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George John Scipio Africanus (c. 1763–1834) was a West African negro slave who became a successful entrepreneur in Nottingham.
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The early life of George Africanus is obscure. Calculating his birth year from his burial certificate, he was probably born in 1763. His obituary in the Nottingham Review of 30 May 1834, states that he was born in a village in Sierra Leone, which became a British colony in 1787.
It is believed that George arrived in England in early 1766. On 31 March 1766, he was baptized George John Scipio Africanus, and described as a negro boy belonging to Benjamin Molineux of Molineux House, in the Collegiate church of St Peter in Wolverhampton.
Benjamin Molineux began educating George at age three. After his death in 1772, his eldest son, also named George, inherited the estate. George Molineux took responsibility for raising and educating the child. Growing up, George Africanus probably worked as a servant in the George Molineux family household, before becoming apprenticed to be a Brass founder.
As an adult, George Africanus moved to Nottingham, a place familiar to his adopted family. Benjamin Molineux's grandfather was Darcy Molineux (1652-1716), served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1687, and Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire between 1698-1702. Darcy Molineux raised George Molineux's father, John (1685-1754), in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, before settling in Wolverhampton around 1700. The family Molineux came from Teversal near Mansfield in the county of Nottinghamshire.
George Africanus may have become interested in Nottingham after visiting on the way home from the funeral. A relative in his adopted family, Sir William Molineux, 6th Baronet of Teversall, died near Manfield in 1781. Members of the Wolverhampton Molineux family, including George Africanus, might have passed through Nottingham town center, a city of 18,000 people then, full of beautiful open-air gardens and pleasing surroundings.
George Africanus moved to St Peter's Parish, Nottingham at the age of 21 around 1784. 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.
George Africanus appears to have operated the Servants' Register Office at his home on Chandlers Lane with his wife Esther from 1793 until his death 1834. She remained in the house until her death in 1853. If the business was not bringing in sufficient income, George might have performed other jobs for support. Their 1788 marriage bond document states that George was a Brass Founder by trade. Trade Directories of the time list him as a waiter and laborer as well. They had seven children, but only one lived to become an adult .
After his wife Ester died on 12 May 1853, a notice appeared in the Nottingham Review stated: "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 Ester ran the Servants' Register Office on Chandler’s lane from at least 1793. George Africanus bought 28 Chandlers Lane and adjoining properties in Bluchers Yard for £380 on 24 October 1829.
While no descendants carry the Africanus family surname, his bloodline continued for some time. Daughter Hannah married Samuel Cropper (1802-1886/7), a watch and clock maker, at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, in 1825. They had three children, Sarah Ann Cropper (1825-1842), George Africanus Cropper (1838-1839) and Esther Africanus Cropper (1840-1911).
Granddaughter Esther married Charles Edward Turnbull at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, on September 28, 1865. They lived at 9 St. Paul's Crescent, St. Pancras, London. Esther died at age 69 in Kingston, Surrey. The 1881 census indicates that Esther had three children: Arthur (age-14), Fredrick (13), and Margaret Hannah (9).
According to the Last Will and Testament of George Africanus, he was unhappy with Hannah’s marriage to Samuel Cropper. Hannah and Samuel Cropper lived apart for years until after the death of George Africanus. The 1841 census shows that Hannah and Samuel Cropper were living with her 70-year-old mother, Esther, on Chandlers Lane. Esther was still working as proprietress of the register of servant’s office at the time.
That will also indicates that granddaughter, Sarah Ann Cropper, was 'afflicted' in some unstated way. Sarah died at the age of 17, so she may have had a serious illness.
George John Scipio Africanus died in 1834, and was buried in the churchyard St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. His wife was buried alongside after her death. Their children are buried in a separate grave nearby. A memorial plaque was erected on the churchyard railings in 2004.
In Memory of George Africanus
Who died May 19 1834?
Aged 70 years
Also Ester Africanus, wife of the above
Who died May 12 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