It was the view of contemporary observers that this sudden influx of indigent black men, living by their wits and whatever they could steal, was a direct result of the American Revolution. Between 4,000 and 5,000 African Americans ended up in London in the aftermath of that war, nearly all of them runaway slaves who had deserted their masters when promised their freedom by the British. The runaways who sought protection from the British had been granted freedom by British proclamation, but in order for them to remain free once the conflict had ended, they had had to leave America and forge a problematic new life in far-flung corners of the British Empire, constituting a diaspora within a diaspora (Pybus, 2006). Regardless of where these African men came from, it is clear that they could not find any legitimate means of support in England, with a labour market flooded with returning soldiers and sailors. Having no home parish, they were unable to access relief under the Poor Law. A pauper was required to return to his 'parish of settlement' before being entitled to receive relief. The Scots and Irish were sent back to their country of birth, but it was neither practical nor desirable to return refugees to America (Braidwood, 1994, p.32). It is not surprising that African American refugees ended up in the prison hulks charged with minor felonies, such as stealing food or clothing.