Southworth & Hawes

Southworth-Hawes-Captain-Jonathan-W.-Walker’s-Branded-Hand

Captain Jonathan W. Walker’s Branded Hand

Daguerreotype, 1845

A Florida seamen originally from Cape Cod, Captain Jonathan Walker was sympathetic to the plight of the slaves. In 1844 he made an unsuccessful attempt to aid a group of seven to freedom by sailing them to the West Indies. Walker paid for his part in the venture with a year in solitary confinement, a $600.00 fine, and the branded letters “s.s.” for “slave stealer” on his right palm.

From The Daguerreotypes of Southworth & Hawes

link