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Henry Ingersoll, a 21-year-old printer’s apprentice from Stockbridge, Mass., thought he was doing the right thing when he 
joined the Venezuelan fight for independence. Instead, he ended up in irons in a Spanish prison.
joined the Venezuelan fight for independence. Instead, he ended up in irons in a Spanish prison.Venezuela led the Latin American independence movement. The first South American republic to break away from Spain, Venezuela battled for independence for 15 years. The battle started in 1806, but didn’t end in victory until 1821.
That year, Don Francisco de Miranda, a creole Venezuelan leader, led an invasion of Venezuela to gain its independence. He had tried to garner support from the United States, meeting with many American leaders, including President Thomas Jefferson. But the U.S. government did not want to get involved, as it would have violated the Neutrality Act of 1794.
Gen. Francisco de Miranda
Miranda then chartered a small ship, The Leander, and secured finances from two New York gentlemen whom he had known for many years–Samuel G. Ogden and Col. William S. Smith. Next, Miranda gathered troops in New York City, using various pretenses that these men were serving their own country. He also suggested that they would embark on a grand adventure.
Col. Smith, who had married John Adams’ daughter Nabby, recruited the men. He enlisted some directly, some through agents. Some thought they were serving in the “President’s Guard.” Smith promised they would get regular pay, advancements and, for the adventurous spirit, mystery.
Col. William S. Smith, John Adams’ son-in-law
Henry Ingersoll
Among the troops was Henry Ingersoll from Stockbridge, Mass., son of Jonathan Ingersoll and Eunice Pixley. He had recently moved to New York to work as a printer’s apprentice.
The men who made Miranda’s expedition possible included a “motley mix of university-educated men, military officers, doctors, printers, coopers, butchers,” according to Lindsay Schakenbach in her 2009 paper “Foreign Policy by Whom? United States Citizens, the Press, and the Leander Expedition, 1805-1810.”
“Ingersoll verified that some men had enlisted truly believing that they engaged in a government mission,” Schakenbach wrote.
The Leander sailed from New York on February 2, 1806, headed to what was then called the West Indies.
According to Henry’s diary, they stopped at Aruba on April 14 and then to the coast of Terra Firma, the Spanish term then for northern South America.
Replica of the Corvette Leander located in the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Park (Parque del Este), in Caracas – Venezuela (2012)
On April 28, they “fell in with two Armed Spanish vessels a Brig of 22 Guns and a Schooner of 18 Guns, after some maneuvers and a few shots from both sides… the ship Leander ran away leaving us to the mercy of our enemies. We were taken prisoners tied and carried into Puerto Cavallo [Puerto Cabella, on the north coast of Venezuela] …crammed into a small dungeon shackled two and two.”
Then on August 7 “we were put on board the armed Ship Prince of Peace in double irons to be transported to Carthagena [Cartagena] about 300 miles from Puerto Cavallo.”
Henry Ingersoll, POW
The men ended up imprisoned, in chains, for three years at Carthagena (in present day Colombia). They were the lucky ones. Thirteen of Henry’s companions were hanged, their heads severed from their bodies, stuck upon poles and paraded through the streets.
The prisoners tried to gain their freedom by sending a petition to Congress. The petition was read before the 10th Congress in Washington on November 16, 1808, stating in part: “That we, your petitioners, were brought from New York in the armed ship Leander, Thomas Lewis, commander, on the 2d of February, 1806… under the most specious engagements of their country…Your petitioners are confident, that, when your honorable body becomes thoroughly acquainted with the circumstances of art and deception which betrayed them into the expedition… you will… adopt proper measures to restore your unfortunate petitioners to liberty and their families…”
Their names, including Henry’s, were signed at the bottom.
Letters of Henry Ingersoll
Henry faithfully wrote to his parents in Stockbridge throughout his imprisonment. He also wrote to Barnabus Bidwell, a Massachusetts lawyer and congressman from Berkshire County, asking for help in gaining his freedom. Ezekiel Bacon, who replaced Bidwell in Congress, also pleaded for the prisoners. Henry was finally liberated in 1809, with the help of David M. Erskine, the British minister to the United States, and others.
