For those in the greater NYC metropolitan area...
"THE FIRE THIS TIME: CUFFEE'S TRIAL" EXAMINES THE NEW YORK CITY SLAVE INSURRECTION OF 1741
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK-It is the spring of 1741. After a harsh winter, a series of suspicious fires and robberies occurs in New York City. With more than 20% of the city's population being enslaved, white residents were quick to assume that the fires were part of a "great Negro plot to kill and murder the inhabitants of this city."
Based on this important yet relatively unknown event, "The Fire This Time: Cuffee's Trial" is a reenactment of the trial of Cuffee, an enslaved man accused of being one of the ringleaders in the conspiracy. The live production will be performed at Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church (304 Spring Street, Ossining, NY) on Saturday 06 April. Performance times are 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets: $9 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children 17 and under, and $5 for members of Historic Hudson Valley. Because of its sensitive nature, the program is not recommended for children under 10. Seating is limited. For tickets and information call 914-631-8200, ext. 628.
The play uses surviving documents taken from the 1741 conspiracy trials to piece together a story nearly forgotten today-the story of enslavement in colonial New York and of those who resisted through whatever means necessary. In particular it is the story of Cuffee, an African captive who lived in New York City and was owned by Adolph Philipse. Philipse used enslaved laborers at his properties in Manhattan and at Philipsburg Manor, now an historic site in present-day Sleepy Hollow. Philipsburg Manor's daily tours interpret the lives of the 23 enslaved men, women and children living and working at the manor in 1750.
On Friday, 29 May 1741, the Supreme Court of the colony of New York tried Cuffee. His crimes, as read by the clerk of court, were for "wickedly, voluntarily, feloniously and maliciously conspiring, combining and confederating* to kill and murder the inhabitants of this city*" Listen to the charges brought against Cuffee, hear his defense and decide for yourself if there was enough evidence to prove a conspiracy was at hand.
"The Fire This Time: Cuffee's Trial" is presented by Historic Hudson Valley in cooperation with Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Historic Hudson Valley is a network of six historic sites, including Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Philipsburg Manor is also the setting for the annual Pinkster Festival. Held this year on 18 and 19 May, Philipsburg's Pinkster is the only authentic celebration of this colonial-era African event in America. For more information please call 914-631-8200 or visit us on-line at www.hudsonvalley.org.
Documentation:
Horsmanden, Daniel. "The New York Conspiracy." Thomas J. Davis, ed. Beacon Press: Boston, 1971. Originally printed in 1744 and reprinted in 1810. Horsmanden was one of two Chief Justices presiding over the conspiracy trials. This is his journal.
Davis, Thomas J. "A Rumor of Revolt: The 'Great Negro Plot' of Colonial New York." UMass Press: Amherst, MA, 1985. An historical narrative pieced together from Horsmanden and other sources.
Michael A. Lord
Associate Director, Reinterpretation
Historic Hudson Valley
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
