Posted 13 years ago
scottvez
(977 items)
This CDV came in a CDV album that included a CDV of Sojourner Truth, the Gettysburg Battlefield Children, and numerous family views.
All of the album images were Civil War era views, most early war without tax stamps.
The subject of this portrait has been identified as Sophy Bush, formerly a servant of President John Quincy Adams! At her listed age, the woman was most likely born a slave in during the Colonial era and then lived to see the start (and possibly end) of the Civil War.
The identification is in period ink.
My efforts to confirm the identification and that Sophy Bush was a servant for JQA have not been successful, but I am confident that it will pan out.
Scott
Does it say she was 100 in the photo?
Photo #3 and #4: " 'Sophy' Bush, aged 100"
Thanks for your input.
The inscription mentions nothing of her being a "slave". The wording is "servant". JQA had many African American "servants".
Slavery was legal in MASS until about 1780-- the CDV was published about 1862. If she was 100, then "the woman was most likely born a slave in during the Colonial era."
I have seen exaggerated claims before. Since this photograph and inscription is unique, it doesn't fit the mold.
As far as your statement: "it would be nearly impossible for a slave of that time period to reach the age of 100." Take a look at this link for 1,555 impossibles:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ajac/slave100up.htm
Scott
Thanks mrj303, savoy and signaholic.
Thanks Amphora.
Scott
Thanks again Purdy.
Scott