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
DENNIS – From Dennis Police: On Friday, June 27, 2025, at the end of dayshift, Lieutenant Peter…
HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS – [NOTES: HN READER PHOTOS] – Police and firefighters rushed…
HYANNIS – At about 7:15 AM Monday morning, a two-vehicle crash occurred at Falmouth Road (Route…
Charles Heinz, Wellfleet Vista So there’s a painting. It’s by Charles Heinz.…
Above HN photo: A member of the sheriff’s crime scene unit dusts the suspect’s bicycle for…
EASTHAM – Eastham voters have approved a new wastewater treatment project for $170 million. The new…
BOURNE – The Bourne Braves honored children with serious illnesses and disabilities at a special Cape…
BOSTON – A ban on cell phones in schools from opening to closing bell could soon be coming to Massachusetts.…
