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Suing Their Enslavers:
18th century Freedom-Seekers in Andover
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A talk by Andover independent historian Chris Boehmer
Sunday, November 24, 2024

Not all Native Americans in Massachusetts were invited to celebrate the harvest with English colonists. Some were enslaved by the colonists. In Andover in the 17th and 18th centuries, wealthy white families commonly enslaved one or more Africans or Native Americans.
In this first of a series of talks, historian Chris Boehmer shared the inspiring stories of siblings Peter Almonach Bridges and Kate Phelps, born in Andover to an enslaved African and Native American couple. In the 1760s Peter and Kate took their enslaver, Moody Bridges, to court and won their freedom.

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Show your support for the Car Show and the History Center
Order your 2024 New England Summer Classic Car Show t-shirt, sweatshirt, or hoodie today!

A limited number of t-shirts, in a single color, will be available for purchase at the car show as supplies last. You can order your t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie before or after the show.

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Freedom and Unfreedom in Essex County

Phillis Wheatley Peters: Poetry, Slavery and The American Revolution
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A talk by Jeanne Pickering,
independent scholar of 18th century New England
Sunday, April 27, 2025 ~ 1:00-2:30pm
​The History Center at 97 Main Street

Phillis Wheatley was a celebrated yet enslaved Revolutionary era poet and the first African-American woman published in America. Her poetry highlighted the causes of equality and freedom and was widely read in America and England by Patriot leaders such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In 1778, she married and little had been known about her life afterwards. New scholarship has revealed that the Peters family moved to Middleton with unexpected consequences. Jeanne Pickering explains the meaning of Wheatley-Peters’ poetry within the social and political aspects of her time and the extraordinary events that followed her move to Middleton.  
Jeanne Pickering is an independent scholar of eighteenth century New England slavery. She holds a MA in  History from Salem State University and is the Vice-President of the Topsfield Historical Society.

Second lecture in the series, Freedom and Unfreedom in Essex County

The lecture is an in-person presentation. However, all registrants will receive an email the day before the event with a ZOOM option for participation. With this type of ZOOM presentation you will be able to ask questions or make comments in the chat room only. Your questions will be answered live on the ZOOM video after the lecturer has finished the presentation. 

Past programs in this series
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If you're interested in learning more about this topic and series, check out series organizer Chris Boehmer's blog, ANTIslavery in Essex County.

Freedom and Unfreedom in Essex County 
is a collaboration with Christiana Boehmer of the ANTIslavery in Essex County blog.

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Andover Center for History & Culture
97 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
978-475-2236

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The History Center is funded by individual, foundation, and corporate donations and receives no Town of Andover funding.

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