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
PROVINCETOWN – From Provincetown Police: On Tuesday, July 14th, the Provincetown Police Department…
OAK BLUFFS – A driver was seriously injured when their vehicle struck a utility pole and overturned…
FALMOUTH – Officials are investigating a large fuel spill in Falmouth Harbor Saturday morning.…
TRURO – A fire raged through a house in Truro early Saturday morning. Firefighters from much of…
CHATHAM – From the town of Chatham: At Thursday night’s Select Board meeting Town Manager…
YARMOUTH – The roar of hundreds of motorcycles, the sight of American flags lining Cape Cod roadways…
TRURO – A piece of machinery reportedly overturned at the Truro DPW facility on Town Hall Road…
HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS — ICE Boston officers arrested Altiman Peterkin, a criminal illegal alien from…
