The Stones at Shirley Place

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.”

The bird on William’s stone is a downy woodpecker sitting on a branch, symbolic of his work in life as a carpenter.

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. Thought to be the same “unnamed woman” listed as the mother of Affy and Cesar (Junior). If indeed she remained enslaved by the Shirley family, she would have begun work as a cook or laundress as early as age 7.

Jane’s stone is located on the south-facing side of the mansion, at the ground level, close to the place in the Mansion where the kitchens would have been located. The bird on her stone is the American Goldfinch whose males are easily recognizable and whose females construct nests so safe and secure for their young, they are often watertight.

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.

Affy’s stone has been placed in the gardens among colorful flowers, a place where a young girl might play. The bird on her stone is a tufted titmouse, one of the smallest birds you might see on the grounds.

There are records of two individuals named Caesar (in one case spelled “Cesar”) enslaved by members of the Shirley family. Caesar first appears in connection with Shirley Place in 1765, when he was left to Eliakim Hutchinson, son-in-law of Governor Shirley and, by that time, head of Shirley Place. This means Caesar would have certainly lived at, worked at, or visited Shirley Place between 1765-1775. Caesar was previously enslaved by Eliakim’s mother until her death.

He is believed to have had a son, Cesar, who appears in King’s Chapel baptismal records in 1773 as “a Negroe Child Servant to Eliakim Hutchinson Esq.” As Cesar was referred to as a child in 1773, whereas Caesar was called a man in 1765, we know these were two different individuals despite their similar names. In fact, the deliberate choice of similar names seems to indicate some sort of relationship between the two, possibly a father and his son.

Caesar’s stone features a Northern Cardinal, one of the most commonly-encountered birds at Shirley Place. Male Northern Cardinals’ bright red plumage helps them protect their young and mates - they often distract predators and lure them away from the nest.

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.

Thomas’s stone is placed next to the entrance of the Shirley Mansion, as it is likely he was one of the first people visitors would have interacted with when arriving at the estate. This placement also recognizes his time spent as head of Shirley Place in his enslavers’ absence. The bird on his stone is an American robin, one of the most common seen on the grounds and throughout Boston.

Jack is the first person recorded as enslaved by William Shirley in Boston. He appears in a runaway slave advertisement in the Boston Newsletter on February 17, 1732. He was described as a “Molatto Negro” about nineteen years of age with “three or four little scars under the corner of one of his eyes.” Jack does not appear again in any records connected with the Shirley family.

The bird on Jack’s stone is a cedar waxwing. Cedar waxwings have nomadic and sometimes unpredictable migration movements. Among their own species they are very social and commonly share food.

Nanny was an infant girl enslaved by Catherine Maria Shirley, William Shirley’s daughter. Nanny was baptized at King’s Chapel on August 9, 1753, and died just four days later. She was eighteen months old. It was a common and cruel practice in New England at this time for infants born to enslaved women to be taken from their mothers and given to wealthy white women, as that enabled the mothers to return to work more quickly instead of spending time raising their child.

The bird on Nanny’s stone is a black capped chickadee. These birds are among the smallest encountered at Shirley Place, and are often incredibly curious.

Enslaved child listed, along with his mother and sibling, in Eliakim Hutchinson’s 1775 inventory. It is thought that his mother was Jane. Like his sister Affy, Cesar was baptized at King’s Chapel on October 6, 1773. He was enslaved by the Hutchinsons, who were Shirley’s daughter and son-in-law. They owned Shirley Place after Governor Shirley’s death.

Cesar’s stone features a painting of a dark-eyed junco. Dark-eyed juncos are known for their hardiness over all seasons - while some flocks migrate south for the winter, many do not and instead persevere through the harsh cold.