Gabriel's Conspiracy, The Trials * October 6, 1800

The trial of Gabriel

Prossers Ben--Gabriel was appointed Captain at first consultation respecting the Insurrection, and afterwards when he had enlisted a number of men was appointed General. That they were to kill Mr. Prosser Mr. Mosby and all the neighbours, and then proceed to Richmond, where they would kill every body, take the treasury, and divide the money amongst his Soldiers, after which he would fortify Richmond and proceed to discipline his men, as he apprehended force would be raised elsewhere to repel him. That if the White people agreed to their freedom they would then hoist a White flag, and he would dine and drink with the merchants of the City on the day when it should be so agreed to. . . . Gabriel said he had nearly 10,000 men. He had 1000 in Richmond, about 600 in Caroline and nearly 500 at the Coal pits, besides others at different places, and that he expected the poor white people would also join him, and that 2 frenchmen had actually joined whom he said Jack Ditcher knew, but whose names he would not mention to the Witness. That the prisoner had enlisted nearly all the Negroes in town as he said, and amongst them had 400 Horsemen. That in consequence of the bad weather on Saturday Night an agreement was made to meet at the Tobacco House of Mr. Prossers the ensuing night. Gabriel said all the Negroes from Petersburg were to join him after he had commended the Insurrection.

Ben Woolfolk--
. . . The prisoner said at the time of meeting the Witness at Mr. Young; that he had the evening before received six Guns, one of which he had delivered to Colonel Wilkinson's Sam. That he was present when Gabriel was appointed General and George Smith second in Command. That none were to be spared of the Whites, except quakers Methodists and French people. The prisoner and Gilbert concluded to purchase a piece of Silk for a flag on which they would have written death or liberty, and they would kill all except as before excepted unless they agreed to the freedom of the Blacks, in which case they would at least cut off one of their arms.

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