Many who fought for liberty and independence from Great Britain also enslaved other people – a contradiction that is at the heart of the American Revolution. At the Old Manse, we see this contradiction embodied in the life of William Emerson, “Patriot Preacher” and slave holder. We also see it deeply impacting the lives of Cate Bliss, Phyllis Bliss, and Frank Benson, three people enslaved by the Bliss-Emerson family. In this tour, the stories of the Old Manse at the time of the American Revolution serve to tell a broader story of American freedom and enslavement.
