"In April 1675, John Howe, a naval officer, sought to win Pepys' support by offering a small enslaved boy, hoping he was seasoned to endure the cold weather in England."
"Edwards argues Pepys rejected the offer not due to ethical concerns about slavery, but to avoid appearing as a man who could be bribed."
"The boy's story is reduced to mentions of a gratuity or reward in parts of Pepys' archive, causing his fate to disappear from the record."
"Pepys' language in his letters about this incident shows he stops talking about a boy and stops talking about a person, reflecting the norms of the time."
Research reveals Samuel Pepys received an offer of an enslaved boy as a bribe in 1675, which he indignantly rejected. Historian Dr. Michael Edwards found that Pepys curated his records to protect his reputation, reducing the boy's story to mere mentions of a gratuity. At the time, enslaved African boys were sought after as servants, making such offers common. Pepys, known for his detailed record-keeping, avoided discussing the boy as a person, reflecting the societal norms of the era regarding slavery and reputation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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