Ignatius Sancho

Born on a slave ship in 1729 after it left the coast of Guinea, Sancho was orphaned when, shortly after arriving in Cartagena, Colombia, his mother died of an illness, and his father committed suicide. His master sent him to England in 1731 as a gift to a family of sisters. He later worked as a butler for the Duke of Montague for twenty years. Published posthumously in 1782, following his death in 1780, and including a brief biographical sketch and list of subscribers, his letters, poems, and plays reflect knowledge he gained through his interactions with this aristocratic family. The letters are generally short, and provide information about his family life, relationships, interests, religious beliefs, and literary preferences.