Caesar Lyndon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caesar Lyndon
Caesar Lyndon's Sundry Account Book, 1766
Occupation	Secretary, Purchasing agent
Years active	1761-1770
Employer	Josias Lyndon
Notable work	Sundry Account Book

Caesar Lyndon (sometimes spelled Cesar) was a very smart Black man who lived from about 1761 to 1770. Even though he was enslaved by Josias Lyndon, Caesar could read and write very well. He is known for his Sundry Account Book, which is a special historical record. It tells us a lot about daily life in Rhode Island long ago.

Caesar helped Josias Lyndon with his business. He worked as a purchasing agent, which means he bought things. He was also a secretary, writing letters and keeping records. His Sundry Account Book shows all the money he handled. This included deals with famous slave traders like Aaron Lopez. It also shows transactions with free people and other enslaved people.

In his book, Caesar used a special way of keeping records called double-entry bookkeeping. He listed everything he bought and sold. He also wrote down important events like deaths, marriages, and even a pig roast! This book, which is almost 35 pages long, is a cool example of early writing by African Americans in the United States.

Caesar was not just able to read and write. His handwriting was so good that a famous slave ship captain, Caleb Godfrey, paid him to copy a long letter. Caesar was also great with numbers. He could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. He was especially good with money, both the Rhode Island pound and money from other colonies nearby.

Caesar Lyndon was also a secretary for the Free African Union Society. This was the very first Black benevolent society in the United States. A benevolent society is a group that helps people in need.

What is the Sundry Account Book?

Caesar Lyndon's Sundry Account Book is a collection of lists. It has many lists of numbers, people, and events from 1761 to 1771. In beautiful cursive writing, Caesar listed marriages, deaths, and things he bought and sold. He noted who he sold to and kept track of money owed and money received.

Caesar's customers included important slave traders, enslaved workers, and free people in and around Newport. They came to him for different things, like copying documents. They also bought food items such as celery, beets, and even sow pigs. Other items included leather breeches and ketchup.

In the summer of 1766, Caesar and some friends went on a fun trip to Portsmouth. He prepared a big meal for his guests. It included a pig roast, corn, bread, wine, rum, coffee, and butter. Two months later, Caesar married Sarah Searing, who had been with him on the picnic.