William Ansah Sasreku (Sessarakoo): The African Prince From Ghana Who Was Sold Into Slavery Inwards Barbados Only Gained His Liberty Together With Became A Celebrity Inwards London
William Ansah (or Unsah) Sessarakoo (1736–1749), also known equally William Ansa Sasraku was the brilliant, gentle in addition to artistic boy of a wealthy Gold Coaster (Ghanaian) in addition to African trader who was treacherously sold into slavery inwards Barbados past times a British ship captain. He is best known for beingness released from slavery inwards the West Indies in addition to taken to London, where he became an instant celebrity gracing the palaces in addition to artistic centres.
Wlliam Ansah Sessaraku (Sasraku) who is known to British historians equally "African visitor to Britain", was born inwards 1736 at Anomabu on the Gold Coast of West Africa. He was the boy of Enu Baissie Kurentsir (known to the European traders equally John Bannishee Corrantee) in addition to his wife, Ekoubah, immature lady of Ansah Sasreku, manly somebody monarch of Akwamu. Obrafo Kurantsir (John Corrantee) was the caput (caboceer or braffo) of ane of the most prominent extended Fante families living nigh the British mill (trading post) of Anomabo, ane of several British factories along the Gold Coast. Corrantee (Kurentsir) was the principal in addition to wealthy Anomabo trader inwards golden in addition to slaves. Like other contemporaneous African leaders Corrantee (Kurentsir) forced Europeans to compete amongst each other for his trade.
As human of foresight in addition to intellect, Kurentsir sent ane of his sons, known to the English linguistic communication equally Lewis Banishee (Lewis Baissie), to French Republic to last educated in addition to to strengthen his commercial ties amongst French traders. According to Sessarakoo's (Sasraku`s) anonymous biographer who published "The Royal African, or, Memoirs of the Young Prince of Annamaboe" inwards London inwards belatedly Feb 1749, Corrantee (Kurentsir) was nevertheless an Anglophile who styled himself an Englishman. He allowed his favorite son, Sasreku, to alive inwards the British factory, where he learned to verbalize English linguistic communication in addition to developed a dearest for England. The English linguistic communication traders at Anomabo gave Sareku ‘the Name of CUPID, equally most expressive of his sugariness in addition to amiable Temper’ (see: The Royal African, page 37).
Taking payoff of Enu Baissie Kurantsir`s wish to shipping his boy in addition to a companion to Europe to larn European ways of business, to ameliorate his trading prospects in addition to to heighten his mightiness to play ane European mightiness off against another, a deceitful English linguistic communication slave-trading captain convinced Kurantsir to permit him to accept Sasraku via Barbados to England to last educated in addition to to strengthen Kurantsir`s economical human relationship amongst France's main rival. The unnamed English linguistic communication captain betrayed Kurantsir`s's trust, however, past times selling Sasraku into slavery when they reached Barbados inwards 1744. He was fortunately bought past times a variety master. The captain who had sold him died presently thereafter, in addition to when Kurantsir learned of his treachery he refused to function on trading amongst whatever English linguistic communication merchants. Although the treacherous captain had non been inwards the employ of the Royal African Company in addition to to avoid diplomatic problems, the fellowship promised Kurantsir`s to uncovering Sasraku, redeem him from slavery, in addition to furnish him to Anomabo via London inwards telephone substitution for Kurantsir's resumption of trade.
In 1748 Sessarakoo (Sasraku) arrived amongst an African countryman inwards London, where he was pose nether the protection of the president of the Board of Trade in addition to Plantations, George Montagu Dunk, mo earl of Halifax. The 2 Africans rapidly became celebrities, whose activities were noteworthy during the to a greater extent than than 18 months that they spent inwards London. They were introduced to King George II. The Gentleman's Magazine included inwards its Feb 1749 resultant a brief history of Sessarakoo's life, reporting that he in addition to his beau African ‘prince’ were beingness clothed in addition to educated ‘in a rattling genteel manner’ (89–90). Their didactics included lessons from ‘their Dancing-master, Mr. Lalauze’ (London Gazetteer, five Apr 1749). Sessarakoo was treated equally unusual royalty, referred to equally the ‘royal African’, the ‘Prince of Annamaboe’, in addition to ‘Oroonoko’. The General Advertiser announced on 2 Feb 1749 the staging of Thomas Southerne's 1695 tragedy Oroonoko at the Theatre Royal inwards Covent Garden ‘for the Entertainment of the Two Young Africans’. Southerne's play was based on Aphra Behn's 1688 novel of the same holler almost the noble African Oroonoko, whom a treacherous English linguistic communication captain betrayed into slavery. The Whitehall Evening Post, or, London Intelligencer (2–4 February) reported that when the Africans:
"came into the Box, the polite Audience (true English) received them amongst a loud Clap of Applause, which they each of them acknowledged past times a rattling genteel Bow, in addition to took their Seats … the Distress of Oroonoko, his coming together amongst his Imoinda, the Account of his fell Usage, all combined to elevate inwards their youthful Bosoms such Sentiments of Humanity, that Tears, those Types of generous Minds, flowed plentifully from their Eyes: The Royal Youth, indeed, could stand upwards it no longer, exactly retired at the End of the Fourth Act, in addition to returned in ane lawsuit again to the Entertainment, when the Fifth was over; his Companion remained, exactly was the whole Time drowned inwards Tears, which seemed to have got such a sympathizing Effect on the Audience, that few at that topographic point were exactly joined him."
