Sunday, April 3, 2011

An English manservant at Boston Light



I just found this fascinating item concerning John Hayes, keeper at Boston Light 1718-33. It was published in the Weekly Rehearsal on September 3, 1733.

The first keeper of Boston Light, George Worthylake, had an African slave named Shadwell; Worthylake and Shadwell died along with Worthylake's wife and daughter when their canoe capsized in late 1718. It isn't clear if there were slaves at the light station with any subsequent keepers. I was surprised to find that Hayes had an "English manservant." Apparently, Mr. Elwood wasn't too fond of life on Little Brewster Island.

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