The Struggle to Pin Down Exactly Who Was Aboard the Planter
I’m currently rescripting the whole novel (yes – I am still working on this, but behind-the-scenes, which means there’s little actual product to show at this point) and recently came to the actual escape. The notes I had for it frequently referred to “crewmembers” or “escapees” and it occurred to me that I’m going to have to draw this, so I need to know exactly who I’m drawing and some details about them, so I set about finding out exactly who was present for the escape. Easy, right? I mean, that is the key event! The part of Robert Smalls’ story that anyone who has heard of him knows!
I didn’t think one of the biggest research challenges would be simply figuring out who actually escaped.
The more I dig into the details, the more I realize how complicated this seemingly straightforward question really is. I’ve been burrowing into primary sources like newpaper articles from the time in online archives and naval records, and also secondary sources such as essays and articles written much later. Multiple sources offer different lists of names, and the discrepancies make it difficult to nail down exactly who participated in this incredible event.
No One Agrees!
Robert Smalls is a given. He was definitely present for the escape. One of the most frustrating aspects of researching who else was with him is the inconsistency between sources. Many accounts only mention Robert Smalls by name and leave out the other participants entirely. In those that do list more names, it’s often only a few, and even then, different sources offer different combinations of names. The sources that claim to name everyone onboard—whether they claim there were 16 or 17 participants—often provide different lists of names. Some sources claim people were aboard that others claim definitely were, such as David Jones who variously was aboard that night, or decided the plan was too risky and decided not to be involved. If I were to assume that every person mentioned in any account I’ve seen was actually aboard the Planter, I would end up with a list of around 24 people, far more than the widely accepted number of 16 or maybe 17. This disparity between sources makes it incredibly challenging to construct a definitive list of who was actually there that night, and it highlights just how difficult it can be to reconstruct historical events when records are incomplete or inconsistent.
Additionally, the roles of the different people vary from account to account; whether they were an engineer, fireman, deckhand, or steward from a different ship.
The Confusion of Different Names
One of the other hurdles is the inconsistency in how names are presented across various sources. For example; Gabriel Turner is mentioned in many sources. In others, mention is made of a Jebel Turner. I’m assuming they both refer to the same person, a deckhand, but that inconsistency of spellings and lower literacy among those recording accounts for the discrepancy, but the variation introduces a layer of uncertainty. Then there’s Alfred Gourdine, who appears in some sources, and Alfred Gradine who appears in others. While it seems clear he was the engineer, these differences in spelling make it hard to know for sure whether I’m looking at the same person or two different individuals, and also make it more difficult to search for mentions of him.
The same issue comes up with Abraham Jackson, who I’m taking as the Abram Jackson mentioned in different records. Sam Chisholm, seems likely to be the same person as J. Samuel Chisholm. When each name changes slightly, it introduces doubt about the full list of participants, and piecing together the puzzle becomes that much harder.
The Planter‘s Log: A Key Piece of the Puzzle
Most sources agree that 16 people were aboard the Planter during the escape, but there’s a wrinkle here. The ship’s log, which is considered a primary source, lists 16 people that night. It’s widely assumed, however, that John Smalls, the first mate, wrote the log and omitted his own name. This is crucial because if we count him as aboard—and it’s pretty safe to assume he was—we’re looking at 17 people in total. The log doesn’t list children by name either, which adds another layer of ambiguity.
This has led me to settle on 17 people being involved in the escape, even though the number 16 shows up in most accounts. As a very likely primary source written at the time by somebody who was actually present for the whole thing, it seems a good basis.
Who Joined from the Etiwan?
Adding to the complexity is the question of who boarded from the Etiwan. It seems fairly well agreed on that the crew of The Planter took the Planter from where it was docked and picked up other escapees, including women and children, from another ship, The Etiwan. Some sources suggest that W.C. Thompson (who might be the same as W. William Morrison) and David McCloud were involved, but their roles are debated. It’s possible that Thompson escorted the women and children to the Etiwan first, and then rejoined the Planter later.
