This lecture contains a close examination of the historic text: “Narrating the Hardships, Hairbreadth escapes, and Death Struggles of Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom”. Compiled of numerous primary source testimonials from “fugitive” slaves who escaped along the route of the Underground Rail, to Philadelphia, in-depth details are revealed of their struggles for freedom.

Presentor Marcos Salaverria will focus on three documented group accounts of escapees from Sussex County Delaware. Names of area enslaved individuals, and locales, will be identified along with the potentially shocking behaviors and attitudes of local slave owners and masters. Life for a slave was never easy no matter where their locale. This program will seek to improve attendees’ understanding of the nature of slavery in Southern Delaware in the decade before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

This is a Virtual Program. Please join the FREE program at 7 p.m. on June 11.

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In October 1821 young Paynter Walton had a whirlwind idea for a lucrative future. With the skillful encouragement of his mother, he built a shop on Lewes’ Second Street and entered the newly booming carriage makers’ trade. But by December 1823 Paynter’s mother was dead and his dream turned into a confusing nightmare of quirky events. Research that delved through the resulting obtuse legal processes exhibited a witness list that read like a “Who’s Who” of Lewes and resulted in a perplexing decision at Delaware’s Supreme Court. Presenter Katherine Henn will take you through the series of events and the surprising conclusion.

This presentation will be VIRTUAL. Please join the FREE program at 7 p.m. on July 9:

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Robert Pratt has designed, researched, and produced more than one hundred iconic supplement maps with National Geographic since 1981. Mr. Pratt’s presentation will take attendees through the process and discussion of the creation of a typical National Geographic Society supplement for the magazine.

 

Jacob Jones was born in Smyrna, Delaware, but spent his formative years in Lewes, growing up in the Ryves Holt House.  After leaving Lewes, Jones went on to have an illustrious Naval career, rising through the ranks from Midshipman to Commodore.  This presentation will coincide with the opening of the exhibition, Boy, Man, Hero: Jacob Jones - Lewes' Own in the Jones’ childhood home.  This presentation and exhibition will explore Jones’s life and naval career, from his humble roots in Lewes, his naval career, and his legacy.

In the early 19th century, Patty Cannon and her gang of cutthroats terrorized southern Delaware, robbing and killing with impunity. They specialized in kidnapping free African American men, women, and children. Cannon’s career of crime ended in 1829 when a farmer unearthed the remains of some of her victims. She was arrested and charged with murder; but before she could be tried, Patty mysteriously died in her Georgetown cell. Speaker Michael Morgan will present this fascinating program.