When was sally bassett born

The statue is the work of Bermudian artist Carlos Dowling. The Sally Bassett story puts aside this myth; slavery by its nature can not be benign. Governor Sir Richard Gozney:. Sally Bassett was clearly a significant figure in the history of Bermuda. She is a figure who is still respected, and who serves as an icon for many people on the Island.

This is a true story of Sarah Bassett popularly known as Sally Bassett who was a slave in Bermuda during the 18th century. Bermuda was then a British colonial island.

The ghastly act on the day of June 21, when she was burned alive at Crow Lane near the Hamilton Harbor remains as a poignant chapter of slave history to the Bermudians and the world, and serves as a burning example of what slavery meant to the slave society in Bermuda in those years.

Sally was a mulatto woman - having a mixed white and black ancestry. But she was a slave and brought up several children of her own and even grandchildren. In she was owned by Foster a white mariner in Bermuda who also owned her grand daughter Beck as well as another house slave Nancey. This was when Mr. Foster along with the house slave Nancey fell seriously ill.

However Beck and Sally remained unaffected by such illness in the house. During interrogation, Beck revealed that her Grandma Sally asked her to mix poison in the food. In fact such possibility was pointed out by the other house slave Nancey. The investigating team found out poison in the kitchen cupboard. The jury ruled on the evidence that was presented to them that she was guilty as charged. A stake was erected at the foot of Crow Lane, located at the eastern end of Hamilton Harbour.

The day was extremely hot, but that did not stop hundreds of people from gathering to witness this horrible spectacle. It was believed she cried out that God would prove her guiltless.

Legend has it that when her ashes were examined, there appeared a tiny, purple iris in full bloom. Today we call this indigenous flower the Bermudiana. Get our award winning features, event info and more delivered straight to your inbox. February 13, Written by: Cyril O. Connect with us.