Espionage & Enslavement in the Revolution

American History Hit

History Hit

America, History

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 3 April 2023

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Claire Bellerjeau tells Don the the story of Liss, an enslaved Black woman in 18th century New York, and her involvement with one of George Washington's spies. Her story sheds light on the experiences of people of colour in New York from the colonial period, during the revolution and into the early republic.

Produced by Benjie Guy. Mixed by Aisha Deva & Tom Delargy. Senior Producer: Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi everybody welcome to American history hit. I'm Don Wildman. Today we're
0:07.8	telling a tale of 18th century America in the revolutionary period.
0:12.7	But not the usual colonists versus a crown conflict.
0:15.8	No, this is more a story that resides in the seam of everyday life,
0:19.6	but which nonetheless involves an epic struggle for freedom and self-determination, all set against a backdrop of military
0:26.6	conspiracy and espionage.
0:29.1	Have I got your attention?
0:30.3	Good.
0:37.0	The tale begins in the settlement of Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, as the Queen's Rangers, dressed in resplendent forest green uniforms,
0:41.0	as opposed to those bright red coats worn by the British regulars,
0:45.0	ride into town to set up operations.
0:47.5	This is November 1778, and we've reached the turning point in the tide of revolution.
0:53.2	The British have evacuated from Philadelphia.
0:55.6	France has just recognized the United States about six months earlier.
0:59.0	The British are therefore shoring up their defenses in the New York region.
1:03.0	The Queen's Rangers are here to hunt down rebels.
1:05.9	Observing their arrival is a local teenager named Elizabeth,
1:09.8	known by her nickname, Liss.
1:12.1	This young lady has passed her entire life in enslavement
1:16.1	in Oyster Bay, bound to the prosperous Long Island merchant Samuel Townsend. Here she has worked
1:21.4	as a domestic in the Townsend household, preparing meals,
1:24.7	washing laundry, mending clothes, tending to the Townsend daughters.
	...

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