A page from an inventory of slaves (in total 180) belonging to Baijer Otto-Baijer in 1817. The inventory is verified at the foot of the page by his attorney thus: "I Thomas Hardman do Swear that the Return now by me delivered to be Registered contains to the best of my knowledge and belief a true, faithful and accurate account and description of all the Slaves belonging to Baijer Otto Baijer and being within this Island. And I do further Swear that no-one of the said Slaves has been to my knowledge imported into this Island contrary to the existing Laws for abolishing the Slave Trade.”
The slave trade was abolished in 1807, but it took another 26 years to effect emancipation. The former slave-owners received a total of £20 million in compensation, paid out by British taxpayers.