36 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.

Two enslaved men opposed to Denmark Vesey's scheme leaked the plot.

Historian Douglas Egerton suggested that Denmark Vesey could be of Coromantee origin, based on remembrance by a free black carpenter who knew Denmark Vesey toward the end of his life.

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 extended periods; as a result, he was fluent in French and Spanish as well as English.

In 1696, Captain Denmark Vesey wed Mary Clodner, a wealthy "free East Indian woman", and the couple used Telemaque as a domestic at Mary's plantation, The Grove, just outside Charleston on the Ashley River.

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 the Missouri Territory and how it should be admitted to the United States since slavery appeared to be under attack.

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

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

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

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

Denmark Vesey was said to have organized 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 Justice by President Thomas Jefferson in 1804.

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 pushed state lawmakers to strengthen laws against both mariners and free Black people 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 the law by holding secret proceedings without protection 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 Black and white people widely believed there was a well-developed insurrection in the works.

The 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 since the proceedings had not followed accepted procedures for trials and due process.

Denmark Vesey believed that the paternalistic approach of improving the treatment of slaves, as promoted by moderate slave-holders such as Bennett, was a mistake.

Denmark Vesey used the crisis to appeal to the legislature for laws, which he had already supported, to authorize restrictions on enslaved and free Black people.

Charleston officials said the "brilliant" Denmark Vesey led a large, complex, and sophisticated conspiracy; but Virginia officials downplayed Turner's revolt, stressing that he and his few followers acted alone.

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.