Scipio Twoshoes, Scipio Brown and Col. William Whiting

Join the Newport Historical Society for a talk with Prof. Katherine Hermes, PhD and Prof. Alexandra Marvel, JD about the identity and transformation of Scipio Twoshoes on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 5:30pm at the Newport Historical Society, 82 Touro Street, Newport, RI. General admission costs $5 per person, $1 for Newport Historical Society members along with retired and active duty military.

Born to a Wangunk mother and an African father, Scipio Twoshoes left Hartford in 1725 with Col. William Whiting to come to Newport, Rhode Island. Scipio Twoshoes, heir to land in the South Meadow of Hartford and a share in the Wangunk reservation, chose to shed his Native name and homeland for a career as a carter in a thriving port city. Whiting’s primary purpose in relocating was to marry the widowed Ann Cutler and start a new life with her.  Whiting’s influence and assistance allowed Scipio, who adopted the last name Brown, to pursue his ambitions as a free man of color intent on making the most of freedom and opportunity in his adopted city.