New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery, and Conspiracy in Eighteenth-Century Manhattan

Fire is an important force throughout New York Burning, with its dangers deeply impacting the behavior of individuals throughout the story. 18th-century cities such as New York are especially vulnerable to the dangers of fires, with a single accidental fire capable of sparking a blaze that can reduce a city to ashes. In response to the potential deadliness of fire, New York plans several strategies for fighting fires, including the formation of a “bucket brigade” (42) and the purchase of two man-powered fire engines. However, even these tactics are sometimes not enough to stop fires. The blaze at Fort George in 1741 is only stopped after rain serendipitously puts the fire out, and Lepore suggests that without the rain, the entire city may have been destroyed. The incredible danger and unpredictability of fires helps to explain why some New Yorkers, such as Horsmanden, are so terrified by the prospect of a slave plot to burn the city to the ground.

However, fire in New York Burning also takes on a metaphorical significance, and the fires of 1741 become symbolic of the slaves’ long simmering frustration at being denied their freedoms. Rumors of the slave plot abound for years prior to the outbreak of the fires, and the slave’s discussions of rebellion at Hughson’s tavern could be understood as a way for the slaves to fantasize about finally fighting back and gaining their freedom.