Mutiny on the Rising Sun: Slavery, Smuggling, and Chocolate

On the night of June 1, 1743, terror struck the schooner Rising Sun. After completing a routine smuggling voyage where enslaved Africans were sold in exchange for chocolate, sugar, and coffee in the Dutch colony of Suriname, the ship traveled eastward along the South American coast where four members of the crew were murdered and the ship was seized. On Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Old North Church & Historic Site will host historian Jared Ross Hardesty who will discuss Old North Church’s connection to the mutiny as detailed in his new book, Mutiny on the Rising Sun: A Tragic Tale of Slavery, Smuggling and Chocolate. His years of research on Boston’s oldest surviving church and its congregants shows how illegal trade created demand for exotic products like chocolate, and how slavery and smuggling are integral parts of Old North’s history. The online event can be accessed with a donation of any amount to support The Old North Foundation’s virtual and on-site programs, which aim to inspire children and adults alike to consider the ways in which they can build a more just and equitable world. To register, visit: https://www.oldnorth.com/events/.