James Penny

James Penny was a Liverpool slaveship owner and anti-abolitionist. Penny Lane in Liverpool, England (later immortalized by the Beatles) was named after him. In 1792 he was presented with a silver epergne for speaking in favour of the slave trade to a parliamentary committee.

According to evidence he gave the British Government, Penny allowed the slaves on the Atlantic Slave route to play games and dance and sing. :"If the Weather is sultry, and there appears the least Perspiration upon their Skins, when they come upon Deck, there are Two Men attending with Cloths to rub them perfectly dry, and another to give them a little Cordial.... They are then supplied with Pipes and Tobacco.... They are amused with Instruments of Music peculiar to their own country...and when tired of Music and Dancing, they then go to Games of Chance" [ [http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2004/01/12_403.html Against all odds] - By Adam Hochschild January/February 2004 Issue of Mother Jones.]

In the same body of evidence, he notes that the fatality rate for his slaves was one in twelve, and that "The average allowance of width to a slave is fourteen and two-thirds inches." [ [http://www.civilwarhome.com/commisionreportchapt1.htm Final report of the American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission to the Secretary of War] - May 15, 1864 - Robert Dale Owen, Saml. G. Howe and J. McKaye]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConNarrative.62&chapterId=335 Anti-abolitionism in Liverpool]
* [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/slavery/liverpool.asp Liverpool and the slave trade]