Hannibal (slave ship)

Tragically, approximately 328 (47 percent) of the 700 enslaved African women, men, and children aboard, as well as 36 crew members, lost their lives under his direct responsibility.

[2] The owners of the ship, of which Phillips has a share, were paid a freight fee of £10.50p for every enslaved African they landed at Barbados alive.

As a result, the enslaved African captives were fed regularly twice a day consisting mainly of corn, beans and pepper which was believed to prevent the white flux (dysentery).

Despite these efforts, 47 per cent of the enslaved Africans died from dysentery, smallpox, physical injuries, starvation, dehydration and suicide on the Hannibal's voyage of 1693–1695.

Before boarding the ship the enslaved men were put in irons in pairs by their wrists and legs, and branded with a capital "H" on the breast to claim them for the Hannibal.

[5] Phillips writes in his journal that 12 slaves 'willfully drowned themselves' during the voyage, several others persistently refused food starving themselves to death, 'for it is their Belief that when they die they return to their own Country and Friends again.

The plaque was commissioned to memorialise the life of Captain Thomas Phillips, slave trader and not to remember the 328 enslaved Africans who perished on his ship.

During the Black Lives Matter worldwide riots following the murder of George Floyd, the plaque in memory to Captain Phillips was removed by an unknown person and thrown into the nearby river.

Before Captain Hill was able to commence trading upon the coast and purchase 700 enslaved Africans at Whydah a crew mutiny occurred onboard the ship, on 1 and 2 January 1697.