Slaves at Martha’s Vineyard
by Slaves lived at Martha’s Vineyare beginning around 1680, but the first slave on record was a woman named Rebecca Amos.
Image via Wikipedia
Slaves probably lived on Martha’s Vineyard beginning around 1680 but the first known slavery was in 1703. The record shows a Negro woman was valued at 20 pounds in a deceased man’s estate. Slaves in Massachusetts were allowed by law to inherit property which was unusual at the time. That law gave a woman slave named Rebecca Amos from Guinea the chance to become a landowner. She inherited property on Martha’s Vineyard when her wealthy Indian husband died in 1763. Her great-grandson became the islands only black whaling captain. He worked his way up to sea Captain after 30 years. The hard work of whaling sent the ships to sea for months or years and competence was valued more than color. As elsewhere persecution was still common many years after slavery ended.
A small inn helped establish Martha’s Vineyard as a vacation spot for middle and upper class blacks. In 1912 Charles Shearer and his wife built a 12 room inn on the island and catered to blacks who were unwelcome elsewhere.”Massive success followed the blacks on the island.” said local historian Elaine Cawley Weintraub. Many years later Rev. Martin Luther King vacationed here. He swam the coves and wrote on the beaches. It is said he wrote his “I have a dream” speech here. Singer Ethel Waters, U.S.Rep Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Actor Paul Robeson, and Director Spike Lee have all stayed at the Shearer Inn.
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
Bob Tankard who is black said,” When I came here in 1959 and hung around with children of black lawyers, doctors,and politicians I realized that blacks could be anything they wanted to be.” Tankard is now a permanent resident of the island. he earned his doctorate in education and became a local principal and football coach. Blacks number about 2.7 percent of the islands year round population of 15,000.
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Post CommentCHAN LEE PENG
On August 8, 2009 at 4:53 am
Great read here. The life being slave was hard. Thanks and liked it.
ken bultman
On August 8, 2009 at 5:05 am
Interesting article. Didn’t know the Vineyard was an island.
Melody SJAL
On August 8, 2009 at 6:29 am
Very informative and interesting.
Daisy Peasblossom
On August 8, 2009 at 6:40 am
Good one! Nice to read a success story about African Americans.
Christine Ramsay
On August 8, 2009 at 6:57 am
A very interesting and well written piece, Ruby.
Christine
RS Wing
On August 8, 2009 at 7:23 am
Another article with great historical signifigance. The entire Cape Cod region seems to be more socially progressive anyway regarding artists, people and general consciousness.of the population. This could be because of it’s roots as you have displayed another piece of good history here Ruby. Great article.
Lostash
On August 8, 2009 at 8:09 am
I never knew it was an island either! This is a great story, and how things should have been.
Uma Shankari
On August 8, 2009 at 8:35 am
A great piece of history brought to life.
Jenny Heart
On August 8, 2009 at 9:30 am
Great well written piece that should makes us all realize we can do anything too. Like it!
Darla Cooke
On August 8, 2009 at 10:37 am
Very interesting article.
OhSugar
On August 8, 2009 at 11:24 am
Great presentation Ruby. I always enjoy reading about the history of this country and the people who helped deveope it. Nice.
dharokowns
On August 8, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Great article! Very informative, reread the description again, there is a spelling error.
papaleng
On August 8, 2009 at 1:12 pm
interesting article, now i may say that I’m blessed to be born free.
quiet voice
On August 8, 2009 at 1:42 pm
……all I can say is wow, the things I don’t know. Thank you so much for this insight. Very well done.
Lex92
On August 8, 2009 at 1:46 pm
how interesting!! Ididnt’ even know the Vinyard was a island…
Nicholas Kenney
On August 8, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Very interesting article Ruby, thanks for sharing.
Lady Sunshine
On August 8, 2009 at 3:32 pm
A great piece of history, Ruby. This insight to Martha’s Vineyard was a bright spot in our country’s past.
Holly J. Harrington
On August 8, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Excellent history and awesome article. Thank you agan.
garg26
On August 8, 2009 at 5:47 pm
amazing i like history =)
Tanya Wallace
On August 8, 2009 at 6:04 pm
As always Ruby a very interesting,well written article!Great work.
PR Mace
On August 8, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Thank you, Ruby. I love your history lessons. Great write.
Jeremy James Noye
On August 8, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Great article! Thank you very much. Great read.
Ruby Hawk
On August 8, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Thank you my good friends for all your comments and your participation. I appreciate it as always.
For those of you who didn’t notice Martha’s Vineyard is an island look at the map at the top of the page.
Collette Edwards
On August 8, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Well written and very informative and I must say I have to agree with quiet vioce.
clafleur
On August 9, 2009 at 3:19 am
I love it, great history lesson.
historigal
On August 9, 2009 at 3:25 am
Brief yet informative. I learned something new here. Inspiring!
Francois Hagnere
On August 9, 2009 at 4:45 am
Another very informative piece. Thank you so much dear Ruby,
Take care,
François
Crossing roads
On August 9, 2009 at 8:28 am
Thanks for that piece of history. It is an inspiring story.
Debra.
On August 9, 2009 at 8:29 am
Excellent well written and inspiring article, Ruby!
George W Whitehead
On August 9, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I’ve heard of Marthas Vineyard through the Kennedy family but I didn’t realise the significance of it!
CA Johnson
On August 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I enjoyed reading this article, Ruby. Being African American, I love to read stories about successful African Americans.
Dania
On August 11, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Wonderful Historical infos!! Really Great article!! Thanks a Lot dear Ruby !!
Ciao! Dania amiga with admiration !
serowa
On August 12, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I haven’t read your articles before but this one tells me that I should. A great article on some important facets of History that sometimes is ommited.
Leonardo da Vinci E.
On October 6, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Thank you for the presentation about something I tended to be too busy to investigate.