DETAILS

Preservation Long Island and Sag Harbor Historical Museum are pleased to host Donnamarie Barnes and David Rattray, co-directors of the Plain Sight Project, present new research on the enslaved people who lived and worked at the Custom House in Sag Harbor. The Custom House was the home and office of Henry Packer Dering, who was appointed the Collector of Customs at the federal port of Sag Harbor by George Washington in 1790. The Derings were a prominent family with property in both Sag Harbor and on Shelter Island, and their wealth depended on the labor of enslaved communities. This talk draws connections between the Dering and Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island and highlights new research about the enslaved people at the Custom House. The Plain Sight Project works to situate these stories within the broader context of slavery on the East End of Long Island and present its findings to the public. The Custom House will open for self-guided tours at 3pm, and the lecture will begin on the lawn at 4pm with light refreshments.