Barnabas Bidwell
The following are extracts from some of Henry’s letters from prison to his family in Stockbridge. He wrote the first letter, in March, before his capture. The complete letters, and parts of his diary are available online here.
Jacquemel [present day Jacmel], (Island of St. Domingo), On board the Leander, March 22 nd 1806
Dear Father and Mother,… Sunday 2 nd of February I sailed in the Ship Leander on the secret expedition I mentioned in my last…Wednesday 19 th came to anchor in the harbor of Jacquemel. Thursday put up a printing press on board the ship…printed 2000 proclamations in the Spanish language…Thursday 6 th of March my birthday I went ashore at Jacquemel for the first time since I left New York… adieu, your affectionate Son, Henry Ingersoll.
Carthagena, Feb. y 17,1807
Dear Father and Mother…I am still a prisoner (or more properly a slave) and in irons…I refer you to the Memorial addressed to theGovernment of the United States by us which I hope will rouse the indignation of the public…and induce our government to make some effort for our freedom…I have enjoyed good health… You must not be surprised if you hear nothing further from me during my imprisonment…My love and affection to all my brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances, particularly to Dr. Jones and family.
Still a Slave in Irons
Carthagena, August 2, 1807
Dear Parents, …I am still kept in irons and in prison,.. A subscription has been set on foot in the principal cities of the United States for the relief of all prisoners taken in the two schooners of Miranda… I would ask why cannot we flatter ourselves with the hope of release from our government? The answer is she cannot appear in this business…my respects to all enquiring friends, your ever faithful and affectionate Son Henry Ingersoll
Carthagena prison (S. Amer) July 4. 1808
Dear Parents It is with regret I am again obliged to date my letters in a Spanish prison. The last information we received from the U.S, gave us some hopes we should in time regain our liberty… if my father was to obtain a recommendation from some of the principal men of Stockbridge in my favor…and transmit it by the member of Congress… to Spanish Ambassador…do we not deserve the protection of our country;…believe me to be your affectionate and dutiful son, H. Ingersoll
The walls of Cartagena
Plea to Congress
Vaults of St. Clara, Carthagena, S. America Oct. 1. 1808 [to Barnabus Bidwell, Stockbridge]
Respected Sir, I take the liberty to transmit to you a copy of a memorial of thirty-six American citizens to Congress with a request that you would adopt some sure means to lay it before that body. I am induced to this from a consciousness that when the government of my country is fully acquainted with the treachery and villanies made use of to entrap her citizens into the service of a foreign outlaw she will have no means untried to rescue them from slavery. We have been nearly three years in irons…your most ob t and humb le serv t Henry Ingersoll
Vaults of St. Clara, Carthagena, S.A. Dec 6, 1808 [to Dr. Horatio Jones, Stockbridge]
Dear Sir, On your arrival at Stockbridge from Philadelphia you must have, no doubt, been very much surprised on hearing of my leaving New York in the expedition of Gen l Miranda’s; an expedition which has so completely proved my ruin – but I then tho’t it was for the best…It is a disgrace to the U.S. that she suffers her citizens to remain in slavery… I think my pardon might be obtained by my father thro’ the means of the American Consul in Spain… Your esteemed friend, H. Ingersoll
Carthagena S. America, Feb y 3,1809
Dear Brothers I have just returned from Kings Hospital in this place recovered from a severe fit of sickness. Thank God I am now tolerably well.” [He also complained about never receiving answers from his parents, brother or Barnabus Bidwell ]…believe me to be your affectionate Brother Henry Ingersoll
Henry Ingersoll, Liberated
Georgetown district of Columbia [Washington, D.C.] July 15. 1809:
Dear Father I have the indescribable satisfaction to inform you of my arrival in this town last night from Carthagena prison having received my pardon from the Royal Junto of Spain…to whom I am indebted for my liberty I know not…A few days after my irons were taken off, in consequence of my being so long confined and suddenly set at liberty, my ancles [sic] were so swelled and lame I tho’t I should lose the use of my legs, but after being one week or ten days at Sea I recovered the use of them… My most tender and affectionate love to my dear mother, all my brothers and sisters. In haste, your affectionate Son, Henry Ingersoll.
