“Cato in the Revolution: Spies, Slavery, Church, and Chocolate”
Join historian and author Claire Bellerjeau as she shares her exciting new discoveries about Cato, an enslaved Black man who aided the Patriot spy and tailor Hercules Mulligan during the Revolutionary War. Cato’s story, once mere legend, comes to life with details of an assassination plot against Washington, enslavement in the powerful Schuyler family, Cato’s religious life at St. Paul’s Chapel, and the intersection of colonial chocolate making and slavery. Showing great bravery, agency, skill, and faith, Cato represents other unknown and often “invisible” people of color who helped shape the course of the Revolution—and the history of the United States.
About Claire Bellerjeau:
Claire Bellerjeau is a historian and the co-author of “Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth”, published in May 2021. In 2022, she co-founded a nonprofit organization called Remember Liss, with the mission of educating the community about Liss’ extraordinary life and times. Through the nonprofit, she co-wrote and published a student version of Liss’ story, titled Remember Liss, in March 2023. She has been researching the Townsend family and those they enslaved for over 20 years and works with teachers to develop curriculums to share Liss’ story, using primary documents from her research. Both of her books will be for sale at this event, “Espionage and Enslavement” and the YA version “Remember Liss” .
Please register, so we can set the community room up with appropriate seating.