Samuel Pepys and the Concealment of Enslaved Individuals in Historical Records

Recent research by Dr. Michael Edwards, a historian at Cambridge University, reveals that Samuel Pepys, the renowned 17th-century diarist and naval official, actively curated his correspondence to obscure an incident in which he was offered an enslaved boy as a bribe. This finding, published in the Historical Journal, highlights how Pepys' efforts to maintain his reputation led to the erasure of the boy's story from historical records.

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Samuel Pepys served as Secretary to the Admiralty during a politically charged period in England, where the Navy was intertwined with significant financial interests and political rivalries. His connections to the Royal African Company (RAC), which was involved in the transatlantic slave trade, further complicate his legacy. In 1675, John Howe, a naval officer, offered Pepys a "small" enslaved boy to gain his support in a personal dispute regarding a ship's command. Pepys' rejection of this offer was not based on ethical concerns about slavery but rather on the desire to avoid the appearance of being bribed.

The Guardian

• Samuel Pepys: A prominent naval administrator known for his detailed diaries, which chronicle significant events including the Great Fire of London. His correspondence reveals a complex relationship with the institution of slavery.

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• John Howe: A naval officer who attempted to bribe Pepys with an enslaved boy, reflecting the normalization of such practices within the naval community of the time.

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Dr. Edwards argues that Pepys' actions reflect a broader complicity in the system of enslavement prevalent during the 17th century. While Pepys sought to preserve his image, the ethical implications of his involvement with slavery remain significant. Critics point out that his correspondence often reduces human beings to mere commodities, highlighting a troubling aspect of his legacy.

The Guardian

Dr. Edwards notes that Pepys' clerk, William Hewer, played a crucial role in organizing Pepys' correspondence to protect his reputation. Edwards states, “Pepys had good reason to be cautious... He was running one of the biggest parts of the state in this period.” This statement underscores the political pressures that influenced Pepys' decisions and the subsequent curation of his records.

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• “I brought home on board for your honour … Hoping he is so well seasoned to endure the cold weather as to live in England.” — John Howe, Naval Officer

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• “He’s not concerned about the ethics of enslavement in the way we would be – he’s worried about concerns that he’s been tempted, so he uses that language of reward and gratuity because those are kind of official words.” — Dr. Michael Edwards, Historian

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• “Edwards said: “The English state in this period and the crown are deeply entangled with enslavement in lots of different ways.” — Dr. Michael Edwards, Historian

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The implications of this research call for a reevaluation of historical narratives surrounding figures like Samuel Pepys. As scholars continue to explore the connections between prominent individuals and the institution of slavery, the need for a more nuanced understanding of England's colonial past becomes increasingly evident.

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