Washington City July 20, 1809: “Dear Brother [Thomas],
Last week I wrote to my father informing him of my liberation, and arrival at Georgetown, also requesting him if possible, to send me $60 which money I received… The afternoon of the same day [I was liberated] I was visited by Don Manuel Ribero, of Carthagena, congratulating me on my restoration to liberty, friends, and country, politely requesting me to make his house my home while in Carthagena, which I gladly accepted;…after being 3 long years 1 month and 2 days closely confined, and in irons during that time; suddenly to enjoy the sunshine of liberty is a species of happiness few experience…your affectionate brother, H. Ingersoll.
What Happened
Henry Ingersoll had been curious to learn the details of his liberation, and this last letter in the collection gave him some history. Henry D. Sedgwick was a lawyer and son of Judge Theodore Sedgwick in Stockbridge. Theodore was also well known for his abolition work.
“My dear friend, I have written you four or five letters, three of which You certainly have not received…November my Father wrote to Mr Erskine the British Minister requesting his influence…[he] made application to Mr Hammond [minister to the United States]…[who] was successful in obtaining the interference of Admiral Apodaca Ambassador from the Spanish Junta to the Court of St. James…request granted…With the utmost affection I am Your friend Henry D. Sedgewick.”
Life After Imprisonment
Henry miraculously survived his three-year imprisonment and returned to Stockbridge. He is probably one of the males aged 16-25 in Jonathan Ingersoll’s household in the 1810 Stockbridge census. There he married Mary Griswold Whiton in 1813. He had become a physician (probably under the tutelage of Dr. Horatio Jones in Stockbridge).
As Mary’s father John Whiton, a cabinet maker, had moved from Stockbridge to Ithaca, New York, Henry and Mary also relocated there. Henry practiced medicine in Ithaca for over 20 years.
By 1850 they had moved to Canton, Ill., to be near their sons John and Henry, both merchants. Henry Sr. was still a physician in 1850 and 1860. He died in Canton on March 14, 1872, aged 87 years and 8 days according to the Chicago Evening Mail of March 25. The Chicago Tribune of March 25, 1872, mentioned the late Dr. Henry Ingersoll of Canton, including a brief story about his long-ago imprisonment in Carthagena. Mary died in Canton in March 1875, according to the Macomb Journal (Illinois).
Venezuela Gains Independence
After the American and French Revolutions, many Americans often supported foreign revolutions. The concept of liberty and freedom captivated them. They lived in the era of enlightenment, espousing rights and equality.
Sketch for the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, by Martín Tovar y Tovar
By 1811 Venezuela had declared provisional independence. The Vermont Gazette (Bennington) printed the entire declaration of 27 rights on Sept. 16, 1811. The newspaper also stated, “The spirit of independence is progressing in our Southern continent, and we hope other Republics will soon be formed there, and a union of views pervade our western world…”
But civil war and strife among the Venezuelan people continued for several more years. The Pittsfield Sun published an article in June 1817 sympathizing with the Venezuelan patriots. “The friends of humanity, who know the abject degraded condition in which the Spanish colonies have been held, will enjoy at least the consolation of knowing, that any change will be an amelioration of their condition…every political consideration, and the strongest motives of commercial benefit, prompt us to rejoice in the triumphs of the patriots of South America.”
Venezuela finally gained its independence in 1819 or 1821 (sources differ).
Rebecca Rector of Troy, N.Y., is a history and genealogy researcher, and retired librarian from Siena College. She has been transcribing letters and diaries for Newberry Library and National Archives for the past three years.
See the prisoners’ petition here: (scroll down)
Images: Replica of the Leander: By Veronidae – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21230376. Walls of Cartagena: By Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan – Las Murallas, the walls of Cartagena, Colombia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63454043.
