormously risky. It ended abruptly on June 2, 1763, the date of a native attack on the British stronghold known as the Pontiac uprising. As one of the lucky few to escape with their lives, Solomons was captured and ransomed to British forces in Montreal. Cousins Ezekiel and Lucius Levy Solomons were pioneering Jewish merchants who established the British fur trade in the Great Lakes region, but their enterprises were severely disrupted by the Quebec Act. By expanding Quebec's borders, the legislation placed their vast trading networks—including Ezekiel's major post at Michilimackinac—under strict, centralized government control, suddenly heavily regulating their licenses, routes, and legal recourse. In response to this bureaucratic and economic interference, Ezekiel joined other frustrated colonists in an act of political defiance, signing a 1775 petition that demanded the immediate repeal of the Quebec Act.Few scholars had managed to penetrate deeply into Ezekiel Solomons' colorful career. He is regarded as a somewhat elusive historical figure because, unlike other Jewish pioneers of the period, he was illiterate in English and left no papers to posterity. The transcription was published in Lande’s Canadian Historical Documents and Manuscripts (Montreal, 1977-82), as entry #B844. AS FOLLOWS: DAVID MITCHELL, EZEKIEL SOLOMONS, AND JOSEPH LAFRAMBOISE, MEMBERS OF A COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE SLAVER Y "They were formerly objects of trade in the Upper Countries; at present, I don't know" 265 SOLOMONS, EZEKIEL (1760-180?) 2 D.s., at Michilimackinac, 20 August, 1801. 7 p. folio and docket-title and 7 p. 4to and docket-title. The first document is a Letter from James Reid, the prothonotary, to Dr. David Mitchell, Ezekiel Solomons, Joseph Laframboise, and Isidore Lacroix: "... we have given unto you ... jitll power and authority to call before you ... Adhemar St-Martin, of Michilimackinac ... notary public ... and Charles Morison ... merchant, witnesses ... in a certain cause ... wherein Sir John Johnson '" and Robert Jones, executors of the last will and testament of the late John Dean ... are plaintiffs en reprise d'instance, and Joseph Ainsse, ... is defendant ... (2 p.). The other five pages consist of the interrogatory of Adhemar St-Martin and Morison, and the second document contains Adhemar St-Martin's and Morison's answers to these questions. Some salient points (in translation:) Fifth question: Are there among the said papers (of the late John Dean) minutes of an act of sale of a certain negro called Frank and of a certain negress called Salley, sold by Mr. Charles Morrison ... to the defendant, Joseph Ainsse, then Indian interpreter; the said act passed before the late Maitre Carignan, in the month of June or July, 1789? Adhemar's answer is negative. Eight question: To your knowledge, have negro and Indian slaves been, at any time, and are they still, at Michilimackinac, at Detroit and in the Upper Countries, an object of trade? Adhemar's answer: "To my knowledge slaves have been in the upper countries an object of trade, negroes as well as panis (Indians). " Ninth question: Have you at any time traded in them and where and when? (Answer:) I have neither sold nor bought any, bu t I have only owned them by cession. Tenth question: Are there more formalities to their sale than to that of common merchandise? (Answer:) The sale is generally undertaken in approximately the same manner as for common articles of trade, and the seller is ordinarily only bound to prove his right of possession. Charles Morison's interrogat01y concerns details of the sale of the slaves Frank and Salley. Morison admits having sold a negro and a negress to Joseph Ainsse, but does not know their names. Asked whether slaves were an object of trade in the Upper Countries, Morison answers "They were formerly objects of trade in the Upper Countries, at present, I don't know." He also states that he himself has never traded in slaves, either black or Panis (Indian), nor that he has any knowledge of the slave trade undertaken by others. Ezekiel Solomons, fl.. 1760-180-?, Jewish jitr trader, cousin of Lucius Levi Solomons, was captured by the Indians at Michilimackinac in 1763, and was afterwards taken by the Ottawa Indians to Montreal and ransomed. Many of his half breed descendants settled, first at Drnmmond Island, and afterwards at Penetanguishene, Upper Canada. Ezekiel Solomons was, according to his grandson, a native of Berlin, Germany. see Wallace, p. 706 (vide Levi Solomons). see also D.CB. IV (Fr. ed.), p. 779-80 (vide Lucius Levi Solomons). Adhemar de St-Martin, the fourth of that name, great-grandson and grandson of two of Montreal's most important notaries. John Dease, d. 1800, MD., of the Indian Department, a nephew of Sir William Johnson, Bart., the father of Charles Johnson Watts Dease, Francis Michael Dease, John Warren Dease and Peter Warren Dease, jitr-traders and