Wikipedia has this to say on this woman : Sara Forbes Bonetta (Born 1843, died 1880, 37 years old) was a West African Egbado Omoba who was orphaned in inter-tribal warfare and subsequently captured by slave-raiders. Intended by her Dahomeyan captors to be a human sacrifice, she was rescued by Captain Frederick E. Forbes of the Royal Navy, who convinced King Ghezo of Dahomey to give her to Queen Victoria, "She would be a present from the King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites," Forbes wrote later. He named her Sara Forbes Bonetta, Bonetta after his ship the HMS Bonetta." " Sara was subsequently baptized at a church in the town of Badagry, a former slave port. She died at the age of 37 in 1880 of tuberculosis. Her husband had previously been concerned about her because she appeared to have had a cough that would not go away; she was eventually diagnosed with what was termed the consumption." - Wikipedia
Fascinating. So indeed she was a slave. I am forever awed by the tenacity of the human spirit -- including my own -- in extreme adversity. I haven't told my own story on this page, as it's nothing to do with vintage, but it's quite relevant in this stream because I was "trafficked" for several years in my childhood and teens. Here's my story: http://www.sublimemercies.com/2013/10/victory-and-defeat-wheelchair-on.html
I don't know what to say Charlotte, except that I never would have known that, or even suspected something like that from you. It makes me feel a lot of things, but the best feeling of all is that you made it through it and are a survivor. I thought I had it rough, from falling a few times and crushing bones in my back. My doctors are yelling at me to have surgery before it makes me paralyzed. But I'm just going to be careful and never go anywhere without my walking cane. I have often thought that I would be in a wheelchair one day,..the motorized kind like you were talking about on your blog. May our God and Father Jah be with you always dear Charlotte.
Thanks, Matthew. I didn't know you have a disability too. We never know people's stories, do we? I "passed" for a long time as someone with a "normal" past but I grew tired of hiding myself so that others could remain comfortable. Now, if it's relevant, as it was in this thread, I don't censor myself.
Charlotte I have 3 really good G+ friends that have severe back and neck injuries and 2 of them have to walk with a cane. I only found that out because of them saying that they had to see a doctor on their certain appointment dates. I have 3 canes to choose from. :-)
I have three canes too. If I had more money, I'd have a cane for every outfit. I don't use them often though, but I will use the disability scooter a lot so I can go out even on a bad day, go further distances, and CARRY things. Even the smallest weight hurts a lot now. On that note, I'm going to go lie on heating pads for a while; I was out for a few hours and I'm in terrible pain.
What a wonderful post. I love the photo that started all of this and the story that goes with it. But mostly, I love learning about my Google + friends. Charlotte's story is amazing. Thank you Charlotte for that link. My heart aches for the tragedy of your childhood which has severely crippled you in so many ways and left you disabled as an adult. My story is closer to Matthew's. I too own canes, a walker, and was temporarily paralyzed until back and neck surgery helped the nerves heal. My disability is a result of an accident in my own home when I tripped over my granddaughter. I applaud your bravery and courage to stay mobil and find positive reasons to greet each dawn!
Charlotte Issyvoo- Charlotte, I read 3/4 of your blog post and scanned the rest since I need to leave my house shortly. You are marvelous! You endured so much adversity, to put in mildly, in your childhood, but have managed to be an extremely fine person. How lucky for you in having Beau as part of your life. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Charlotte Wirfs, for your really kind words. Thanks to you too, Nina Kuriloff. It's an ongoing struggle but I guess I don't know how to give up. Sometimes I want to, but I just don't know how. I kind of wrote about that here if anyone cares to take a look. http://www.sublimemercies.com/2013/08/the-girl-next-door-in-hell-you-cant.html
What I would like to know is who influenced you in such a positive way that you took the route of getting an education for yourself and then going on to employment in fields that benefit others.
You strike me as being a very good person. (Given the trauma you experienced, you could have gone on to become an abuser and/or sadistic in other ways).
So, which people in your life, led you on your path to becoming a good person? Do you discuss this in your blog? If so, please provided us with a link. :)
My 1st question is, where did you get the photo?
