EWH Tea Talks Series

A 90-minute overview of the Black Heritage Trail is just right for a first visit to Portsmouth or for those who prefer an alternative to a walking tour. Our well-trained and experienced Sankofa Scholars tell the stories of Black people from 1645, as they arrived on the colonial-era wharves lining the waterfront, until the year 2000 when New Hampshire joined 49 other states by adopting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Unless otherwise noted, Portsmouth trolley tours meet at…

Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Nur Shoop Colonial Portsmouth newspapers testify to the local slave trade, runaways, abolitionists and anti-abolitionist activities, followed by conflicting opinions of the Civil War. In the 20th century, the legacy of that early history was reflected in news about de facto segregation in housing and public places. This tour includes many of those historic landmarks from the early nineteenth through the twentieth centuries. Register Online

Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Kevin Wade Mitchel as Jack Staines Seafaring was one of the most significant occupations among both enslaved and free Black men between 1740 and 1865. Black seamen sailed on whalers, warships, and privateers. Some were enslaved and forced to work at sea, but by 1800 most seamen were free to seek adventure and economic opportunity aboard ship. On this tour, you will meet Jack Staines, husband to Ona Judge Staines, the President and Martha Washington’s…

Sankofa Scholar: Patricia Wall Hear the stories of Black children's work life and living conditions in town and on the farm, by author and storyteller Patricia Wall. Learn how captive child servants experienced Election Day celebrations, funerals, slave auctions, the Revolutionary War, and more. This tour is from 11 am to noon for children 8 & up. Register Online NOTE: Tour meets at 11am at Warner House, 150 Daniel Street, Portsmouth NH

Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Tammi Truax During the Spring of 1796, George Washington’s final months in office, Ona Judge, an enslaved woman owned by the First Family, escaped the Executive Mansion in Philadelphia with the aid of that city’s free Black community and made her way to Portsmouth. On this tour, you will hear the true story of Ona’s quest for freedom and the President’s relentless efforts to get her back. See the waterfront where she lands and visit…

Sankofa Tour Guide: Jubilee Byfield Local newspapers carried merchants’ ads for ships returning to the port of Portsmouth laden with cargo from trade ports on the West Coast of Africa, the West Indies and the middle Atlantic coastal cities of Colonial America. Visit local wharves and auction sites related to the Atlantic Slave Trade, where a captive could be exchanged for “cash or good lumber” to serve in the master’s house or work on the docks or aboard a ship.…

Sankofa Tour Guide: Valerie Fagin Can you imagine the hustle and bustle of a prosperous Colonial seaport town? This tour invites you to discover the world of early Portsmouth from the perspective of African American women. In spite of enslavement and hardship, these women fought for freedom, defied a sitting president, and educated generations of children to follow. Hear their stories about love and faith and struggle, as you walk past the homes of the families who enslaved them. Register…

Sankofa Tour Guide: Daniel Comly At the turn of the 19th century, Black abolitionists are changing public attitudes about slavery and challenging racial bias in the courts. In Portsmouth, never-enslaved and newly-freed Black adults share households with still enslaved children and elders. It is a time of possibilities, hope and tension. True stories about these families will describe how a community of African refugees were claiming their place as Americans. Register Online

Walking Tour scheduled instead. Please Call our Office to Register Unless otherwise noted, Portsmouth trolley tours meet at 2 pm at 222 Court Street. Please plan to arrive by 1:45 pm. For parking information in Portsmouth, please visit: PARK PORTSMOUTH  

A Living History Presentation by Sankofa Tour Guide Nathan Harris Once enslaved, now free to enter contract labor for wages, Cyrus Bruce is the elegantly tailored footman and majordomo serving the household of New Hampshire’s first elected governor after the Revolutionary War. Bruce might be discreet about sharing the personal adventures that led him to Portsmouth but freely describes his role in this mansion and his appreciation for being a member of this vibrant Black community. Register Online NOTE: This…