explorers. For the sons, see Wallace, p. 178-179. Sir John Johnson, bart., 1742-1830, loyalist, the only son of Sir William Johnson. see Wallace, p. 350 . The biography of Dr. David Mitchell, d. 1832, will appear in D.C B. VI Cf Lande, Hist. Mss., B844, for the answers to this investigation only. DAVID MITCHELL, EZEKIEL SOLOMONS, JOSEPH LAFRAMOISE----MEMBERS OF A COMMISSION TO INVESTAGATE SLAVERY [Translation] Witness depositions produced, sworn & examined the 20th day of August in the year of Our Lord 1801, at Michilimakinac, in the State of New York, by virtue of a commission emanating from the Court of King's Bench for the district of Montreal in the province of Lower Canada. Giving us power and authority, to us David Mitchell, Ezekiel Solomons, Joseph Laframboise here present, together with Isidore Lacroix, absent, or two of us, to examine under oath, Adhemar St-Martin of the said Michilimakinac, esquire, notary, and Charles Morison, of the same place, merchant, witnesses in a case pending in the said Court of King's Bench, between Sir John Johnson, Knight & Baronet, and Jones, esquires, executors of the will of the late John Dease, esquire, who during his life resided on Cote des Neiges in the District of Montreal, plaintiffs in appeal, and Joseph Ainsse, esquire, of the parish Varennes in the said District of Montreal, defendant, on the interrogatories annexed to the said commission, oath having been taken prior to this by us the said commissioners present, and the secretary of the said commission, appointed by us, to loyally and without partiality, examine and edit in writing the depositions of the said witnesses produced and examined on behalf of the said defendant by virtue of the said commission, and moreover not to reveal nor publish the said depositions before they be published in the said Court of King's Bench. Adhemar de St-Martin of Michilimakinac, esquire, notary, after oath solemnly taken to say the truth, answers as follows to the interrogatory annexed to the said commission. To the first interrogatory: My name is Adhemar St-Martin, practicing notary, residing at Michilimakinac, in the district of New York, aged sixty-one years. 2d question: I know Joseph Ainsse, but I have not known the late John Dease. 3d question: I am neither parent nor associated, nor interested in the case in any manner. 4th question: I am the depository of the minutes of the acts, passed before the late M. Carignan, who during his life was notary at the said Michilimakinac. 5th question: I answer this 5th question in the negative. 6th question: I answer this sixth question with a second negative. 7th question: I reside in this post of Michilimafinac since the month of May, 1791. 8th question: To my knowledge slaves have been in the upper countries an object of trade, negroes as well as panis (Pawnees). 9th question: I have neither sold nor bought any, but I have only owned them by cession. 10th question: lThe sale is undertaken in approximately the same Manner as for common articles of trade, and the seller is ordinarily only bound To prove his right of possession. 11th question: I answer this question that to my knowledge, the manner of this kind of sale has always been arbitrary. 1'2th question: I have known the late Mr. Alexis Laframboise, heretofore from he said Michilimakinac; he died April 2, 1800. 13th question: I answer to this thirteenth question that I know him. 14th question: Sieur Charles Morison is still resident at Michilimakinac. 15th question: I answer this 15th question in the negative. (marked: ) signed on verso. After reading, has persisted in his an\wers, and has signed: (signed:) Adhemar St-Martin. The above deposition has been taken under oath and signed by the said Adhemar St-Martin, esquire, the 20th of August 1801, before us. (signed:) D. Mitchell; Ezekiel Solomons; Joseph Laframboise. Charles Morison of Michilimakinac, merchant, after oath, solemnly taken to say the truth, answers as follows to the interrogatory annexed to the said commission: To the first interrogatory: My name is Charles Morison, merchant of Michilimakinac, district of New York, aged fifty-eight years. 2d question: I know Joseph Ainsse and I have known the late John Dease. 3d question: I am neither parent nor associated, nor interested in the case in any manner. 4th question: I have sold the said Joseph Ainsse a negro and a negress, but I do not know their names. 5th question: I have sold the said slaves in the autumn of the year 1789. 6th question: I answer to this question that I remember the said slaves, to be of a good complexion, heavy, and of an ordinary size, their hair getting near gray, especially for the woman. 7th question: I do not know whom they belonged to, but they were sent to Mr. Wm. Malcolm. 