New York

Fraunces Tavern - Birch Trials & Freedom

Status: In Production

Audio Description: New York Tapestry

This audio description narrates the details of the New York Tapestry, which depicts the state's evolution from Dutch colony to British possession to American state, and its emergence as a center of commerce and immigration.

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Not all colonists believed in the American cause. The New York panel commemorates the role of Black Loyalists during the American Revolution.

In 1783, New York City’s Fraunces Tavern hosted a British-American commission formed to determine the eligibility of Black Loyalists to evacuate with British forces in recognition of their service. These proceedings, known as the "Birch Trials," resulted in one of the largest emancipations of enslaved people prior to the Civil War.

The Birch Trials were necessary to assess claims that several Black Loyalists were not authorized to evacuate with the British. A number of American slaveholders petitioned to recover their lost property prior to their evacuation to Nova Scotia. Approximately 3,000 men, women, and children emigrated throughout 1783.

Within the embroidery, a hearing at Fraunces Tavern is underway (upper left) where a man testifies to his service. In the panel’s center, various roles undertaken by Black people in the British Army are visible -- tradesman, laborer, and soldier. The lower right hand corner depicts a family en route to their new home in Nova Scotia as citizens of the British Crown.

The Team Behind the Tapestry

Historical Partner

Fraunces Tavern Museum

Distinguished colonial museum housed in landmark edifice preserves revolution-era heritage through unparalleled eighteenth-century collections.

Illustrator

Stefan Romero

Conservatory-trained artist merges theatrical expertise with textile scholarship to illuminate historical narratives through innovative embroidery design.