TIL the story of Mark Codman, an American Slave, Executed, Whose Body Later Became a Landmark for Paul Revere's Famous Ride
TIL the story of Mark Codman, an American Slave, Executed, Whose Body Later Became a Landmark for Paul Revere's Famous Ride
It has come to the attention of Historic Boston Inc. that the family of our organization’s founder, John Codman, had a personal connection to the enslavement of Black Bostonians in the 18th century. We stumbled across this information by chance, as the newest member of...
Nearly 50 years later, Revere references the site of Mark’s execution as a geographic marker that had remained culturally relevant. Mark’s body hung in a gibbet on Charlestown Common for nearly 20 years and his last words were published and sold next to a prison on Queen Street. His body and last words, immortalized in print, would serve as a terrorizing reminder to the enslaved population of Boston of what the cost of resistance would be. Even while their white counterparts were actively organizing to free themselves from the rule of the British monarchy.
Sources:
Historic Boston Inc - Article on Mark and Phyllis Codman, Their Crimes, and Executions
I had a long drive back from Texas yesterday and heard a podcast on the story of Mark Codman, and felt compelled to share it as this was never part of the Paul Revere story that I was taught in school, and I imagine it's because of the general whitewashing of slavery in the public school curriculum.
Maybe some of you have never heard of him either.
fascinating read, thanks for the new lint in the brain!
new lint in the brain
I like this, stealing it. Thanks for the new lint in the brain!
You're welcome!
Mark's sister Phillis was tried for the actual act of poisoning; she was convicted and burned alive.
Jfc, they didn’t even have a "reason" they just wanted her to suffer
Yeah, and John Codman was quite a motherfucker.