BARTER, EDWARD
- 4 Min Read
Edward Barter (16?-1704) of Cape Coast was perhaps the most important and influential of the indigenous African merchants who emerged on the Gold Coast in the 17th century, and was a precursor of the African merchant princes of later times.
Of Anglo-African parentage, he came to acquire wealth and to exercise influence in Cape Coast, first as a debt collector for the English Royal African Company, and later as a private businessman. He was educated in London in 1690-91 at the company’s expense, returned to the Gold Coast in 1693, and was recruited into the company’s service as debt collector at an annual salary of £30. He resigned from the company’s service before the close of the century, and set up in business for himself. He must have become wealthy, for he built a miniature fort on which he mounted a few cannons and proudly hoisted the English flag. He also kept a well-armed personal army made up of slaves and freemen. The sources of his wealth and power were two-fold.
Firstly, by 1699 all the trade both from the interior and from interlopers – that passed through Cape Coast was conducted through him. Secondly, his longer stay at Cape Coast and his closer identity with the local potentates gave him certain advantages over the English company officials who had only a short tenure on the coast. Barter is believed to have used his influence at Cape Coast and on other parts of the Fante coast in the interest of the Royal African Company. It is said that it was through the efforts of his men that Anomabu fort, captured by a group of Fante, was returned to the English. Furthermore, in 1700 the English gave him brandy to be distributed to the local chiefs to keep them on friendly terms.
The good relations and understanding between Barter and the English came to an end, however, with the arrival on the Gold Coast of Sir Dalby Thomas (term of office 1701-08) as Agent-General of the company. Dalby Thomas was opposed to “an overmighty ally in the immediate neighbourhood of his castle,” and began to use his influence against Barter. In particular, he refused to allow him credit facilities, as his predecessors had done, and pressed him for payment of all the debts he owed, while trying to curtail his trade with interlopers.
The result was that Barter left Cape Coast and settled at Komenda, 15 miles (24 km) to the west. Here the Dutch readily welcomed him, and made use of his influence. So useful did they find him that the Dutch authorities at Elmina disregarded requests from the English as well as orders from their own company directors at the Hague to expel Barter from Komenda. When he died in 1704, it was the Dutch whom he made executors of his will, naming the king of Komenda as his legatee.
William Bosman, a Dutch factor who was on the Gold Coast from about 1689-1702, has left the following view of Barter: “Under the English Fort you may observe a House, not unlike a small Fort, with a Flag on it and some Cannon: this is inhabited by an English Mulatto, by name Edward Barter who hath a greater Power on the Coast than all the three English Agents together.
This Mulatto pretends to be a Christian and by his knowledge of that Religion, which he hath acquired by the Advantage he hath of Reading and Writing might very well pass for one; but his Course of Life is utterly contradictory: For though he is Lawfully married in England, he hath above eight wives and as many Mistresses. But this the English must not take for Dishonest or Irreligious, since most of their chief officers or Governors follow the Mulatto’s Example pretty close, for I believe that two of the present Agents have about six.”
M. A. KWAMENAH-POH
