Maritime Escapes on Martha’s Vineyard: Sixteen Who Found Freedom

1723 The HMS Greyhound captured a pirate ship with “six blacks and an Indian,” one of whom was Tom Mumfort from Martha’s Vineyard.

1728 Enslaved “negro” Jethro stole a canoe in Kingston, RI to escape to Martha’s Vineyard.

1742 Sharper Michael, the Negro slave of Zacheus Mayhew born in 1742 is believed to have been the first Vineyarder killed by the British in the Revolutionary War.

1743 The slave Esther, being transported from Boston to North Carolina aboard the sloop Endeavor escaped when the ship was docked in Edgartown Harbor overnight — with her feet bound to a crowbar and her hands tied behind her back. One of the sites on the Martha’s Vineyard African American Heritage Trail, Esther’s story has received federal recognition from the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

CA. 1750 Rebecca, born in Guinea in West Africa, was taken from her home as the property of Cornelius Bassett of Chilmark. Rebecca had two sons, Pero and Cato, and a daughter, Nancy – she and Pero were sold to Joseph Allen of Tisbury when Bassetts died in 1779 when Nancy was 7 and Pero was 18.

1781 The Speedwell of Martha’s Vineyard was captured with a crew of ten, seven of which were described as “black hands.” Many, if not all, of these likely had indigenous ancestry since, by 1790, so many of the black hands had inter-married that three quarters of this population was mixed, but still were persons of color.

1787 Former slave John Saunders brought Methodism to Martha’s Vineyard in 1787 – with his half white wife Priscilla – when they were brought to the Island from Virginia by Captain Thomas Luce hidden beneath corn Luce was transporting. A plaque dedicated to Saunders is on the Martha’s Vineyard African American Heritage Trail at the Pecoy Point Preserve where he preached to the ‘coloured’ and original people.

1790 A historical Oak Bluffs character, ‘John Harry Monus John Peter Tobirus Peter Toskirus Peter Tubal Cain’ – Old Harry for short – deserted a ship in Vineyard Sound in 1790, escaped slavery and became a servant of Ichabod Norton, one of the wealthiest men on the island.

1805 The Falmouth Historical Society has a story of a female runaway slave, helped by a group of women around 1805: “With his ship moored at the town wharf, a slaveowner took his female slave to be registered at the Falmouth Post Office. When he left the girl at the office to take care of other business, several women asked the girl if she wanted to stay in Falmouth. She agreed and was hidden among barrels in the basement of the building. When the businessman returned, the slave was nowhere to be found. His ship was set to leave and he did so without her.” The girl was taken into a Black family in Falmouth, and eventually married Joseph Ray, a boatman responsible for carrying the mail from Falmouth to Martha’s Vineyard.

1830 Josiah Henson was an author, abolitionist, and minister born into slavery in Maryland. His escape in 1830 was assisted by a ship captain who agreed to transport the Henson family to Buffalo, New York where they crossed the river into Canada and where Henson founded a settlement and school for other fugitive slaves. Henson’s autobiography details the cruel treatment he and his family experienced. Henson, who is believed to have inspired the title character of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, visited Martha’s Vineyard and spoke at the Tabernacle in the Campgrounds in 1858.

1842 Captain Aaron Luce of Martha’s Vineyard commanded the bark Milwood, which sailed from New Bedford. When barely out of sight of the Vineyard, Luce was alerted that John Thompson, a Black man hired to serve as the steward, was seasick. Thompson told Luce; “I am a fugitive slave from Maryland, and have a family in Philadelphia,” he explained, but slave hunters were roaming that city. “Fearing to remain there any longer, I thought I would go a whaling voyage, as being the place where I stood least chance of being arrested by slave hunters.” Thompson probably earned over $8,000 in today’s terms, the salary for a man enslaved two years earlier – a slave who escaped more than twenty years prior to the end of the Civil War.

1849 John Presbury Norton of Lambert’s Cove petitioned the Massachusetts General Court to be allowed to import slaves to work his farm. The shocked court had the petition withdrawn.

