1832 Letter from French Shipowner Involved in the Slave Trade

On offer is an interesting letter dating from the early 19th century that reaches directly into France’s history in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The letter was drafted in L’Havre, France and signed “Feray”. Pierre Feray, a shipowner who ran his family business in L’Havre, was an active part in the trans-Atlantic slave trading business. Records show that the Feray family firm had 22 slave expeditions from West Africa to the Americas operating out of the port of St, Malo. Municipal records from L’Havre show that the Feray family was one of its largest slave trading families. France played a major role in the slave trade and L’Havre was one of the main ports for slave ships.

The letter itself is a personal rather than business communication.

History of the Feray Family: 

The Feray family had been successful ship owners. In 1776, Pierre Feray founded a house (or business) for maritime trade in Rouen. His widow succeeded him in 1781 upon his death. Her son in turn succeeded her and moved the business to Le Havre. Through mergers, the firm remained an active business in the 19th Century under the names Feray, d’ Allens and Co. and d’Allens and Co. d’Allens and Co remain active today. The Ferays were also allied with the Parisian bankers Mallet, today part of the Dutch banking conglomerate ABN-AMRO.

For a historian or researcher studying France’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, this letter is a direct connection to one of France’s major slave trading families and their business connections that continue to this day.

This letter measures 10.25 inches by 8.0 inches. It consists of a single sheet of paper folded vertically to form a four-page document. The letter occupies two of the four pages. The back page serves as the outer cover of the folded letter and bears the name of the recipient (not completely legible). The paper is in good condition. The handwriting is tight but generally legible.