Contemporary records to Black individuals in London in 1700s and 1800s are relatively rare. Here is a reference to rumoured news of William Unsah Sessarakoo [as he was spelled in Britain]
James Ducarel, a Huguenot gentleman, writing to his lawyer brother Andrew Ducarel on 11 January 1749: -
'You will see upon this day's paper the story of a Black King's Son being sold by a Captain with whom his Father had trusted to him to be brought to England for this education. That Captain was George Hamilton, who sold him for 40£ in order to sink the gold-dust and other effects which the Black King had given him to bear the charges of his education This and other particulars I have had from a gentleman lately come from the West Indies, who knows the truth of these things.'
It was indeed true, though other sources name the perfidious captain as David Crichton.
Sessarakoo reached Britain about a month later, being greeted as something of a celebrity and having his portrait painted by Gabriel Matthias.
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