Judge Samuel Wheelwright (1635-1700) was a prominent early citizen of Wells, serving in many offices, and enslaving a man named Titus.

"Samuel Wheelwright, son of Rev. John Wheelwright,... was one of the prominent men of the day in which he lived, having very early been called to public life ... When only thirty years old, he was clerk of the writs and town clerk ... He was town clerk twenty-nine years....In 1676, he was appointed County Treasurer. In 1681, he was appointed by the king one of the Provincial Council. In 1695, Judge of the Court of Probate, and by Willam and Mary a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. So that from the time he came to Wells till his death, he was continually in the public service." - Bourne, p. 231

In his Will dated Jan 30, 1700, Samuel Wheelwright stated that "I do give and bequeath unto Hesther my beloued Wife, all my Cattell of all sorts, with one Negro Servant named Titus, with all my Mouable estate of all sorts which is not hereafter excepted." The subsequent probate record includes a listing for "1 Negro man, at £20."

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)

York County Probate Records, Volume One (1680-1706)