33 Facts About Denmark Vesey

Likely born into slavery in St Thomas, Vesey was enslaved by Captain Joseph Vesey in Bermuda for some time before being brought to Charleston.

Denmark Vesey had a good business and a family, but was unable to buy his first wife Beck and their children out of slavery.

Denmark Vesey worked as a carpenter and became active in the Second Presbyterian Church.

Captain Joseph Denmark Vesey renamed him Telemaque; historian Douglas Egerton suggests that Denmark Vesey could have been of Coromantee origin.

Telemaque worked as a personal assistant for Joseph Denmark Vesey and served Denmark Vesey as an interpreter in slave trading, a job which required him to travel to Bermuda for long periods of time, and as a result, he was known to be fluent in French and Spanish as well as English.

Denmark Vesey took the surname Vesey and the given name of 'Denmark,' after the nation ruling his birthplace of St Thomas.

Denmark Vesey began working as an independent carpenter and built up his own business.

Denmark Vesey worked to gain freedom for his family; he tried to buy his wife and their children, but her master would not sell her.

Denmark Vesey was reported as a leader in the congregation, drawing from the Bible to inspire hope for freedom.

Denmark Vesey became increasingly set on helping his new friends break from the bonds of slavery.

In 1819, Denmark Vesey became inspired by the congressional debates over the status of Missouri, and how it should be admitted to the Union, since slavery appeared to be under attack.

Denmark Vesey developed followers among the mostly enslaved blacks in the Second Presbyterian Church and then the independent AME African Church.

In order for the revolt to be successful, Denmark Vesey had to recruit others and strengthen his army.

Denmark Vesey inspired slaves by connecting their potential freedom to the biblical story of the Exodus, and God's delivery of the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery.

Denmark Vesey reportedly planned the insurrection to take place on Bastille Day, July 14,1822.

Denmark Vesey held numerous secret meetings and eventually gained the support of both slaves and free blacks throughout the city and countryside who were willing to fight for their freedom.

Denmark Vesey was said to organize thousands of slaves who pledged to participate in his planned insurrection.

Denmark Vesey's plan was first, to make a coordinated attack on the Charleston Meeting Street Arsenal.

Denmark Vesey noted that a slave was mistakenly executed in the case, hoping to suggest caution in the Vesey affair.

Denmark Vesey was well respected, having been appointed as Justice by President Thomas Jefferson in 1804, but his article appeared to produce a defensive reaction, with white residents defending the Court and the militancy of city forces.

Denmark Vesey believed that it was wrong for defendants to be unable to confront their accusers, yet be subject to execution.

The remainder of Denmark Vesey's family was affected by the crisis and Court proceedings.

Denmark Vesey's enslaved son Sandy Vesey was arrested, judged to have been part of the conspiracy, and included among those deported from the country, probably to Cuba.

Denmark Vesey was pushing state lawmakers to strengthen laws against both mariners and free blacks in South Carolina in general, and anyone supporting slave rebellions, in particular.

Denmark Vesey suggests this factor was omitted because that political battle was over; instead, Hamilton identified reasons for the rising that could be prevented or controlled by legislation which he proposed.

Denmark Vesey accused the Charleston City Council of usurping its authority by setting up the Court, which he said violated law by holding secret proceedings, with no protections for the defendants.

Denmark Vesey noted how little evidence was found for such a plot: no arms caches were discovered, no firm date appeared to have been set, and no well-organized underground apparatus was found, but both blacks and whites widely believed there was a well-developed insurrection in the works.

Denmark Vesey suggested that historians had over-interpreted the available evidence, which was gathered at the end of Vesey's life from the testimony of witnesses under great pressure in court.

Free black carpenter Thomas Brown, who knew and sometimes worked with Denmark Vesey, described him as having dark skin.

Denmark Vesey concluded that the report was an attempt by the Court to suggest that formal trials had been held, when the proceedings did not follow accepted procedures for trials and due process.

Denmark Vesey used the crisis to appeal to the legislature for laws which he had already supported, that would authorize restrictions of slaves and free blacks.

Enlarging the threat posed by Denmark Vesey allowed the Lowcountry white elite to disband the thriving AME church in Charleston and launch a full-fledged, if ultimately unsuccessful, counter-attack against the insurgency.

The local elite's interpretation of the Denmark Vesey scare prepared the state for politics centered on the defense of slavery.