A long-forgotten baptism record at Manchester Cathedral has cast new light on the lives of Black Mancunians during the Georgian era, exposing a hidden chapter in British history. The chance discovery by a cathedral research officer reveals that in 1798, a 14-year-old enslaved girl named Indiana Mundi was baptised, providing a direct link to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and shedding light on the lives of thousands of Black people who lived in England during this period.
The baptism record states: “Indiana Mundi, aged 14. A negro girl from Congo on the coast of Africa, disposed of to Mr Paton at St Kitts & transferred from him to Arch.d Paton MD baptised this day.” This level of detail is uncommon in such records and offers a stark reminder that even within Britain's major cities, enslaved people were brought and traded like commodities. Dr Archibald Paton, a Liverpool doctor who had married in the cathedral a year earlier, is named as the individual responsible for bringing Indiana to Manchester, where she likely served in his household.
The presence of enslaved individuals as servants was not unusual in 18th-century Britain, often seen as status symbols by affluent families returning from British colonies. Academic Malik Al Nasir, author of Searching For My Slave Roots, notes that enslaved people were brought to Britain for various roles, with girls frequently valued but also vulnerable to exploitation. The name 'Mundi', meaning 'of the world' in Latin, was likely chosen by the Patons as part of a fashionable trend for 'exotic' names at the time.
Indiana's baptism holds significant historical and political weight. Baptism was actively discouraged in British colonies due to fears that Christian teachings could foster literacy and resistance among enslaved people. Moreover, there was a widespread belief that baptism conferred legal freedom, transforming an individual from property to person. This argument proved pivotal to the abolitionist movement, exemplified by the 1771 London case of James Somerset, whose baptism and subsequent refusal to work for his 'master' led to a landmark ruling, albeit narrowly decided, that no master had the right to forcibly detain an enslaved person for transport and sale abroad.
The rediscovery of Indiana Mundi's record underscores the often-overlooked history of Black individuals in Britain and their experiences during a complex period. The Manchester Cathedral plans to honour Indiana and other enslaved people in the city with a memorial, supported by Heritage Lottery funding. This memorial is scheduled for unveiling on Clarkson Day, the cathedral's annual 28 October event dedicated to confronting the legacies of slavery.
For British readers, this discovery offers a tangible connection to the historical presence of enslaved people within Britain itself, challenging perceptions that the impact of slavery was confined solely to the colonies. It highlights Manchester's direct involvement in the transatlantic trade and underscores the need for continued awareness and commemoration of these lesser-known aspects of British history.