"V" is for Vesey, Denmark [ca. 1767-1822]. Slave, artisan, abolitionist. Vesey was probably born on the Danish island of St. Thomas. Captain Joseph Vesey who later established himself in Charleston as a ship chandler purchased him. Denmark worked in the chandlery until 1799 when he won a local lottery and purchased his freedom. He set himself up as a carpenter and became a leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. With increased white pressure on the black community, Vesey began to consider a plan by which black Charlestonians would slay the city's white residents on the morning of July 14th, 1822—and then flee to Haiti. The conspiracy was betrayed. He was arrested, tried and sentenced to death. On July 2nd Denmark Vesey and five other conspirators were hanged before a large crowd.
"V" is for Vesey, Denmark [ca. 1767-1822]
