By TRB
This is a series of letters written by Rebecca Codwise who was the wife of a sugar plantation owner in St. Croix in the early 1800s. Rebecca's letters, which came down through the family, represent one of the larger collections of historically significant letters by a woman in early American history. In the letters she describes what it is like to be an abolitionist married to a slave owner - her husband James Codwise. She documents the slave rebellion and other historic events on St. Croix in these letters written to her son, a ship's surgeon stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She includes her book of recipes as well as her directions for caring for medical problems. She lived on a sugar plantation named Bethlehem, the ruins of which are still visible today.
This is a photo of an oil painting by Henry Inman of Rebecca Codwise's eldest daughter, Agnes Marie. She sat for this painting in New York City in 1820.
A Child of Misfortunes
You are viewing: The Cape Cod Daily Blog
Sponsored Content
Advertise with us
Support this website
The Sandwich Arts Alliance’s June Kershaw exhibit is a great showcase for Cape Cod artists, and…
It was a full day at the Cape on that August day in 2023. I spent part of the day taking photos with…
YARMOUTH – From Yarmouth Police: Join the Yarmouth Police Dept. and other local Yarmouth departments…
ABOVE: Around 2 a.m. Saturday, a Barnstable Police patrolman tried to stop a white sedan with…
BOURNE – A kite surfer was evaluated after reportedly being in a collision with another vessel…
HARWICH – Harwich Police after receiving many complaints from motorists and pedestrians about juveniles…
Whale Watch Aboard the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown on August 1, 2023.
BARNSTABLE – A vehicle apparently lost control and overturned before ending up back on its wheels…
