Amelia Lewsham

Amelia Lewsham or Amelia Harlequin or Amelia Newsham (c. 1748 – after 1797) was a Jamaican known as the "White Negress".

Amelia Lewsham
Bornc. 1748
Jamaica
Diedafter 1797
Probably UK
NationalityJamaican
Other names"The White Negress"
Known forAlbinism
Spouse(s)Mr Lewsham
Childrensix

Life

Lewsham was born circa 1748, in Jamaica, probably Spanish Town where her mother worked as her owner's house servant. Both of her parents were black and she was born an albino. Lewsham was the property of Sir Simon Clarke 6th baronet who was so intrigued with her that he sent Lewshem, then about five years old, to England in 1753 as a present to his second son Kingsmill Clarke, a barrister of the Inner Temple. Clarke agreed to sell the girl after initially asking for 400 guineas.[1]

Obverse of the 1795 coin

Her new owner, Burnet, ran a shop in London and he toured the country with Lewsham, charging customers a shilling to see the unusual girl. Burnet showed her to both the Royal Society and the Royal Family and whilst touring she was baptised "Amelia Harleguin" in April 1766. Empowered by the baptism Lewsham left her owner and began exhibiting herself. Amelia married and had six children with a man named Lewsham or Newsham.[1]

Eleven years later she was seen by Olaudah Equiano in London.[1] In 1795 she was being exhibited by Thomas Hall in Finsbury Square and possibly at Bartholomew Fair.[2] Souvenir coins were minted by W. Lutwtyche of Birmingham. One side of the coin showed Lewsham with message "MRS. NEWSHAM THE WHITE NEGRESS". The obverse said "The First Artist in Europe for Preserving Birds Beasts" and "T.Hall Citty Road near Finsbury Square London 1795"[3] An Alternate obverse recorded that Thomas Hall was exhibiting Amelia at the "Curiosity House" on City Road.[4][2]

Lewsham probably died in the UK but the date is not known.

References
  1. Kathleen Chater, ‘Lewsham, Amelia (b. c.1748, d. in or after 1798)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Oct 2010; online edn, May 2011 accessed 28 Jan 2017
  2. Thomas Hall advertising ticket, RMG, Retrieved 2 January 2017
  3. catalogue, the Saleroom, Retrieved 28 January 2017
  4. Amelia Newsham, the White Negress, SideShowWorld, Retrieved 29 January 2017
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