EVENTS: Lincoln County Historical Association lecture sheds light on Black sailors of the 18th and 19th centuries

Korinne Tanzer

In an online lecture on Thursday, March 14, at 5:30 p.m., speaker Korinne Tanzer will discuss a few of the incredible Black sailors – free and enslaved – who worked the waters of the Kennebec River or spent time at sea, helping shape Lincoln County’s past. Spanning the 18th and 19th centuries, Tanzer’s talk will introduce early enslaved men who were forced to sea by their enslavers and free men like Zina Lewis, who, full of “good grit” as reported by one local newspaper, made a name for himself as a very successful Black captain on the Kennebec River. Tanzer tells of the determination and grit of men whose stories have been hidden but who left an important mark on Maine’s rich maritime tradition.

The lecture is open to the public and free, but pre-registration is required. Please visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or click on https://tinyurl.com/yt9td72y. A suggested donation of $5 will help support LCHA’s ongoing history programming.