Mark (?-September 18, 1755) (sometimes called Mark Codman) was a black slave owned by Captain John Codman (1696-1755) of Massachusetts in Charlestown, Boston[1][2] 20 years before the American Revolutionary War. Though some texts refer to Mark as "Mark Codman"[1], he was probably not referred to as such during his life as giving a slave the surname of his master was not commonly done with New England slaves.[3] The contemporary documents from the investigation and trial only use Mark for his name.[2]
Mark was a slave to Codman for a few years before his execution. He was accused of burning down a building[2] about six years before his death to try to gain freedom. Mark could read, and said that he read the Bible to find a way to kill his master without committing a sin. He struck upon poisoning because it did not involve the shedding of blood. According to historical documents from the investigation and judgement, Mark obtained arsenic from a doctor on the pretense it was to kill pigs, but furnished it to his sister who administered it to Codman. Several other slaves were also implicated in the plot.[2]
In 1755, Mark was convicted of assisting in the successful poisoning of his master, John Codman.[1] As punishment, Mark was hanged, tarred, and his body displayed in an iron gibbet for several years after his death at a well-known spot (at the time) in present-day Somerville, Massachusetts.[4] Mark's sister Phillis was tried for the actual act of poisoning; she was convicted and burned alive.[4]
Mark's publicly displayed body was a local landmark. In 1775, twenty years after Mark's execution, Paul Revere came to the same spot in his ride to warn American colonial forces of the movements of the British Army. Revere's 1798 written account noted that "nearly opposite where Mark was hung in chains, I saw two men on Horse back, under a Tree. When I got near them, I discovered they were British officers", whom Revere successfully evaded.[5]
^ abcLatour, Francie (26 September 2010). "New England's hidden history". boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
^ abcdAbner Cheney Goodell, Jr. (1883). The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman, by Abner Cheney Goodell, Jr. Retrieved 3 Jun 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
^Catherine Adams and Elizabeth Pleck (2010), "Love of Freedom:", p. 7. ,New York ISBN0195389085
^ abGeorge Francis Dow, John Henry Edmonds (1996). The Pirates of the New England Coast, 1630-1730, p. 113. Dover Publications, New York. ISBN0486290646.
^Revere, Paul (1798). "Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798". www.masshist.org. Massachusetts Historical Society. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
August 22, 2023
mark, codman, mark, september, 1755, sometimes, called, black, slave, owned, captain, john, codman, 1696, 1755, massachusetts, charlestown, boston, years, before, american, revolutionary, though, some, texts, refer, mark, probably, referred, such, during, life. Mark September 18 1755 sometimes called Mark Codman was a black slave owned by Captain John Codman 1696 1755 of Massachusetts in Charlestown Boston 1 2 20 years before the American Revolutionary War Though some texts refer to Mark as Mark Codman 1 he was probably not referred to as such during his life as giving a slave the surname of his master was not commonly done with New England slaves 3 The contemporary documents from the investigation and trial only use Mark for his name 2 A sketch of an iron gibbetMark was a slave to Codman for a few years before his execution He was accused of burning down a building 2 about six years before his death to try to gain freedom Mark could read and said that he read the Bible to find a way to kill his master without committing a sin He struck upon poisoning because it did not involve the shedding of blood According to historical documents from the investigation and judgement Mark obtained arsenic from a doctor on the pretense it was to kill pigs but furnished it to his sister who administered it to Codman Several other slaves were also implicated in the plot 2 In 1755 Mark was convicted of assisting in the successful poisoning of his master John Codman 1 As punishment Mark was hanged tarred and his body displayed in an iron gibbet for several years after his death at a well known spot at the time in present day Somerville Massachusetts 4 Mark s sister Phillis was tried for the actual act of poisoning she was convicted and burned alive 4 Mark s publicly displayed body was a local landmark In 1775 twenty years after Mark s execution Paul Revere came to the same spot in his ride to warn American colonial forces of the movements of the British Army Revere s 1798 written account noted that nearly opposite where Mark was hung in chains I saw two men on Horse back under a Tree When I got near them I discovered they were British officers whom Revere successfully evaded 5 See also EditHistory of slavery in MassachusettsReferences Edit a b c Latour Francie 26 September 2010 New England s hidden history boston com The Boston Globe Retrieved 20 August 2018 a b c d Abner Cheney Goodell Jr 1883 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Trial and Execution for Petit Treason of Mark and Phillis Slaves of Capt John Codman by Abner Cheney Goodell Jr Retrieved 3 Jun 2020 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a website ignored help Catherine Adams and Elizabeth Pleck 2010 Love of Freedom p 7 New York ISBN 0195389085 a b George Francis Dow John Henry Edmonds 1996 The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630 1730 p 113 Dover Publications New York ISBN 0486290646 Revere Paul 1798 Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap circa 1798 www masshist org Massachusetts Historical Society Retrieved 20 August 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mark Codman amp oldid 1161186124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
