WIREFRAME ONLY - NOT YET DESIGNED
unknown - c.2024
The first reference to an enslaved man named Pompey living in Deerfield, Massachusetts, was an entry in the church records on June 15, 1735: “pompey Servant to Justice Jonathan Wells,” in company with two men enslaved to Justice Thomas Wells, and Ebenezer Wells’ enslaved people, Cesar, and Lucy, “assented to the Articles of y e xtian faith, entered into covenant and were baptized.” On August 29, 1736, in the church records under “Names of Persons Taken Into y e Church” is listed “Pompey Negro and Rebecca his wife.” (PVMA collections) Jonathan Wells (1659-1739) probably inherited Pompey from his wife, Sarah Strong Barnard. She had first been married to Joseph Barnard (1641-1695), and likely brought Pompey into the Wells household. [i]
After Sarah died in 1733, it seems that Pompey became the property of Joseph’s brother Samuel Barnard (1721-1788), as he lived with him until November of 1740, when Pompey began living with Joseph’s nephew, Joseph Barnard (1717-1785), a newlywed of less than two months. It is not known if Rebecca was still living at this time, as no surviving mention is made of her after the 1736 church entry.
Like other enslaved residents in Deerfield, Pompey had a running account at Elijah Williams store. In 1738, he purchased a handkerchief from Barnard, and between 1742-1744, he purchased pipes, a candlestick, and some cloth. [ii]
Members of the Barnard family shared Pompey's labor and made money by loaning him out to others in town. In the winter of 1740-1741, Joseph Barnard had Pompey deliver wood to Asa Childs and Jonathan Ashley, Sr., and had him do some work for Ashley, a Capt. Wells, and the widow Mary Hinsdale. Pompey also threshed oats for Joseph’s uncle Samuel. It is possible that uncle and nephew might have shared Pompey, as an entry in Joseph’s account book for December 13, 1740, reads that Pompey “worked for Capt. Wells on Samuel’s account.” [iii]
Samuel Barnard’s brother Joseph carefully recorded “An Accompt of Pompes Work" revealing that Pompey worked outside almost every day in the winter of 1740/41. That winter was partularly severe in a period known for harsh winters. New England had 27 snowstorms. On November 4, when Pompey began living with Joseph Barnard, temperatures plummeted, and a foot of snow fell between November 13 and 15. A thaw and 3 weeks-worth of rain came next, but by mid- December, rivers and even harbors froze. In early February storms left three to 10 feet of snow on the ground. On December 15, Barnard fretted that he could “git no work” for Pompey that day but was able to make sure he worked every other day that month, mainly sledding wood for Barnard and Asa Childs.[v]
Barnard’s apparent goal of maximizing Pompey’s labor each day failed when Pompey got severe frostbite while traveling to the Wapping section of Deerfield. Joseph Barnard noted in his account book on January 6, 1741, that Pompey’s feet had frozen and on January 7th, he had “to look after his frozen feet.” Pompey’s injuries apparently prevented him from continuing to sled wood, but he worked through the remaining days of February and all of March threshing corn, rye, and oats, and “tend[ing] ye cattle”. [v]
[i] Church records, First Church of Deerfield, PVMA Library
[ii] Daybook of Joseph Barnard, May 1737- August, 1785, Barnard Family Papers, PVMA Library; Elijah Williams Day Book 1742-1746, PVMA Library
[iii] Daybook of Joseph Barnard
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Ibid