The debate on slavery in the Dengie Hundred
Slavery was abolished in
the United Kingdom in 1807 following a campaign led by Quakers and
William Wilberforce MP although the use of slaves also continued in
many parts of the British colonies.
Despite the British ban slavery was continued by many other European Countries where slaves were taken from African countries to America and the Caribbean Islands and sadly 100 years later slave ships operated by African and Arab slave traders were still being detained by the Royal Navy.
To combat this slavery a
national
campaign, led by a group called the Committee of the African Institution
and the British Anti-Slavery Society, was launched.
The
motif adopted by the British Anti-Slavery Society
Eastern Essex joined in
the discussion over the merits of slavery with public meetings and
sermons that reflected the varying attitudes of the Rectors or their
Curates.
It is inconceivable in modern times that anyone could argue in favour of slavery although in the 1700's the majority of the population supported slavery until the campaign gained weight slowly so that by the early 1800's the majority of public opinion was behind abolishing slavery.
Some people believed that
African people were not human , some that their souls would be saved
by Christianity, although most of the pro-slavery argument was based
on biblical tracts that cited the use of slaves in a positive
fashion and the economic argument that the economy of French,
Spanish and British
Colonies would collapse if slavery was abolished.
Personal interest was also a factor as a collapse would affect many of the local gentry, who had investments in the plantations or business that used goods produced cheaply by slaves, even after slavery was abolished.
As a result of the national
debates four local parishes sent petitions to Parliament during 1814
of which demanded further action to abolish slavery.
Asheldham, Bradwell Juxta Mare, Dengie and Tillingham thus took an open stand against slavery nearly 20 years before it was abolished in British colonies.
