George Africanus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Part of a series on Slavery |
|
| Period and context | |
|
History · Antiquity |
|
| Related | |
|
Gulag · Serfdom · Unfree labour · Debt bondage · Indentured servant · List of slaves · Legal status |
|
|
|
George John Scipio Africanus (1763—1834) was a West African negro slave who became a successful entrepreneur in Nottingham.
Contents |
[edit] Early Years
The early life of George Africanus is very obscure, although calculating from his burial certificate he was born in 1763. His obituary, published in the Nottingham Review of 30 May 1834, tells that the village was in Sierra Leone (which became a British colony in 1787).
It is believed that he arrived in England in early 1766, and a month later on 31 March 1766 was baptized George John Scipio Africanus, a negro boy belonging to Benjamin Molineux of Molineux House, in the Collegiate church of St Peter in Wolverhampton.
George Africanus, who was only three years old, belonged to Benjamin Molineux. Benjamin Molineux paid to have George Africanus educated initially, since Benjamin died in 1772. His eldest son George Molineux, who inherited his father's estate took on the responsibility of bringing George up, and further educated him. Later on he was given apprenticeship to be a Brass founder. No doubt he carried out servant duties in the household of George Molineux and family.
Unfortunately little is known of the upbringing of George Africanus in Wolverhampton. It is interesting to note Benjamin Molineux's father, John Molineux (1685-1754) came from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, son of Darcy Molineux (1652-1716) who was High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1687 and Deputy Lieutenant of Nott's between 1698-1702. John settled in Wolverhampton around 1700. The Nott's family Molineux came from Teversal near Mansfield.
Possibly upon the death of Sir William Molineux in 1781 (6th Baronet of Teversall near Mansfield) members of the Wolverhampton Molineux family, including George Africanus, traveled to his funeral and passed through Nottingham, which attracted his interest. The population of Nottingham at that time was around 18,000 people. Nottingham town center was full of beautiful open-air gardens at this time and had many pleasing surroundings. Probably they spent some time in Nottingham en route home, and this gave George Africanus the desire to move to the town in the future.
[edit] Starting a Business
George Africanus came to live in Nottingham around 1784 at the age of 21, and was living in St Peter's parish. He met a local girl, Esther Shaw, and they were married on 3 August 1788 at St. Peter's Church, Nottingham. They started up a business as a servant’s register office at 28 Chandlers Lane around 1793, where they also lived all their lives.
The Servants' Register Office and the home of George Africanus on Chandlers lane, appears to be a joint business venture with his wife Esther from 1793 until his death 1834, and her death in 1853. When the business was not bringing in sufficient income, most likely George would turn to other jobs to help out. It is recorded in the Marriage bond documents dated 1788 that he was a Brass Founder by trade, and also looking through the Trade Directories, we find that he was a waiter and laborer as well as a Brass Founder. They had seven children, only one survived to adulthood.
Upon the death of his wife Ester on 12 May 1853, a notice appeared in the Nottingham Review the following day: "Yesterday (Thursday), aged 85 years, Mrs. Africanus, for upwards of sixty years proprietor of the Servants' Register Office in Chandlers Lane." If this account is correct then we know that Ester ran the Servants' Register Office in Chandler’s lane from at least 1793. We also possess a record showing that George Africanus bought 28 Chandlers Lane and adjoining properties in Bluchers Yard for £380 on 24 October 1829.
It was George's daughter Hannah who survived the family line with her marriage to a watch and clock maker named Samuel Cropper (1802-1886/7), in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, in 1825. They had two children, Sarah Ann Cropper (1825-1842) and Esther Africanus Cropper (1840-1911) Esther Cropper married Charles Edward Turnbull at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, on September 28 1865.
They then moved to live at 9 St. Paul's Crescent, St. Pancras, London. Apparently Esther died aged 69 in Kingston, Surrey. According to the 1881 census Esther had three children: Arthur (age-14), Fredrick (13), and Margaret Hannah (9).
According to the Last Will and Testament of George Africanus, things were not amicable. It was Hannah’s marriage to Samuel Cropper that George Africanus found hard to accept. Hannah's marriage to Samuel Cropper was apparently not a success and they lived apart a number of years until after the death of George Africanus. The 1841 census shows they were in fact living together at this time, with her 70-year-old mother, Esther, in Chandlers Lane, where Esther was still working as proprietress of the register of servant’s office.
We also learn from the Will of George Africanus that his grand daughter, Sarah Ann Cropper, was 'afflicted' in some way, however, again we don't know the exact nature of this affliction. However, since Sarah died rather young at the age of 17, an illness would seem to be indicated.
[edit] Africanus Died in 1834
George John Scipio Africanus died in 1834 and was buried along with his wife in the churchyard St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, while his children are buried in a separate grave nearby. A memorial plaque was erected on the churchyard railings in 2004.
[edit] His epitaph
In Memory of George Africanus
Who died May 19th 1834?
Aged 70 years
Also Ester Africanus, wife of the above
Who died May 12th 1853?
Aged 81 years
Oh cruel death that separated here
A loving father from his daughter dear
Also a tender parent in decline of life
A loving mother and a careful wife
While in this world they did remain
Their latter Days were full of pain