As for the women and children, it’s generally agreed that Hannah Smalls (Robert’s wife), their children—Clara, Elizabeth, and Robert Jr.—along with Susan Smalls (wife of John Smalls) and her daughter, joined later. But not every source confirms that they came from the Etiwan. Some suggest they might have boarded from another location. There’s just enough uncertainty here to keep the waters muddy.
Consistency in the Core Crew
Fortunately, the core crew of the Planter is relatively consistent across accounts. Robert Smalls, Alfred Gourdine/Gradine, John Smalls, Gabriel/Jebel Turner, and Abraham/Abram Jackson are almost always mentioned. They were the ones who operated the ship and executed the escape, and this part of the story remains fairly stable, even if the exact details about the others vary.
The Challenge of Historical Reconstruction
Ultimately, the difficulty in pinning down exactly who was aboard speaks to the larger challenges of reconstructing history. Different spellings, missing records, and the passage of time have all contributed to the uncertainty. Even the Planter‘s log leaves out crucial details, which makes it tough to get a fully accurate picture. But despite these inconsistencies, the escape remains one of the most powerful and inspiring stories of resistance and courage.
In the end, what really matters is that these individuals—whether 16 or 17 of them—risked everything for freedom. It’s that shared bravery that makes this story so compelling, even if we can’t know every single detail for certain.
Trying to get the facts right has been a journey in itself, but every name I uncover or clarify adds another layer to this remarkable piece of history.
So… Who Was Aboard?
As you see, I am in no way certain – I don’t think anyone can be at this point – but, compiling all these sources and making some informed guesses/taking some dramatic license, here is the list of people who will be aboard the Planter in my graphic novel:
Aboard the Planter from the Start of the Escape
- Robert Smalls – Wheelman and leader of the escape. 23 years old
- John Smalls – First Mate (no relation to Robert Smalls).- likely 20s or 30s
- Alfred Gradine/Alfred Gourdine – Engineer – likely 20s or 30s
- Gabriel/Jebel Turner – Deckhand – likely 20s or 30s
- Abraham/Abram Jackson – Fireman – likely 20s or 30s
- Sam Chisholm/J. Samuel Chisholm – Possibly a crewmember. Age and specific role unclear. Mentioned in the Planter’s log.
- Abram Allston – Crewmember/Deckhand – Mentioned in John Smalls’ account
Boarded from the Etiwan
- Hannah Smalls – Wife of Robert Smalls. – 37 years old.
- Elizabeth Smalls – Robert and Hannah’s four-year-old daughter. 4 years old.
- Robert Smalls Jr. – Infant son of Robert and Hannah. 9 months old
- Clara Jones – Hannah’s teenage daughter from a previous relationship (half-sister to Robert Jr. and Elizabeth). 16 years old
- Susan Smalls – Wife of John Smalls, the first mate on the Planter. – likely 20s or 30s
- Susan’s daughter – Present with Susan, though unnamed in most records. Likely a child.
- Lavinia Wilson/Levina Wilson – Girlfriend of one of the Planter’s crew members (likely Alfred Gourdine). Age unclear.
- Anna White/Arina White – Girlfriend of another crew member, though the specifics about her partner are less clear. Possibly Susan Small’s sister
- W. William Morrison/W.C. Thompson – W.C. Thompson is listed in the Planter’s log with no further details. W. William Morrison’s name is mentioned in other accounts with no other details. I’m taking a big leap in assuming they’re the same person, and I’m giving him the role of one of two black stewards from the Etiwan sometimes, but not always, mentioned in connection with the escape. His role was likely to help with logistical preparations. Age unknown. Due to some ambiguity about whether he was aboard the Planter from the start or not, I’m saying he escorted the women from the Planter to the Etiwan after they were told of the plan, and waited with them there.
- David McCloud – I’m giving him the other black steward from the Etiwan, assisted in coordinating the escape. Age and specific role unclear. Again, his name is recorded in the Planter’s log with no further details.
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