Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!

Sign up free
Page thumbnail for The New Hampshire Gazette
Story October 20, 1818

The New Hampshire Gazette

Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire

What is this article about?

A 40-year-old black woman from Virginia, serving as cook-maid to Col. Barnes in Maryland, gradually changed skin color to white over 15 years, becoming mostly fair and transparent-skinned, with some areas less affected.

Clipping

OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

Account of a Negro Woman who became white.—This woman was cook-maid to col. Barnes of Maryland, he was born in Virginia, and is about forty years old, remarkably healthy and robust, and originally as black as the blackest African. About fifteen years ago, the skin next adjoining to the nails of the fingers became white, her mouth soon after suffered the same alteration, which gradually extended over the whole body, though not quite in an equal degree; four parts in five of her skin are as white, smooth and transparent as in a fair European, the neck and back along the vertebrae are least changed; her face and neck in which the change is complete, discover the veins under the skin: and are suffused with blushes when any accident excites the passions either of anger or shame.

What sub-type of article is it?

Medical Curiosity Curiosity Extraordinary Event

What keywords are associated?

Skin Color Change Negro To White Medical Anomaly Gradual Transformation

What entities or persons were involved?

Negro Woman Col. Barnes

Where did it happen?

Maryland

Story Details

Key Persons

Negro Woman Col. Barnes

Location

Maryland

Event Date

About Fifteen Years Ago

Story Details

A black cook-maid in Maryland gradually whitened her skin starting from fingertips and mouth, extending over her body, resulting in mostly white, transparent skin with blushes visible.

Are you sure?