1854 The indigenous people, sensitive to the plight of slaves helped them escape. One story involved “Edgar Jones,” (AKA Randall Burton/ Edinbur Randall/John Mason) who escaped from a South Carolina, plantation. Hidden by crewmen on a ship carrying lumber, when it reached here, the captain discovered Jones and shared the news with the sheriff. Warned by the crew, Jones left and hid out for almost a week. At Gay Head (Aquinnah) Beulah Salisbury Vanderhoop and others from Gay Head helped him escape. In 1854 The Gazette reported: “Randall Burton, a fugitive from enslavement, escaped from a ship in Holmes Hole and was rescued by ‘two women’, who took him to a swamp in Gay Head.

1854 The Vineyard Gazette reported that the bark Franklin arrived at Holmes Harbor on September 12th with a slave who had hidden in the hold. Described as 25-30 years old, that night he took a boat ashore to escape from the ship headed for Maine.

1855 On May 11, 1855, the Vineyard Gazette reported that two or three fugitive slaves arrived in Edgartown, aided by a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick described as a “colored resident” who helped them to New Bedford.

1858 Fugitive slave Philip Smith stowed away on the William Purrington from North Carolina, bound for Boston. Discovered after a few days, Smith was put into the hold with sickening odors of the turpentine being transported. Due to bad weather the ship docked at Holmes Hole on Martha’s Vineyard where Smith was confined. Later, on the way to Boston the ship ran aground and he made his escape. Smith was discovered and lauded by William Lloyd Garrison, publisher of The Liberator, who shared the story which likely helped him escape to Canada.

Free as the Wind

MARTHA’S VINEYARD | JUNE 16-19, 2023

The Vineyard Gazette Media Group is grateful for the many individuals and organizations involved in the planning and presentation of Juneteenth Jubilee 2023, Free as the Wind.

Special thanks to the following:

Cape Cod 5

Discovering Amistad

Edgartown Board of Trade

F.U.E.L.

Friends of the Edgartown Library

Hoverfly Media

Inkwell Haven

Knock Knock Productions

Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce

Martha’s Vineyard Museum

Massachusetts Cultural Council

Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel

MV African American Heritage Trail

MV Film Society vineyardgazette.com

NAACP – Martha’s Vineyard Branch

Nat Benjamin

Oak Bluffs Association

Oak Bluffs Library

Ralph Packer

Sail MV

The Edgartown Yacht Club

The HistoryMakers

The National Sailing Museum

Toyota

Union Chapel

Union Chapel Education and Cultural Institute

Vineyard Vines

Vineyard Wind

SHOWING OF STEVEN SPIELBERG’S AMISTAD | 3:00 pm

MV Film Center, Vineyard Haven

Released in 1997, Amistad is a historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the events in 1839 aboard the Spanish slave ship. Starring Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Matthew McConaughey. Tickets: $12.00.

Sponsored by The HistoryMakers and Toyota

JUNETEENTH JUBILEE FESTIVAL CULTURAL SCREENINGS | 5:00 pm

Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs

Special screening of the first episode of the 1619 Project docu-series based on Pulitzer Prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones’ landmark 1619 Project. This will be followed by a screening of Jubilee, Juneteenth & The Thirteenth featuring Hill Harper, a documentary that portrays the influential but often overlooked role that African Americans in Boston and Massachusetts played in the abolition of slavery.

Presented by the Inkwell Haven Foundation and Union Chapel Education & Cultural Institute

FREE TOURS OF THE SCHOONER AMISTAD | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tisbury Wharf, Vineyard Haven

The schooner Amistad, a replica of the historic ship that became famous after a group of enslaved Africans led a successful revolt and won their freedom in the U.S. Supreme Court, will be available for tours. Free and open to all.

Organized by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group and sponsored by Vineyard Wind

PANEL DISCUSSION: SAILING TO FREEDOM – 10:00 am

Martha’s Vineyard Museum

Historians discuss emerging research on maritime escapes to freedom. Featuring author/historian Dr. Timothy Walker; Dr. Lee Blake, president of the New Bedford Historical Society; Bow Van Riper, research librarian, MV Museum; and Paula MannAgnew, executive director of Discovering Amistad. Shelley Stewart, a Martha’s Vineyard Museum board member, will moderate.

