Amos Fortune (Citizen of Jaffrey)

Amos Fortune (born c. 1710 died 1801) was a prominent African-American citizen of Jaffrey, New Hampshire in the 1700s. Born free in Africa and brought to America as a slave, Fortune purchased his freedom at the age of sixty and moved to Jaffrey to start a tanning business. Documents now archived at the Jaffrey Public Library testify to his literacy, community position, and financial success. His life provided the basis for Elizabeth Yates's children's book "Amos Fortune, Free Man."

Early life

Nothing is known of Amos Fortune’s early life.Fact|date=May 2007

Purchase of freedom

The first known record of Amos Fortune is an unsigned "freedom paper" dated December 30, 1763. In it Fortune's owner, Ichabod Richardson, a "tanner of Woburn, in the province of Massachusetts-bay in New England" outlines an agreement with Fortune that at the end of four years Amos would be "Discharged, Freed, and Set at Liberty from my service power & Command for ever…." When Richardson died unexpectedly in 1768 his will contained no mention of Fortune's freedom. Fortune then negotiated with Richardson's heirs to “pay off his bond." He made the last payment in 1770 and became a free man at the age 60.

After purchasing his freedom, Fortune continued to live and work in Woburn. He bought land and built a house. His first wife, Lydia Somerset – whom he purchased for fifty pounds from Josiah Bowers of Billerica – died shortly after their marriage in 1778. On November 9, 1779, Fortune purchased the freedom of a woman named Violate from James Baldwin. They were married the next day in Woburn.

Life in Jaffrey

In 1781 Amos Fortune moved to Jaffrey to establish himself as a tanner. His first home and tannery were at the foot of a hill west of what is now the Jaffrey Center Common on land set aside for a yet-to-be-named minister. A year later Laban Ainsworth was called to be Jaffrey's first minister. Fortune remained on the property and the two men appear to have become friends.

In 1789 Fortune purchased 25 acres at another location on Tyler Brook. The house and barn which he built are still standing in their original location. The road the house is on is now called Amos Fortune Road.

Fortune's tannery appears to have prospered. He took on at least two apprentices and served clients in Massachusetts in addition to nearby New Hampshire towns. He became a full member of the First Church and helped found the Jaffrey Social Library.

Death

Fortune died in November 1801 at the age of 91. He is buried behind the Jaffrey Meetinghouse in the Old Burying Ground. The inventory of his estate testifies to his prosperity. Among the items listed are silver shoe buckles, a silver watch, and a fur coat. Fortune instructed his executor, Eleazer Spofford, to have "handsome gravestones" erected to his wife and himself and to make a "handsome present" to the church. The remaining monies were given to the town to support Schoolhouse Number 8. This last bequest has evolved into the Amos Fortune Fund and has supported diverse projects including public speaking contests and special publications. The Jaffrey Public Library now administers the Fund, using the income to develop and distribute educational materials on Amos Fortune.

Violate Fortune died in 1802, one year after her husband, and was buried next to him. Their moving epitaphs were written by the Reverend Laban Ainsworth:

Sacred to the memory of Amos Fortune, who was born free in Africa, a slave in America, he purchased liberty, professed Christianity, lived reputably, and died hopefully, Nov. 17, 1801, AEt. 91

Sacred to the memory of Violate, by sale the slave of Amos Fortune, by marriage his wife , by her fidelity, his friend and solace, she died his widow Sept. 13, 1802, AEt. 73

References

* cite book
last = Lambert
first = Peter
title = Amos Fortune, The Man and His Legacy
publisher = Amos Fortune Forum
location = Jaffrey, NH
year = 2000
* cite book
last =
first =
title = American lNational Biography
publisher = Oxford University Press
location = Oxford
year = 1999