ReplyDeleteSomeone on Facebook posted it. She posts amazing stuff. I'll try to find her name and post it here.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia has this to say on this woman :
ReplyDeleteSara Forbes Bonetta (Born 1843, died 1880, 37 years old) was a West African Egbado Omoba who was orphaned in inter-tribal warfare and subsequently captured by slave-raiders. Intended by her Dahomeyan captors to be a human sacrifice, she was rescued by Captain Frederick E. Forbes of the Royal Navy, who convinced King Ghezo of Dahomey to give her to Queen Victoria, "She would be a present from the King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites," Forbes wrote later. He named her Sara Forbes Bonetta, Bonetta after his ship the HMS Bonetta."
" Sara was subsequently baptized at a church in the town of Badagry, a former slave port. She died at the age of 37 in 1880 of tuberculosis. Her husband had previously been concerned about her because she appeared to have had a cough that would not go away; she was eventually diagnosed with what was termed the consumption." - Wikipedia
Yes Matthew Woodall Facts are so much better than fiction. : )
ReplyDeleteFascinating. So indeed she was a slave. I am forever awed by the tenacity of the human spirit -- including my own -- in extreme adversity. I haven't told my own story on this page, as it's nothing to do with vintage, but it's quite relevant in this stream because I was "trafficked" for several years in my childhood and teens. Here's my story: http://www.sublimemercies.com/2013/10/victory-and-defeat-wheelchair-on.html
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to say Charlotte, except that I never would have known that, or even suspected something like that from you. It makes me feel a lot of things, but the best feeling of all is that you made it through it and are a survivor. I thought I had it rough, from falling a few times and crushing bones in my back. My doctors are yelling at me to have surgery before it makes me paralyzed. But I'm just going to be careful and never go anywhere without my walking cane. I have often thought that I would be in a wheelchair one day,..the motorized kind like you were talking about on your blog. May our God and Father Jah be with you always dear Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matthew. I didn't know you have a disability too. We never know people's stories, do we? I "passed" for a long time as someone with a "normal" past but I grew tired of hiding myself so that others could remain comfortable. Now, if it's relevant, as it was in this thread, I don't censor myself.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte I have 3 really good G+ friends that have severe back and neck injuries and 2 of them have to walk with a cane. I only found that out because of them saying that they had to see a doctor on their certain appointment dates. I have 3 canes to choose from. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have three canes too. If I had more money, I'd have a cane for every outfit. I don't use them often though, but I will use the disability scooter a lot so I can go out even on a bad day, go further distances, and CARRY things. Even the smallest weight hurts a lot now. On that note, I'm going to go lie on heating pads for a while; I was out for a few hours and I'm in terrible pain.
ReplyDeleteHere's her story, too:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mijizasblog.com/celebrating-african-and-african-caribbean-diaspora-history-month-in-the-uk/
What a wonderful post. I love the photo that started all of this and the story that goes with it. But mostly, I love learning about my Google + friends. Charlotte's story is amazing. Thank you Charlotte for that link. My heart aches for the tragedy of your childhood which has severely crippled you in so many ways and left you disabled as an adult. My story is closer to Matthew's. I too own canes, a walker, and was temporarily paralyzed until back and neck surgery helped the nerves heal. My disability is a result of an accident in my own home when I tripped over my granddaughter. I applaud your bravery and courage to stay mobil and find positive reasons to greet each dawn!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte Issyvoo- Charlotte, I read 3/4 of your blog post and scanned the rest since I need to leave my house shortly.
ReplyDeleteYou are marvelous!
You endured so much adversity, to put in mildly, in your childhood, but have managed to be an extremely fine person.
How lucky for you in having Beau as part of your life.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Charlotte Wirfs, for your really kind words. Thanks to you too, Nina Kuriloff. It's an ongoing struggle but I guess I don't know how to give up. Sometimes I want to, but I just don't know how. I kind of wrote about that here if anyone cares to take a look. http://www.sublimemercies.com/2013/08/the-girl-next-door-in-hell-you-cant.html
ReplyDeleteCharlotte Issyvoo
ReplyDeleteYou write very well. :)
What I would like to know is who influenced you in such a positive way that you took the route of getting an education for yourself and then going on to employment in fields that benefit others.
You strike me as being a very good person.
(Given the trauma you experienced, you could have gone on to become an abuser and/or sadistic in other ways).
So, which people in your life, led you on your path to becoming a good person?
Do you discuss this in your blog?
If so, please provided us with a link.
:)