The 2 Africans also saw several comedies performed at the Theatre Royal inwards March in addition to Apr 1749. On 23 March 1749 Horace Walpole wrote from London to Horace Isle of Mann inwards Italy: ‘There are 2 dark princes of Anamaboe here, who are inwards fashion at all the assemblies, of whom I scarcely know whatever particulars, though their storey is rattling similar Oroonoko's; all the women know it—and 10 times to a greater extent than than belongs to it’ (Walpole, vol. 2, 265–6).
The biography of Sessarakoo (Sasraku), which saw a mo edition inwards Apr 1749, was widely advertised inwards London newspapers in addition to magazines. Its positive depiction of the Royal African Company may have got been intended inwards purpose equally a answer to the growing criticism of the company's legal monopoly of the African slave trade, which was challenged, for example, past times H5N1 Detection of the Proceedings in addition to Practices of the Directors of the Royal African Company of England, since their First Establishment past times Charter inwards 1672, to this Present Year 1748, also published anonymously inwards Feb 1749. The Royal African Company was dissolved the next twelvemonth in addition to replaced past times the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa. The baptisms of Sessarakoo (Sasraku) in addition to his companion inwards the Church of England on xxx Nov 1749 were noted past times the Gentleman's Magazine. Sessarakoo's life inspired William Dodd inwards July in addition to August 1749 to pose out a fictional poetic correspondence betwixt the prince in addition to the lover he supposedly left behind inwards Africa. Gabriel Mathias painted Sessarakoo's portrait inwards 1749. H5N1 mezzotint engraving inwards 1749 past times John Faber the younger later on Mathias's portrait includes a brief biography of Sessarakoo. The Gentleman's Magazine published an engraved portrait of Sessarakoo inwards June 1750.
Sessarakoo left England for Anomabo on xiv August 1750 aboard HMS Surprize, nether the ascendence of Captain Patrick Baird. He did non accomplish Anomabo until half dozen Apr 1751 because Baird stopped to inspect British factories on the African coast along the way. Sessarakoo met John Newton off the coast of Sierra Leone on 24 November. Newton was inwards ascendence of a slave-trading vessel. Sessarakoo made a rigid impression on the futurity hymn author in addition to abolitionist: ‘Mr William Ansah Setarakoo, ane of the African princes, equally they were stiled inwards England, who is on his passage to Anomabo inwards the Surprise, came on board amongst me, in addition to spent the even out amongst me rattling much to my satisfaction, beingness original of a dandy bargain of venture feel in addition to a politeness of conduct I seldom run across amongst inwards whatever of our complexion hereabouts’ (Newton, 19). When Sessarakoo arrived at Anomabo his manly somebody nurture replaced his elaborate English linguistic communication clothes amongst African attire. To curry favour amongst his father, equally good equally inwards recognition of Sessarakoo's exemplary conduct in addition to education, John Roberts, governor-in-chief of all the British factories maintained past times the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa on the Gold Coast, right away hired Sessarakoo equally a writer, or clerk, for the company. His condition was acknowledged past times his name, William Ansah, ever beingness included on the listing of white, rather than African, employees of the company, though he was ever listed final in addition to identified equally beingness ‘black’. He also served equally a spy for the British, reporting on French activity at Anomabo to the earl of Halifax. He died at Anomabo of unknown causes on xxx Apr 1770.
