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Capture
When Equiano was kidnapped at the age of 11 along with his sister. They were held captive for 6-7 months by several African masters who bought them mainly for companioinship rather than for labour. They were then shipped along with 244 other Africans across the Atlantic ocean to Barbados in the West Indies. They had to endure the horrendous journey across the Middle Passage. -
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The Arrival and Subsequent Sale of Olaudah Equiano
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Arrival in the West Indies
When Equiano arrives in the West Indies, he witnesses the sales of other slaves but he, himself is not sold and stays with the dutch ship, travelling to the British Colony of Virginia.
There, he is sold to man named Mr Campbell and put to work doing light field work and household chores. -
Under the Ownership of Pascal
Equiano is not in Virginia long before Michael Henry Pascal, a captain of a merchant ship and lieutenant in the British Royal Navy and purchases him for 40 pounds as "a present to some of his friends in England". However, he later changes his mind and decides to keep Equiano as an aid for naval endeavours.
Equiano served under Pascal for the next seven years (1756 - 1763). During that time Equiano was renamed Gustavus Vassa by Pascal and was baptised and eduated -
At Sea with Pascal
He formed a strong friendship with an American boy working as a crew member named Robert Baker. Baker introduced Equiano to western culture.
Equiano accompanied Pascal, who captained the 'Namur', during the seven year war with France. He learnt much about the seamanship during his time on board.
He was disappointed when he wasn't freed after the war. -
Changing of Masters
Determined that Equiano remain enslaved, Pascal sold him to Captain Doran who took him back to the West Indies to be sold. There he is purchased by a "charitable and humane" quaker Merchant named Mr. Robert King.
King employed Equiano in a variety of positions including: boat loader, clerk and personal groom. His services were occasionally hired out to other merchants.
During this time, Equiano began buying and selling goods and fruit to earn enough money to buy his own freedom. -
Freedom
On the 11 July, 1766, Equiano purchases his papers of manumission for 40 pounds, and as a free man he continued his travels in the West Indies and America
He continued working aboard ships and started protesting against the practice of slavery which was abolished 10 years after his death in 1797.
