Thomas Satterthwaite Explained

Thomas Satterthwaite (26 March, 1720, in Brighouse – 16 August 1790) was a prominent Quaker in Lancaster, Lancashire who was involved in the slave trade.

Early life

Thomas was the son of Thomas Satterthwaite (1685-1728) and Mary Ledger. After the death of his father, the family moved to Lancaster, where Thomas' sister Cecily was living with her husband John Dilworth whom she had married in 1712. Dilworth was himself a prominent member of the quaker community in Lancaster and was active in the slave trade.^[1] His brother, Benjamin Satterthwaite became a factor or agent for a group of Lancaster slave traders, first in Barbados and then in Jamaica. Amongst Benjamin's correspondence are letters to Thomas, primarily about business.^[2]

Thomas went into partnership with Charles Inman.^[3]

He was an early commissioner for the Lancaster Port Commission (1755-1758).^[4]

Notes and References

1. Schofield . M. M. . The Letter Book of Benjamin Satterthwaite of Lancaster, 1737-1744 . Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire & Cheshire . 1961 . 113 . 125–167 .
2. Web site: Letter-books of the Satterthwaite family/firm, Volume II [1764-1777]. ]. onesearch.lancaster-university.uk . Lancaster University . 13 May 2021 . en.
3. Web site: Summary of Individual Legacies of British Slavery . Legacies of British Slavery . University College London . 13 May 2021.
4. Web site: Moffitt . Dominic . A 2000-year history of slavery across Lancashire . LancsLive . LancsLive . 12 May 2021 . en . 14 June 2020.