INSURRECTION OF
AFRICAN CHURCH
A confidential slave, George Wilson, has
informed his Master of a planned revolt that
involved thousands of free and enslaved
blacks.
Denmark Vesey a free, respected, Methodist
leader and co-conspirators had organized the
insurrection. The cause of this revolt was
suppression of their African Church.
South Carolina, Charleston authorities had
uncovered evidence and there are over 3,000
membership of the catalyst for the revolt.
They had written not one, but two letters
seeking support in Santo Domingo.It was a
trial that exceeded a major trial.
Vesey and thirty-six others were hung on
July 2, 1822, and over the next 5 weeks the
Court issued 131 arrests charging them with
conspiracy, and as the month went on the
arrest more than doubled, as if to prove there
had been a large insurrection that needed
controlling.
In October of 1822, Judge Elihu Bay
convicted four white men for a misdemeanor
in inciting slaves to insurrection during the
Denmark Vesey slave conspiracy with some
receiving a more severe penalty than others.
In total, the courts convicted 67 men of
conspiracy and hanged 35, including Vesey
and his son Sandy, in July 1822. A total of
31 men were transported, 27 reviewed and
acquitted, and 38 questioned and released.