An entry on this page of Robert "King" Carter's diary mentions the purchase of several slaves off a slave ship from Africa.

Planters purchased slaves in various ways. Auctions were commonly held in port cities such as Norfolk. Slave ships often sailed up the York river so planters could examine their cargoes more easily.

The Africans were terrified of their fate. Poked, prodded, and sold like livestock, many thought they would be killed and eaten by the colonists. About 25% actually did die—from illness, shock, or misery—within a year of their arrival in Virginia. Those that survived adapted in various ways to life as a slave. Music they knew or adapted from their life in Africa—such as the songs "Panlogo" (224k) and "Dreamed I was in Africa" (332k) —was a common way to sustain their identies.

This entry from Robert Carter's diary contains a rare piece of information for slavery researchers—the date of purchase of new slaves. Move your mouse over the page to find out what that date was—or examine an enlargement of the page (opens in pop-up window).

That date lets us trace these slaves to the slave ship that brought them to America. Make a note of this date in your journal, and remember it when you examine other documents to see if you can match these slaves to their slave ship.