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.


security patrol property check service


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

  1. Part One
  2. Part Two - Letter One
  3. Part Three - Letters Two and Three
  4. Part Four - Leters Four and Five
  5. Part Five - Letters Six and Seven
  6. Part Six - Letters Eight and Nine
  7. Part Seven - Letters Ten and Eleven
  8. Part Eight - Letters Twelve and Thirteen
  9. Part Nine - Letter Fourteen and Epilogue
  10. Part Ten - Letters and other odds and ends


You are viewing: The Cape Cod Daily Blog

Sponsored Content

[Advertise Here]

security patrol property check service

Tell All Your Friends

Subscribe & Stay Informed

Cape Cod Daily News FREE Home Delivery!


Advertise with us
Support this website



Latest Headlines

Hyannis Traffic Stop Yields Substantial Narcotics Haul; Pair Taken Into Custody [HN Photos]

                    HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS — Plainclothes…

Sandwich Celebrates America 250 Main Event

Sandwich Celebrates America 250 Main Event

Several Tall Ships sail through Cape Cod Canal en route to Boston event

BOURNE – Several Tall Ships sailed through the Cape Cod Canal this week en route to Boston Harbor…

Rear-end collision slows traffic on Route 6 in Harwich

HARWICH – A rear-end collision caused delays on Route 6 in Harwich for a time. The crash happened…

Oak Bluffs & Mass State Police investigating serious two-vehicle crash on Sea View Avenue

OAK BLUFFS – From Oak Bluffs Police: On Thursday, July 9, 2026, at approximately 8:00 PM, Oak Bluffs…

One person injured in dirt bike accident in Truro

TRURO – One person was injured in a reported dirt bike accident in Truro sometime after 4 PM Friday.…

Vehicle struck after falling off wrecker in Sandwich

SANDWICH  – A vehicle reportedly fell off a wrecker was then struck by another vehicle. The…

One person seriously injured in traffic crash in Truro

TRURO – One person was injured in a traffic crash in Truro around 1:40 PM Friday. The collision…

» Today's News Headlines 07/11/2026