Vincent Carretta
Sources The imperial African, or, Memoirs of the immature prince of Annamaboe (1749) · E. J. P. Brown, Gold Coast in addition to Asianti reader, 2 vols. (1929) · Horace Walpole's correspondence, ed. W. S. Lewis, W. H. Smith, in addition to G. L. Lam (1960) · J. Newton, The periodical of a slave trader, 1750–1754, ed. B. Martin in addition to M. Spurrel (1962) · GM (1749–50) · General Advertiser (2 Feb 1749) · London Gazetteer (5 Apr 1749) · Whitehall Evening Post, or, London Intelligencer (2–4 Feb 1749) · TNA: PRO, ADM 1/1604, CO 267/5, T 70/988, 1477, 1478, 1517 · BL, Add MS 35397
Likenesses J. Faber the younger, portrait, mezzotint, inwards or earlier 1749 (after fossil oil epitome past times G. Mathias), NPG, London [see illus.] · G. Mathias, portrait, oils, inwards or earlier 1749 · grouping portrait, engraving (after G. Mathais), Bridgeman Art Library, London; repro. inwards Gentleman's Magazine (1750)
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Portrait of William Ansah Sessarakoo (Sareku) past times Gabriel Mathias
Wlliam Ansah Sessaraku (Sasraku) who is known to British historians equally "African visitor to Britain", was born inwards 1736 at Anomabu on the Gold Coast of West Africa. He was the boy of Enu Baissie Kurentsir (known to the European traders equally John Bannishee Corrantee) in addition to his wife, Ekoubah, immature lady of Ansah Sasreku, manly somebody monarch of Akwamu. Obrafo Kurantsir (John Corrantee) was the caput (caboceer or braffo) of ane of the most prominent extended Fante families living nigh the British mill (trading post) of Anomabo, ane of several British factories along the Gold Coast. Corrantee (Kurentsir) was the principal in addition to wealthy Anomabo trader inwards golden in addition to slaves. Like other contemporaneous African leaders Corrantee (Kurentsir) forced Europeans to compete amongst each other for his trade.
As human of foresight in addition to intellect, Kurentsir sent ane of his sons, known to the English linguistic communication equally Lewis Banishee (Lewis Baissie), to French Republic to last educated in addition to to strengthen his commercial ties amongst French traders. According to Sessarakoo's (Sasraku`s) anonymous biographer who published "The Royal African, or, Memoirs of the Young Prince of Annamaboe" inwards London inwards belatedly Feb 1749, Corrantee (Kurentsir) was nevertheless an Anglophile who styled himself an Englishman. He allowed his favorite son, Sasreku, to alive inwards the British factory, where he learned to verbalize English linguistic communication in addition to developed a dearest for England. The English linguistic communication traders at Anomabo gave Sareku ‘the Name of CUPID, equally most expressive of his sugariness in addition to amiable Temper’ (see: The Royal African, page 37).
Taking payoff of Enu Baissie Kurantsir`s wish to shipping his boy in addition to a companion to Europe to larn European ways of business, to ameliorate his trading prospects in addition to to heighten his mightiness to play ane European mightiness off against another, a deceitful English linguistic communication slave-trading captain convinced Kurantsir to permit him to accept Sasraku via Barbados to England to last educated in addition to to strengthen Kurantsir`s economical human relationship amongst France's main rival. The unnamed English linguistic communication captain betrayed Kurantsir`s's trust, however, past times selling Sasraku into slavery when they reached Barbados inwards 1744. He was fortunately bought past times a variety master. The captain who had sold him died presently thereafter, in addition to when Kurantsir learned of his treachery he refused to function on trading amongst whatever English linguistic communication merchants. Although the treacherous captain had non been inwards the employ of the Royal African Company in addition to to avoid diplomatic problems, the fellowship promised Kurantsir`s to uncovering Sasraku, redeem him from slavery, in addition to furnish him to Anomabo via London inwards telephone substitution for Kurantsir's resumption of trade.