Tickets: $50 @ vineyardgazette.com/juneteenth

Presented by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group and sponsored by Cape Cod Five

JUNETEENTH AT HARBORFEST | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Oak Bluffs Harbor

The Oak Bluffs library celebrates Juneteenth at Harborfest with children’s librarian Michelle Lynch. Look for the library tent featuring Juneteenth craft and magnetic poetry. Check out books right from the tent, including selections from the adult African-American collection and children’s books focused on Juneteenth and celebrating Black heritage. Free and open to all. Sponsored by the Oak Bluffs Library; Harborfest sponsored by the Oak Bluffs Association

FESTIVE JUNETEENTH PICNIC | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Lawn of the Edgartown Public Library

Family-friendly event with Chef Look cooking on the grill, serving up a family-style lunch accompanied by live music from Andrew Sue Wing, a Boston-based singer/songwriter and guitarist specializing in R&B. Free and open to all.

Sponsored by Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.

JUNETEENTH JUBILEE CULTURAL FESTIVAL | 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Trinity Park Tabernacle, Oak Bluffs

The Juneteenth Jubilee Festival kicks off at 12:30 p.m with the Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony and leads into a full day of cultural celebration. Includes a fireside chat with Pulitzer Prize winner, Nikole Hannah Jones, performances by Grammy Awardwinning jazz pianist Christian Sands; founder of Rock Noire, musician/vocalist Grace Gibson; harpist Tulani, local performers Sean and Siren; The Legendary Chris Washington and more. Free and open to all.

Presented by Inkwell Haven Foundation in partnership with Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association

SCREENING OF SPIKE LEE’S THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY | 7:15 pm

The Strand, Oak Bluffs

Special Juneteeth celebration screening of Spike Lee’s stand-up comedy film featuring Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac. Free to the public and open to all.

Presented by the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival

JUNETEENTH JUBILEE CULTURAL FESTIVAL AFTER-PARTY | 9:00 pm

Flavors MV, 11 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs

Let loose after a full day of intellectual and cultural entertainment at the Juneteenth Jubilee Festival After-Party at MV Flavors. DJ music with The Legendary Chris Washington and dancing!

Presented by Inkwell Haven Foundation

FREE TOURS OF THE SCHOONER AMISTAD | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tisbury Wharf, Vineyard Haven

The schooner Amistad, a replica of the historic ship that became famous after a group of enslaved Africans led a successful revolt and won their freedom in the U.S. Supreme Court, will be available for tours. Free and open to all.

Organized by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group and sponsored by Vineyard Wind

SPECIAL SUNDAY SERVICE WITH REV. MICHAEL ERIC DYSON | 10:00 am

Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs

The Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson – academic, social justice activist and author – will preside at a special Sunday service in honor of Juneteenth with pianist, Dr. Geoffrey Hicks. Free and open to the public.

2ND ANNUAL TASTE OF JUNETEENTH | 6:00 PM - 9:00 am

Portuguese-American Club, Oak Bluffs

A food sampling showcase of local BIPOC chefs, featuring soulfully inspired dishes that reflect the Black cultural experience, fused with diverse cultures and traditions.

Sponsored by the MV Chapter of the NAACP

JUNETEENTH GOSPEL BRUNCH | 10:00 am

Edgartown Yacht Club

The 2nd annual Juneteenth Gospel Brunch will feature a gospel performance by Athene Wilson. Private tours of the Amistad will be available after brunch.

Tickets: $125 @ vineyardgazette.com/Juneteenth

Presented by the Vineyard Gazette Media Group. The HistoryMakers and Toyota

JUNETEENTH POTLUCK | 5:30 pm

Oak Bluffs Public Library

Bring a dish using a recipe from the cookbook Watermelon and Red Birds by Nicole A. Taylor, and come together for a meal and discussion. The cookbook will be at the circulation desk -- choose your recipe in advance and we’ll make a copy of it for you.

This calendar represents a list of events that were scheduled at the time this program guide went to press. For an up-to-date list of all events and for more information, visit vineyardgazette.com/Juneteenth.

The chef-driven menu highlights seasonal ingredients in simple, handcrafted dishes served straight from our kitchen.

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