Amos Fortune facts for kids
Amos Fortune (born around 1710 – died November 1801) was an important African-American man who lived in Jaffrey, New Hampshire in the 1700s. He was born in Africa and brought to America as a slave. When he was about 60 years old, he bought his freedom. He then moved to Jaffrey to start a business making leather. Records at the Jaffrey Public Library show that he could read and write, was respected in his community, and was very successful with his money.
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How Amos Fortune Became Free
The first record we have of Amos Fortune is a "freedom paper" from December 30, 1763. This paper was from his owner, Ichabod Richardson, who was a leather maker in Woburn. The paper said that Amos would be "set at liberty" after four years.
But Mr. Richardson died in 1768, and his will didn't mention Amos's freedom. So, Amos had to talk with Richardson's family to pay for his freedom. He made his last payment in 1770 and finally became a free man.
After gaining his freedom, Amos Fortune stayed in Woburn. He bought land and built a house. His first wife, Lily Twombly, whose freedom he bought, died in 1775. On November 9, 1779, Amos bought the freedom of a woman named Violet. They got married the very next day. Later, Violet and Amos adopted a daughter named Celyndia.
Life in Jaffrey
In 1781, Amos Fortune moved to Jaffrey to open his own leather business. His first home and tannery were near what is now the Jaffrey Center Common. He built a successful business there.
In 1789, Amos bought 25 acres of land in another spot. The house and barn he built there are still standing today. The road where his house is located is now called Amos Fortune Road.
Amos's leather business did very well. He even took on young people as apprentices to teach them the trade. He had customers in Massachusetts and other towns in New Hampshire. He also became a full member of the First Church in Jaffrey.
Even though he had been a slave, Amos Fortune was able to read and write. In 1797, he helped start the Social Library, which was the town's first library. Years later, the library even asked him to rebind some of their books.
His Final Years
Amos Fortune passed away in January 1801, when he was about 91 years old. He is buried in the Old Burying Ground behind the Jaffrey Meetinghouse. Records of his belongings show that he was very wealthy. He owned things like silver shoe buckles, a silver watch, and a fur coat. Many of his items were sold for a total of $770.20.
Amos asked for special gravestones for himself and his wife. He also asked for a nice gift to be given to the church. The rest of his money was given to the town to help Schoolhouse Number 7. This gift later became the Amos Fortune Fund. This fund has supported many projects, like public speaking contests and special books. Today, the Jaffrey Public Library manages the fund. They use the money to create and share educational materials about Amos Fortune.
Violet Fortune died in 1802, one year after Amos, and was buried next to him. Their gravestone messages 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,
November 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
September 13, 1802, AEt. 73
Amos Fortune's Legacy
- Elizabeth Yates wrote a book about his life called Amos Fortune, Free Man in 1950. This book won a special award called the Newbery Medal.
- Amos Fortune is honored on a New Hampshire historical marker (number 13) along New Hampshire Route 124 in Jaffrey.
- A short film from 1997, Amos Fortune Road by Matthew Buckingham, explores the limited historical information we have about Amos Fortune.
- F. Alexander Magoun wrote a fictional book about Fortune's life in 1964 called Amos Fortune's Choice.
- Amos Fortune Day was created and celebrated on February 20, 1955, by Governor Lane Dwinnel of New Hampshire.
See also
- List of enslaved people
