-
The Brown family's first recorded involvement in slave trading. The four brothers' father, Captain James Brown, sent a ship named "the Mary" to Africa. The vessel was the first slave ship to sail from Providence. Financially it was a moderately successful venture.
-
Nicholas and John joined there uncle Obadiah and several other Providence merchants in outfitting another ship. The vessel "Wheel of Fortune", was captured by a French privateer, taking much of the family's investment with it.
-
The "Sally" was one of three ventures that the Browns hoped to support their struggling iron and candle businesses. They anticipated a healthy profit from their plan. The "Sally" left Newport for Africa on September 10, 1764.
-
Captain Hopkins, and the Sally arrived in West Africa, on the coast of what is now the country of New Guinea.
-
On August 20, 1765, Captain Hopkins bought his last slave. In all, he purchased 196 slaves, 9 of whom had been sold to traders among the coast. They also left the coast on this day.
-
On August 28, 1765 the slaves rise in rebellion. Hopkins and the crew suppressed the uprising by firing on the slaves, killing 8 and wounding several others.
-
The Brown brother’s receive a letter describing the Sally's losses. Out of 198 slaves on 88 survived the venture. They were also informed that the surviving slaves were sold on the Caribbean island of Antigua. They were diseased, and sickly so they fetched very low prices. Although the voyage was a disaster that the captain was still alive and healthy.
