On Shelter Island: A Narrative History of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick

For more than three centuries, the story of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick survived in family memories, scattered records, and whispered accounts of courage, suffering, and faith. But behind the legend lies a truly remarkable story. In colonial Massachusetts, two respected members of the Salem community found themselves at odds with the Puritan establishment after meeting with visiting Quakers. What followed was a series of hardships that tested the limits of human endurance, including prison time, heavy fines, the attempted sale of the Southwick children into slavery, and exile from the Colony upon penalty of death. This is a journey involving the strength of conscience, the resilience of family, and the enduring quest for freedom of belief. It is the story of what happens when ordinary people choose conviction over fear, and how their legacy inspires generations centuries later.