Interpreters for 7 Characters in Place

Visitors to Trial & Tribulations will start the program by meeting seven of the key characters in the Matson Slave Trial story at two historic sites in Oakland. The characters will be portraying Dr. Hiram Rutherford, Gideon "Matt" Ashmore, Mary Corbin, Jane and Anthony Bryant, Lucy Dupee, and Abraham Lincoln from a fictitious time in the 1870s as they look back to the events of 1847. Participants can converse and ask questions with the characters as they move through the grounds of Dr. Rutherford's home, now a historic site, and Independence Pioneer Village. By having these interpreters hail from the future (even though some had died in real life by that period), they can talk about the aftermath of the trial and look back at the events with some historical perspective.

We are happy to announce that Roger Ashmore has agreed to portray his own ancestor, Matt Ashmore. Kim McGee will create the character of Dr. Rutherford. Freetown Village, a living history program from Indianapolis will bring to life the Bryants and Lucy Dupee. Lincoln and Corbin are yet to be finalized, but we'll let you know soon who will portray them.

Freetown Village Joins Project As Interpreters

The project partners are pleased to announce that the well-respected living history group, Freetown Village of Indianapolis, will interpret three of the main characters in the Matson/Bryant story: Jane and Anthony Bryant and Lucy Dupee.

Freetown Village's mission is to educate the public about African American lives and culture in Indiana through living history performances, the collection and preservation of artifacts, exhibits and allied programs. Freetown Village, Inc. is a living history museum without walls. The trials, triumphs, and daily life of African Americans are presented through theater, storytelling, folk crafts, heritage workshops, music, day camp, and special events. Since 1982, Freetown Village has presented programs throughout the state of Indiana and to the contiguous Midwestern states reaching well over 1,000,000 children and adults in small and large communities. Programs have been presented in schools, churches, libraries, museums, theaters, centers, parks, hotels, offices, gymnasiums, parades, homes, and for almost every time of event or occasion. For more information about Freetown you can visit their website at: http://www.freetown.org/Freetown/Welcome.html.

Trial & Tribulations participants will meet Freetown interpreters at Independence Pioneer Village as they portray Jane and Anthony Bryant and Lucy Dupee among the historic log buildings in a picturesque setting. Jane will be found in a log house preparing for the family's upcoming journey to Liberia. She will discuss her history, how she and the children were jailed, what happened during the trial and why they made the decision to emigrate to Liberia.

Anthony will be in the church/school building reading his quarto bible and preparing to leave the local African-American religious community he had served. He will talk with visitors about his role as a Methodist "exhorter," his experience in asking for help from the local Methodists, and the actions he took to protect his family.

Lucy Dupee will also be in a log home, helping to make some of the supplies that the Bryant's will need on their trip. She will be able to speak about the local Brushy Fork community, the impact that the Matson Slave Trial had on it, and how Illinois' Black Laws may have influenced the Bryant's decision to leave the country.