The protagonists of the Patty story
The Patty Collection includes documents associated with the seizure of Patty and the ensuing fight for reparations. The following people played a part in the story:
Justus Riley (1739-1826)
Justus Riley was a prominent Connecticut maritime merchant active in the West Indies trade. He was born and died in Wethersfield, and is buried in the Wethersfield Village Cemetery. His second wife was Mabel Buck; Josiah Hempsted was the son of her sister Anna, thus Riley's nephew by marriage. Over the years Riley had had considerable success as a merchant and shipowner but the loss of Patty and her cargo was part of a string of very bad luck. In addition to her article in Connecticut Explored, historian Sandra Ulbrich is working on a book about Riley and his career.
Captain Josiah Hempsted (1762-1830)
Josiah Hempsted was a sea captain who lived in Hartford, the son of Dr. Joshua Hempsted and a descendant of the Hempsted family who were among the founders of New London. He is buried in Old South Burial Ground in Hartford. At the time of the Patty incident Capt. Hempsted was 34 years old, with a wife and young family. The loss of his investment in the cargo must have been a considerable financial blow. Hempsted's letters to Justus Riley, written soon after the seizure, are found in the chapter "Captain Hempsted and his crew are taken to Guadeloupe."
Another document associated with Hempstead is displayed here, a copy of his "letter of protest" produced from testimony given by him and crew members Hubbard and Munson in the Municipal Office at Basse Terre, Guadeloupe with the aid of an interpreter.
Victor Hugues (1762-1826)
Victor Hugues was a French colonial administrator who was Commissioner in Guadeloupe at the time of the Patty incident. In her article about the seizure of Patty, Sandra Ulbrich called Hugues "the Robespierre of the Caribbean." According to an article about him in Wikipedia “Hugues is perhaps best known for authorizing privateers to attack shipping through the Caribbean, which brought great wealth to the island but also was part of the tensions between France and the United States (known as the Quasi-War in American history).” Patty and her crew had the misfortune of being captured during his tenure. Displayed to the left are the pages of the translation from French of the charges levied in the tribunal against Hempsted.
Pierre-August Adet (1763-1834)
Pierre-August Adet was a French chemist who spent much of his life as a diplomat, including a posting to Washington as the French ambassador beginning in 1795. Click on this link to find out more about Adet’s career as a chemist and as a diplomat who angered many in the United States by his attempts to meddle in domestic affairs.
Timothy Pickering (1745-1829)
Timothy Pickering was the Secretary of State from 1795-1800 during the administration of President John Adams so it would have been his responsibility to take up the question of the seizure of Patty.
Gideon Tomlinson (1780-1854)
Gideon Tomlinson was a member of the House of Representatives for Connecticut from 1819 to 1827, and during this period he took up the cause of justice for Patty. He later became the Governor of Connecticut.
James Lanman (1767-1841)
James Lanman was an important figure in Connecticut politics and government. He was born in Norwich and was a United States Senator from 1819 to 1825. During this period he was active in the cause of finding a resolution to the case of the illegal seizure of Patty and her cargo. With Gideon Tomlinson he co-sponsored Justus Riley’s petition to Congress.