Who bought slaves in early America? Purchasers of slaves from the Royal African Company In Jamaica, 1674-1708

On 4 June 1677, the Morning Star, a ship belonging to the Royal African Company, moored at Port Royal, Jamaica. This chapter analyses the records of a major supplier of slaves, the Royal African Company, in Jamaica, between 1674 and 1708, years in which Jamaica moved from extensive smallholding to a plantation monoculture economy. The Royal African Company detailed the purchases of all purchasers who bought slaves on credit for them and some who bought slaves for cash. The Royal African Company slave sales’ invoices are remarkably complete and seemingly accurate in listing purchasers’ names, slaves bought, the prices paid and the gender and age of slaves sold. Large purchasers were more likely than the average slave buyer to be active in the slave market so long as they were alive. The willingness of certain Port Royal purchasers to buy unwanted slaves was directly related to the third peculiarity of Port Royal purchasers