Lesson Six
18th Century Slaves in Deerfield, Massachusetts Listed by Owner

Slaves

John Williams (1664-1729)

Robert Tigo (d. 1695)
Frank and Parthena (married ca. 1703, d. 1704)
Mescheck
Kedar

Ebenezer Hinsdale (1707-1763)

Mescheck (formerly owned by John Williams)

• In colonial pay at Ft. Dummer
• Ran Hinsdale's store when Hinsdale was absent
• Baptized and admitted to communion in 1747
• Involved in court case against Peter Evans in 1748
• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store in 1752

Cesar

• Served in French & Indian War
• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store in 1753

Jockton (mulatto)

Ebenezer Sheldon (1691-1774)

Pompey

• Baptized in 1741

Jonathan Hoyt (1688-1779)

Cesar

• Served in French & Indian War
• Baptized in 1741
• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store 1756-1757

Samuel Childs (1679-1756)

Cesar

• Served in French & Indian War

Samuel Barnard (1684-1762)

Titus

Daniel Arms (1719-1784)

Titus

• Had an account with Dr. Thomas Williams in 1764
• Sold in 1771

Dr. Thomas Williams (1718-1775)

Female slave

Sarah Williams (1716-1736/7)

Male mulatto slave

Samuel Dickinson (1687-1761)

"A Negro wench"

two children

Nathaniel Dickinson (1734-after 1786)

Cesar

• 1771 charged by John Williams for stealing

Samuel Dickinson (1736-1780)

Cesar (formerly owned by Nathaniel Dickinson)

Hager

• married Cesar in 1788

Fortune

• Baptized in 1737

Thomas Dickinson (1718-1814)

Ishmael

• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store (1753-1757)

Jonathan Ashley (1712-1780)

Cato (died 1825)

• Baptized 1739
• Served in French & Indian War
• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store (1755-1756)

Jinny (died 1808)

Titus

• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store (1753-1756)

Thomas Wells (1678-1750)

Adam

• Baptized 1735

Peter

• Baptized 1735
• Appears in inventory 1750

Pompey

• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store 1750

John Wells (1700-1746)

Titus

• Baptized 1737

Jonathan Wells (1684-1735)

"Negro woman cloathing " mentioned in inventory

"A Negro boy"

Pompey

• Baptized 1735

Cesar

Mary Hoyt Wells (died 1750, widow of Jonathan Wells)

Cesar (formerly owned by Jonathan Wells)

• Baptized in 1741

Timothy Childs (1686-1776)

Cesar (formerly owned by Mary Hoyt Wells)

• Served in French & Indian Wars
• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store (1753-1755)

Humphrey

• Baptized 1752

Ebenezer Wells (1691-1758)

Cesar

• Baptized 1735 & admitted to communion 1736

Lucy Terry

Abigail Williams Hinsdale Silliman (died 1787)

Jockton (formerly owned by Ebenezer Hinsdale)

Chloe

 

Free African Americans

Abijah Prince (1706-1794)

• Brought to Northfield, MA 1717
• Obtained 10 acres of land in Northfield 1753
• Owned land in Sunderland, VT
• Owned 100 acres in Guilford, VT 1764
• Had accounts with Jonathan Ashley, Salah Barnard, Dr. Thomas Williams, Elijah Williams

Lucy Terry Prince (died 1821)

• Brought to Deerfield from Rhode Island at age 5
• Owned by Ebenezer Wells
• Baptized 1735 & admitted to communion 1744
• Wrote "Bars Fight" 1746
• Had an account at Elijah Williams' store 1755
• Her freedom was purchased by Abijah Prince
• She married Abijah Prince

Unknown African Americans

Peter Ladieu

• Appears in Thomas Williams' account book (1756-1757)

William

• Possibly owned by Sharp Caleb (according to genealogist George Sheldon, Sharp Caleb was part or totally Native American)
• Possible entry in Elijah Williams' account book (1746-1756)

"Town Negro"

• Appears in Elijah Williams' account book (1761-1765)

Titus

• He testified against Cesar (owned by Nathaniel Dickinson) who was accused by John Williams of stealing

Heber

• Appears in Elijah Williams' account book (1749-1775)

Boston

• Had a store account in 1761

Onesimus

• Slave of Maj. Williams
• Baptized 1766

Pompey and wife Rebecca

• Admitted to communion 1736

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