Enslaved Lives in the Shirley Household

Likely purchased by William Shirley upon his arrival in the American colonies. Described as “Mulatto Negro,” with several scars under one eye. Ran away from Shirley in 1732, when Jack was nineteen years old.

An infant girl enslaved by William Shirley in 1746. Shirley had her baptized in King’s Chapel, after which she disappears from the historical record. We believe she later reappears listed as the “Unnamed Woman” who is mother of Affy and Cesar.

Man likely enslaved by Benjamin Eustis, a carpenter who worked on the construction of Shirley Place in 1747. William is mentioned in Eustis’ account book and called many nicknames including “my boy” and “my lad.”

Young girl enslaved by Catherine Maria Shirley, William Shirley’s daughter. On August 9, 1753, Nanny was baptized at King’s Chapel. She died four days later at eighteen months old.

Enslaved by William Shirley while Shirley was Royal Governor of the Bahamas from 1760-1768. Offered to Shirley by a fellow legislator who was likely trying to garner favors from him. Said to have been manumitted by Shirley before he returned to North America, but it is unknown whether this claim is true.

Enslaved by Eliakim Hutchinson, William Shirley’s son-in-law, and lent to Shirley. Acted as Shirley’s manservant for many years, and accompanied him on an extended trip to England. After Shirley’s death and the British evacuation of Roxbury, Scipio acted as head of Shirley Place while the mansion’s white owners fled. He would later be sold to John Powell of Ludlow, MA.

Enslaved woman listed, along with her two children, in the 1775 inventory of Eliakim Hutchinson’s estate. The Hutchinsons were Shirley’s daughter and son-in-law, and owned Shirley Place after Governor Shirley’s death. It is possible this woman is the same Jane enslaved by William Shirley above, but unclear.

Enslaved child listed, along with a mother and sibling, in Eliakim Hutchinson’s 1775 inventory. His name is found in the King’s Chapel records, where he and his sister were baptized on October 6, 1773. The Hutchinsons, who enslaved Cesar, were Shirley’s daughter and son-in-law, and owned Shirley Place after Governor Shirley’s death.

Enslaved child listed, along with a mother and sibling, in Eliakim Hutchinson’s 1775 inventory. Like her brother Cesar, Affy was baptized at King’s Chapel on October 6, 1773. She was enslaved by the Hutchinsons, who were Shirley’s daughter and son-in-law. They owned Shirley Place after Governor Shirley’s death.

According to a runaway slave ad listed in the Bahama Gazette, Cloe was enslaved by either William or Thomas Shirley in the Bahamas. William Shirley was Governor of the Bahamas from 1758-1767, while his son Thomas assumed the office from 1767-1774. Cloe appears in a runaway slave ad dated 1788, and though she was by then not enslaved by the Shirley family, the advertisement mentions that “she formerly belonged to Governor Shirley, and is well known about Town.”

We thank Christle Rawlins-Jackson for sharing this runaway slave advertisement with us.