A physician and then a prominent merchant, Joseph Sayer (1706-1774) enslaved Scipio, Sharper and Philis.

In his will dated July 12, 1766, Dr. Sayer wrote "to my daughter Eunice ... [I leave] my Negro girl Philis." According to the abstract, the probate proceeding occurred on April 11, 1774.

"Dr. Sawyer who died in 1774, says in his will, 'I give to my daughter Eunice, one-third part of the schooner Prosperous, also my negro girl Phillis.' Previously he owned two others, Scipio and Sharper." - Bourne, p. 408

Sayer was educated as a physician, but "soon wearied of this employment. It did not fully satisfy his aspirations ... He moved from his house on Great Hill into the village of Wells, and went into trade, navigation and farming....He went largely into commerce, built many small vessels. In most of these he was a partner of Judge Sayward of York....He was long a member of the Congregational church, and in all his intercourse manifested the true Christian spirit." - Bourne, pp. 489-91

"In his will he gave to his daughter Eunice the part of the Great Hill farm owned by him, also his part of the schooner Prosperous. To his daughter Sarah he gave five-eighths of sloop Elizabeth. He made provision also for his son Ebenezer, whom he had educated at Harvard University, and also for Elizabeth Hilton, who had always been one of his family. His wife was Mehitabel Littlefield, daughter of Francis Littlefield, third. She died Oct. 23, 1750, aged 27." - Bourne, p. 491

Joseph Sayer is buried in Ocean View Cemetery in Wells: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12142937/joseph-sayer

Bibliography:

The History of Wells and Kennebunk from the Earliest Settlement to the Year 1820 - by Edward Bourne (1875)

York County Registry of Probate

Maine Probate Abstracts Vol I 1687-1775 - John Eldridge Frost (1991)