Polinaire, Jean Baptiste (fl. 1791) The Examination of Polinaire taken the seventh day of February 1791
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02542.32.15 Author/Creator: Polinaire, Jean Baptiste (fl. 1791) Place Written: Dominica Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 7 February 1791 - 11 February 1791 Pagination: 4 p. ; 30.6 x 20.7 cm. Order a Copy
A summary of the testimony of Polinaire, a free mulatto, regarding the recent slave revolt in Dominica, in which he participated. "The Examinant...makes a voluntary Declaration of the truth of all he knows concerning the late Revolt knowing he must die knowing." Polinaire explains that the enslaved people believed that John Orde, the British Governor, was trying to help the enslaved people and free mulattoes of the colony, but was being prevented from doing so by the white planters. Thus the enslaved people organized a rebellion against the planters. Describes the plans of the revolt, and those involved. Orde ordered the British forces to put down rebellion, and at this point they had defeated the rebels, but failed to capture a number of them. Walrond, a British Justice of the Peace, signs and certifies the document on 11 February 1791.
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