Gullah Jack
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Gullah Jack, also known as Couter Jack, was a Methodist, an African conjurer, and a slave to Paul Pritchard in Charleston, South Carolina. Gullah Jack is historically known for aiding a free black man named Denmark Vesey at planning a large slave rebellion that would become known as Denmark Vesey's slave conspiracy in 1822. He recruited African-born slaves as soldiers, provided them with charms as protection against the "buckra" (whites), and used his spiritual powers to terrify others into keeping silent.
The Vesey plot involved taking over the state armory which would then arm the rural slaves who would rise up and assist the others. They would kill the whites, take the city and her ships which they would then use as their getaway, presumably to Haiti. Eventually the Vesey plot was leaked by other slaves that were coerced to confession. Consequently, authorities hanged Vesey, Gullah Jack, and 34 other accused conspirators of which 22 were hanged in one day.
[edit] References
- Murrin, John M. & Johnson, Paul E. & McPherson, James M. & Gerstle, Gary & Rosenberg, Emily S. & Rosenberg, Norman L. (2002). Liberty Equality Power: A History of the American People Volume I: To 1877 (3rd ed.). Wadsworth: Thomson Learning. ISBN 0-15-505080-X.
