Charity Polk: Biographical Sketch

Written By Patricia Kahle

Cabinet card of Charity Polk, c. 1880s-1890s.
From the archive of the Shadows-on-the-Teche.

Charity was born enslaved between 1820–1823 on Grand Cote [Weeks Island] to her mother, Hannah. She had at least three siblings: Mahala, Theorick, and Maria. In 1835, Charity, her mother, and her siblings remained enslaved on Grand Cote. By 1846, Charity appears in the David Weeks estate inventory alongside two of her children, Charles, age seven, and Sidney, age two. Sometime between 1835 and 1846, Charity was moved to the Shadows, where she labored primarily as a domestic worker. 

Charity was a skilled gardener, contributing not only to Mary Weeks Moore’s gardens at the Shadows but also to the gardens at Allie Weeks Meade’s plantation near Patterson and at Mary Palfrey Weeks’ home on Grand Cote. 

Sewing was also among her specialties. On one occasion, when instructed to cut jackets for enslaved children according to a specific pattern, Charity chose not to follow the instructions. Instead, she customized the clothing for each individual child, giving each one a personal garment rather than a one-size-fits-most piece. When Mary Palfrey Weeks attempted to sew the shirts, Charity’s “creativity” was discovered. According to William Frederick Weeks, the material had been wasted, and he would "punish her well for this." 

Charity had at least thirteen children. Three of her children—Sidney, Charles, and Charlotte—were born and enslaved at the Shadows. During the Union occupation of New Iberia, Charity remained at the Shadows with her enslaver Mary Weeks Moore. The whereabouts of Charity’s children during this period remain unknown. 

However, by 1870, Charity and her daughters remained in New Iberia and lived near the Shadows. Thereafter, Charity used the surname Polk . Charity spent her last years living on Weeks Canal with her daughters and grandchildren. She was a member of St. Paul’s Baptist Church. She passed away in 1900.

Originally published as part of the Women in the Shadows article, March 1992.

Patricia Kahle

Pat is a lifelong advocate for community, culture, and history. Raised in rural Pennsylvania among generations of farmers, she developed a deep appreciation for local traditions and volunteerism. After earning a degree in Anthropology from Penn State and completing graduate work in Museum Administration at William & Mary, Pat dedicated her career to historic preservation and education.

Pat joined the staff of the Shadows-on-the-Teche in 1983 as Director of Interpretation and Collections with the purpose of studying the Shadows collection—both objects and archive. Pat used the research she uncovered from her work to write informative articles for the Friends of the Shadows and Shadows Service League newsletters and enhance the visitor experience through guided tours and speciality programs.

Pat retired from the Shadows in 2023 as Executive Director, a position she took on in 1996.

Next

Mary Clara Conrad: A Biographical Sketch