In 1748 Sessarakoo (Sasraku) arrived amongst an African countryman inwards London, where he was pose nether the protection of the president of the Board of Trade in addition to Plantations, George Montagu Dunk, mo earl of Halifax. The 2 Africans rapidly became celebrities, whose activities were noteworthy during the to a greater extent than than 18 months that they spent inwards London. They were introduced to King George II. The Gentleman's Magazine included inwards its Feb 1749 resultant a brief history of Sessarakoo's life, reporting that he in addition to his beau African ‘prince’ were beingness clothed in addition to educated ‘in a rattling genteel manner’ (89–90). Their didactics included lessons from ‘their Dancing-master, Mr. Lalauze’ (London Gazetteer, five Apr 1749). Sessarakoo was treated equally unusual royalty, referred to equally the ‘royal African’, the ‘Prince of Annamaboe’, in addition to ‘Oroonoko’. The General Advertiser announced on 2 Feb 1749 the staging of Thomas Southerne's 1695 tragedy Oroonoko at the Theatre Royal inwards Covent Garden ‘for the Entertainment of the Two Young Africans’. Southerne's play was based on Aphra Behn's 1688 novel of the same holler almost the noble African Oroonoko, whom a treacherous English linguistic communication captain betrayed into slavery. The Whitehall Evening Post, or, London Intelligencer (2–4 February) reported that when the Africans:
"came into the Box, the polite Audience (true English) received them amongst a loud Clap of Applause, which they each of them acknowledged past times a rattling genteel Bow, in addition to took their Seats … the Distress of Oroonoko, his coming together amongst his Imoinda, the Account of his fell Usage, all combined to elevate inwards their youthful Bosoms such Sentiments of Humanity, that Tears, those Types of generous Minds, flowed plentifully from their Eyes: The Royal Youth, indeed, could stand upwards it no longer, exactly retired at the End of the Fourth Act, in addition to returned in ane lawsuit again to the Entertainment, when the Fifth was over; his Companion remained, exactly was the whole Time drowned inwards Tears, which seemed to have got such a sympathizing Effect on the Audience, that few at that topographic point were exactly joined him."
The 2 Africans also saw several comedies performed at the Theatre Royal inwards March in addition to Apr 1749. On 23 March 1749 Horace Walpole wrote from London to Horace Isle of Mann inwards Italy: ‘There are 2 dark princes of Anamaboe here, who are inwards fashion at all the assemblies, of whom I scarcely know whatever particulars, though their storey is rattling similar Oroonoko's; all the women know it—and 10 times to a greater extent than than belongs to it’ (Walpole, vol. 2, 265–6).
William Ansah Sessarakoo (b. c.1730, d. 1770), past times John Faber Jr., mid 18th cent. (after Gabriel Mathias, 1749)
Sessarakoo left England for Anomabo on xiv August 1750 aboard HMS Surprize, nether the ascendence of Captain Patrick Baird. He did non accomplish Anomabo until half dozen Apr 1751 because Baird stopped to inspect British factories on the African coast along the way. Sessarakoo met John Newton off the coast of Sierra Leone on 24 November. Newton was inwards ascendence of a slave-trading vessel. Sessarakoo made a rigid impression on the futurity hymn author in addition to abolitionist: ‘Mr William Ansah Setarakoo, ane of the African princes, equally they were stiled inwards England, who is on his passage to Anomabo inwards the Surprise, came on board amongst me, in addition to spent the even out amongst me rattling much to my satisfaction, beingness original of a dandy bargain of venture feel in addition to a politeness of conduct I seldom run across amongst inwards whatever of our complexion hereabouts’ (Newton, 19). When Sessarakoo arrived at Anomabo his manly somebody nurture replaced his elaborate English linguistic communication clothes amongst African attire. To curry favour amongst his father, equally good equally inwards recognition of Sessarakoo's exemplary conduct in addition to education, John Roberts, governor-in-chief of all the British factories maintained past times the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa on the Gold Coast, right away hired Sessarakoo equally a writer, or clerk, for the company. His condition was acknowledged past times his name, William Ansah, ever beingness included on the listing of white, rather than African, employees of the company, though he was ever listed final in addition to identified equally beingness ‘black’. He also served equally a spy for the British, reporting on French activity at Anomabo to the earl of Halifax. He died at Anomabo of unknown causes on xxx Apr 1770.
Vincent Carretta
Sources The imperial African, or, Memoirs of the immature prince of Annamaboe (1749) · E. J. P. Brown, Gold Coast in addition to Asianti reader, 2 vols. (1929) · Horace Walpole's correspondence, ed. W. S. Lewis, W. H. Smith, in addition to G. L. Lam (1960) · J. Newton, The periodical of a slave trader, 1750–1754, ed. B. Martin in addition to M. Spurrel (1962) · GM (1749–50) · General Advertiser (2 Feb 1749) · London Gazetteer (5 Apr 1749) · Whitehall Evening Post, or, London Intelligencer (2–4 Feb 1749) · TNA: PRO, ADM 1/1604, CO 267/5, T 70/988, 1477, 1478, 1517 · BL, Add MS 35397
Likenesses J. Faber the younger, portrait, mezzotint, inwards or earlier 1749 (after fossil oil epitome past times G. Mathias), NPG, London [see illus.] · G. Mathias, portrait, oils, inwards or earlier 1749 · grouping portrait, engraving (after G. Mathais), Bridgeman Art Library, London; repro. inwards Gentleman's Magazine (1750)
© Oxford University Press 2004–14
http://www.oxforddnb.com/templates/article.jsp?articleid=97280&back=
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