The Sewing Girl’s Tale with John Wood Sweet

Join the Stonington Historical Society and author John Wood Sweet for a discussion of “The Sewing Girl’s Tale,” a work that the New York Times calls “Sweet’s excellent and absorbing work of social and cultural history.”  Sweet explores the first known criminal rape trial in America and the first known time a seduction suit was used for redress in New York after a rape trial, and it worked; the jury awarded staggering punitive damages — 1,800 pounds, or $4,500 —.  Truly relevant to our times, this case was cited several times by Justice Alito in the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade. This program takes place at the Saltwater Farm Vineyard  349 Elm Street in Stonington. Wine will be available for purchase.