Photo of Sylvester Manor
Dublin Core
Title
Photo of Sylvester Manor
Subject
Photographs, Dering, Sylvester, 1758-1820, Long Island (N.Y.)--History, Plantation life--New York-Shelter Island, Slavery--America--History, New York--History--Revolution, 1775-1783
Description
Matilda (c. 1748-1818)
Matilda was born in Southold, Long Island circa 1748. Her mother Judah, was enslaved by John Corey, a prominent member of the Southold community. Matilda and her four sisters, Dorcas, Violet, Thankful and Shuboul were born into that enslavement. Upon Corey's death, Matilda was sold to Thomas Dering. Matilda was separated from her sisters, but her sister Violet was sold to Nicoll Havens who lived nearby. Records suggest that Judah may have moved between the two households, living with each of her daughters.
Matilda was recorded in Thomas Dering's property inventory in 1765, and was manumitted by Dering's sons in 1785. Matilda's documentation at Sylvester Manor in that timeframe suggests that she was one of the enslaved people left behind to care for the property during the Revolutionary War when the British army invaded Shelter Island. Though this photo of the Manor is not from Matilda's lifetime, the fact that the Manor withstood the war and still stands today is a testament to the labor and care that Matilda and other enslaved people provided to the Manor. Audiences may consider the role of enslaved women during the Revolution, as well as the fact that many buildings in this country, like Sylvester Manor, were constructed and maintained by enslaved laborers.
After her manumission, Matilda borrowed money from Henry Dering to build a house on land leased by Sylvester Dering, indebting herself to the men who enslaved her. She became a full member of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in 1814. She died in 1818, and church records list her burial in an unmarked grave in the Afro-Indigenous Burial Ground at Sylvester Manor.
Matilda was born in Southold, Long Island circa 1748. Her mother Judah, was enslaved by John Corey, a prominent member of the Southold community. Matilda and her four sisters, Dorcas, Violet, Thankful and Shuboul were born into that enslavement. Upon Corey's death, Matilda was sold to Thomas Dering. Matilda was separated from her sisters, but her sister Violet was sold to Nicoll Havens who lived nearby. Records suggest that Judah may have moved between the two households, living with each of her daughters.
Matilda was recorded in Thomas Dering's property inventory in 1765, and was manumitted by Dering's sons in 1785. Matilda's documentation at Sylvester Manor in that timeframe suggests that she was one of the enslaved people left behind to care for the property during the Revolutionary War when the British army invaded Shelter Island. Though this photo of the Manor is not from Matilda's lifetime, the fact that the Manor withstood the war and still stands today is a testament to the labor and care that Matilda and other enslaved people provided to the Manor. Audiences may consider the role of enslaved women during the Revolution, as well as the fact that many buildings in this country, like Sylvester Manor, were constructed and maintained by enslaved laborers.
After her manumission, Matilda borrowed money from Henry Dering to build a house on land leased by Sylvester Dering, indebting herself to the men who enslaved her. She became a full member of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in 1814. She died in 1818, and church records list her burial in an unmarked grave in the Afro-Indigenous Burial Ground at Sylvester Manor.
Creator
Unknown
Source
Sylvester Manor Archive
Publisher
NYU Fales Library & Special Collections
Date
Undated
Rights
Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Files
Citation
Unknown, “Photo of Sylvester Manor,” Sylvester Manor, accessed September 17, 2026, https://aphnyu.org/creatingdigitalhistory/2024/sylvestermanor/items/show/8.