Archaeologists have discovered the remains of what they believe was the 18th century home of "King Pompey"—an enslaved African who later won his freedom—in New England
Researchers identified the likely location of the homestead on the banks of the Saugus River in Massachusetts, where the man, named Pompey Mansfield, lived with his wife Phylis (or possibly named Phebe) more than 260 years ago.
Historical sources indicate that Mansfield was a prominent figure in the Black community who bought land and built a stone house in Lynn, Massachusetts, becoming one of the first Black property owners in colonial New England. At his home, Mansfield hosted free and enslaved Blacks from the region during an event known as "Black Election Day."
"King Pompey was an esteemed leader in the Black community but his home and property have always been a mystery," Kabria Baumgartner, Dean's Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at Northeastern University, who was involved in the investigations, said in a press release.
"I spend a lot of time in archives looking at written materials so to be on site and see this revealed has been exciting," she said.
To find the location of the home, a team of archaeologists from Northeastern and the University of New Hampshire spent months examining public documents, deeds and genealogical records. They also compared historical maps with contemporary topographic maps, cross-referencing them with probate records and historical newspapers to identify specific landmarks and narrow down the search area.
At one promising location on the banks of the river, the team began excavating and unearthed foundations that matched the documentation they had reviewed.
"The big find was the handmade pebble foundation without quarry rock," Meghan Howey, Professor of Anthropology and Director of the University of New Hampshire's Center for the Humanities, said in the press release. "That showed determination and ingenuity. And then the compelling match of the historical descriptions, the bend in the river, marshy meadow, oak trees.
"We are thrilled. I'm extremely confident this is a foundation from the 1700s and everything that points to this being the home of King Pompey is very compelling."
The title of "King" was bestowed on Mansfield at an annual event known as "Black Election Day."
At the event, attendees voted for and crowned a "king" who would then be expected to deal with important matters in the local Black community. The event, held on the same day that white men voted for their leaders, involved dancing and singing based on West African traditions. Similar events took place in other locations across New England and the rest of the country.
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