The Bridgehampton Museum Presents: From The Pen of a Former Enslaved Man

2539 Montauk Highway,Bridgehampton NY 11932

19 February, 2023

Description

On October 2, 1819, Cato Crook (1763-1841), a formerly enslaved man, wrote a letter to Elias Smith, a major landowner in Smithtown, from his home in Bridgehampton, asking that his “runaway” niece either be better treated or released from servitude altogether. This surviving letter offers a glimpse into the complex and painful world of servitude and slavery on Long Island in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Learn more about Cato Crook’s story. It is a testament to courage, humanity, and hope. Free for Members / $10 for Non-Members