July 19 | 6:30pm | Pier 17, 2nd Floor | Free
Join the Seaport Museum and historian and author Claire Bellerjeau for a captivating illustrated presentation that delves into the discovery of a new founding figure named Elizabeth, known as “Liss.” Through engaging storytelling and visuals, we will embark on a journey to explore Liss’s remarkable story, shedding light on her enslavement by the Townsend family of Oyster Bay, New York, and her subsequent escape with the British forces. We will then follow her path as she faces re-enslavement in Manhattan and later Charleston.
Liss’s complex struggle for freedom offers us a unique perspective on the country’s founding era, as seen through the eyes of an enslaved Black woman yearning for liberty in a nation grappling with its own fight for independence.
Within Liss’s journey, we encounter a cast of notable figures who intersect with her path. Robert Townsend, also known as “Culper, Jr.” of the Culper Spy Ring—George Washington’s trusted spy in Manhattan during the Revolutionary War. Alongside Townsend, we will encounter influential figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Benedict Arnold, John Graves Simcoe, John André, and John Adams. Their presence in Liss’s story highlights the intricate web of connections that characterized this transformative period in American history.
Don’t miss this exploration of Liss’s narrative that will provide fresh insights into the historical period, which will grow our understanding of the events that shaped our nation. Registration is encouraged for this free event but walk ups will be accommodated as possible. A Q&A with the speaker will follow the presentation.
Please Note This is a Past Program, Event, or Activity
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This program will take place on the second floor of Pier 17. As you walk on the south side of Pier 17, look for a red Museum flag and Museum staff members to direct you to the space. The use of this space has been kindly donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation.
About the Speaker
Claire Bellerjeau is the co-author of Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth, published in May of 2021. In 2022 she co-founded a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Remember Liss, with the mission to educate the community about Liss’s extraordinary life and times. Through the non-profit she co-authored and published a student version of Liss’s story titled Remember Liss in March 2023, with links to over 100 primary documents through the New York Archives’ teaching platform, “Consider the Source.” Bellerjeau formerly served as Historian and Director of Education at Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, New York, where Liss was once enslaved. She has been researching the Townsend family and those they enslaved for over 17 years, including curating a yearlong exhibit on the Townsend “Slave Bible” in 2005. In 2015, during a research visit to the New York Historical Society, she discovered what may be one of the earliest poems ever written by Jupiter Hammon, America’s first published African American writer. She has developed educational programs on the subjects of slavery in New York and the American Revolution on Long Island and works with teachers to develop curriculum to share Liss’s story using primary documents from her research.