8th question: There was no order for sale, but a Letter advising same. 9th question: I cannot produce anything but the Letter which has authorized me to undertake the sale. 10th question: I will not produce the original of the Letters which gave me power for the sale of the said slaves, but I will produce copy of these, affirmed by me as true, being in the hand of Mr. Malcolm, and signed by him and copied by me, marked "A" and initialled. 11th question: Follows from the 10th, in answer. 12th question: I have sold the said slaves for the sum of three thousand francs. 13th question: I have received the said sum in notes, as shown in the copy of my Letter to Mr. Malcolm, which I produce as a true copy. - act of sale for the said slaves and I have or passed any when selling them. 15th question: I answer as above. 16th question: I have not made any note of this sale in my books, since I had no interest in the sale. 17th question: I answer no, from the above. 18th question: Nobody was present when I made the sale. 19th question: I answer that I have known the late A. Laframboise, who died on April 2, 1800. 20th question: I have no knowledge about it but the Letter of Mr. Malcolm, of Which copy is given to you, and which has been dictated by me. 2 I8t question: They were formerly objects of trade in the upper countries, at present, I don't know. 22d question: I have never traded in slaves, either black or panis (Pawnees). 23d question: I have no knowledge of the slave trade undertaken by others. 24th question: It was not, to my knowledge, usual to pass act of sale for slaves. 25th question: I answer this 25th question in the negative. 26th question: I know sr. Adhemar St-Martin, esquire, notary, resident of Michilimakinac. 27th question: I do not know anymore about the subject of the present case. After reading, has persisted in his anwsers, and has signed: (signed:) Charles Morison. The above deposition has been made under oath and signed by the said Morison, merchant, the 20th August, 1801, before us. (signed:) David Mitchell; Ezekiel Solomons; Joseph Laframboise. 7 p. 4to. For watermark see Churchill, No. 324, p. [CCLlV] and p. [80], which dates this paper from 1777. Please refer to B37, p. 243 in this bibliography and pages 57 to 63 in "Memoires et Documents Relatifs a l'Histoire du Canada Publies par la Societe Historique de Montreal- Montreal 1859" which relates to B37 and slavery in Canada. See Lande 804. Solomons, Ezekiel, fl. 1760-180-?, Jewish fur-trader, cousin of Lucius Levi Solomons, was captured by the Indians at Michilimackinac in r763, and was afterwards taken by the Ottawa Indians to Montreal and ransomed. Many of his half-breed descendants settled, first at Drummond Island, and afterwards at Penetanguishene, Upper Canada. Ezekiel Solomons was, according to his grandson, a native of Berlin, Germany. See Wallace, grd ed., p. 706 (under Levi Solomons). See also D.C.B. (Fr. ed.), Vol. 4, pp. 779-80 (Vide Lucius Levi Solomons). Adhemar de St-Martin, the fourth of that name great-grandson and grandson of two of Montreal's most important notaries. Dease, John, d. r800, M.D., of the Indian Department, a nephew of Sir William Johnson, Bart., the father of Charles Johnson Watts Dease, Francis Michael Dease, From: Arthur Kiron <kiron@pobox.upenn.edu> The above "From:" address may be forged. Save Address Reminder To: ahkaplana@att.net Subject: Re: Ezekiel Solomons Translations Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:40:41 PM [View Source] Hi Arny - these are really exceptionally important documents. I must confess I know nothing about this episode and was struck by a number of points. The commercial and legal dimensions, of course, provide first hand documentation of existence of the trade of slaves (both Blacks and Indians) in the "upper countries". But there are also social dimensions too: for example, most discussions of "miscegenation" I've read about have been focused on Sephardic plantation owners in the Caribbean or Jewish slave-owners in the South. Here we learn about the "half-breed descendants" of an Ashkenazi (really German-Jewish, i.e., Berlin-born) fur trader, who apparently had children with a native Indian? Or did I mis-read the document? I also find it fascinating to read in the tenth question about how the sale of slaves was handled, wherein the answer is "in approximately the same manner as for common articles of trade." What does "approximately" mean?! I wonder what (insignificant) difference the speaker intended between the trade of (human) slaves and that of, e.g., (animal) hides?! Also - did David McKnight I ever mention to you that when he worked at McGill in Montreal, one of his major projects was the digitization and transcription of historical manuscripts about the colonial fur trade in Canada)? See: http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/nwc/toolbar_1.htm . I quickly searched the site and found no mention of Ezekiel Solomons.With your permission, I would love to show him this material! Thanks so much for sharing it with me. All best, Arthur Kiron (U of P)

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