In Rhode Island, which dominated the American slave trade starting in the early 18th century, the Narragansett Plantations were huge farms owned by wealthy white families and worked by enslaved people.
The same gendered roles on English farms were reflected on these plantations, with enslaved women working as dairy maids and cheesemakers. The Cheshire-inspired Narragansett cheese produced by these women on these plantations in the 18th century became widely known for its quality and was considered the best cheese produced in New England.
https://cheesegrotto.com/blogs/journal/history-of-cheese-part-4-the-americas
Help preserve & share the history of Jamestown, RI. Maintain the Museum, the Windmill, the Meetinghouse and the Conanicut Battery. Preserve the Society’s collection of documents, photographs and artifacts.
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The Jamestown
Historical Society
PO Box 156
Jamestown, RI
02835