The Database for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel

Unknown Woman


Enslaver: Samuel Emery, Margaret Emery

Status (enslaved, free or both): enslaved

Town: Wells

Known dates: 1780

An unknown woman was enslaved by Samuel Emery (1727-1780). He left her in his estate to his wife Margaret.

In his will, Samuel Emery stated "I give to my Beloved Wife Margaret Emery all my homestead ... Also all my Stock and Moveable Estate" which included any enslaved people. He later states that "it is likewise my desire [that] my Negro woman, after the death of her mistress [Margaret Emery] [is] to serve with either of my children whom she shall choose."

Note: the Last Will and Testament does not state the name of the "Negro woman" in Emery's estate.

Samuel Emery (1727-1780) was a blacksmith and the grandson of Rev. Samuel Emery (1670-1724) who enslaved a woman named Violet. We have not located any record indicating whether his father, Samuel Emery (1698-1755), also enslaved any individuals.

Bibliography:

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

Maine Probate Abstracts, Vol II (1775-1800) - John Eldridge Frost (1991)

York County Registry of Probate


Samuel Emery 1780 will

cover page

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Samuel Emery 1780 will

'my Negro woman, after the death of her mistress [Margaret Emery] [is] to serve with either of my children whom she shall choose'

Icon for /UnknownWoman2/Samuel Emery - will - page 1.jpg

Samuel Emery 1780 will

signature page

Icon for /UnknownWoman2/Samuel Emery - will - page 2.jpg

Samuel Emery probate abstract

'my Negro woman, after the death of her mistress [Margaret Emery] [is] to serve with either of my children whom she shall choose'

Icon for /UnknownWoman2/Samuel Emery - probate abstract.jpg
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