Archive · 8 Jan 2026
The Zorg: A Harrowing Tale of Slavery and Greed
The Zorg was a slave ship that left Africa in 1781 with 442 enslaved people.
The ship was overcrowded and had a small crew.
Many people got sick and died on the journey.
When the ship was close to Jamaica, the crew decided to throw over 123 enslaved people overboard.
They did this because they could claim insurance money for the lost slaves.
The ship's owner took the insurance company to court in 1783.
This story helped start the anti-slavery movement, which led to the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.
A book about the Zorg was written, which tells this sad and important story.
Some people say the book is well-researched and important, while others say it is not well-written.
The Zorg was a slave ship that set sail from Africa's Gold Coast to Jamaica in September 1781 with 442 enslaved Africans and a crew of 17.
The ship was overloaded and suffered from dysentery and scurvy, leading to many deaths and a shortage of supplies.
The crew decided to throw over 123 enslaved people overboard to claim insurance, as maritime insurance did not cover deaths from natural causes.
The ship's owner filed a claim for the lost slaves and took the insurers to court in 1783, leading to public exposure of the murders.
The story of the Zorg helped kick-start the anti-slavery movement, ultimately leading to the passing of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807.
- Who
- The crew of the Zorg, including a British captain and a Liverpudlian owner
- What
- The Zorg was a slave ship that set sail from Africa's Gold Coast to Jamaica in 1781, with 442 enslaved Africans on board. The crew threw over 123 slaves overboard to claim insurance.
- When
- September 1781 (departure), 1783 (court case), 1807 (Abolition Act)
- Where
- Africa's Gold Coast to Jamaica, with the court case taking place in Liverpool
- Why
- The crew decided to throw the slaves overboard to claim insurance, as maritime insurance did not cover deaths from natural causes but did cover 'jettisoned' cargo.
- Ship Name
- The Zorg
- Departure Date
- September 1781
- Departure Location
- Africa's Gold Coast
- Destination
- Jamaica
- Number of Slaves
- 442
- Number of Crew
- 17
- Number of Slaves Thrown Overboard
- 123
- Year of Court Case
- 1783
- Year of Abolition Act
- 1807