Amos Fortune, The Man and His Legacy - eduScapes
Amos Fortune, The Man and His Legacy - eduScapes
Amos Fortune, The Man and His Legacy - eduScapes
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<strong>The</strong> Story of <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong><br />
Introduction<br />
2<br />
erhaps no resident of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, past or present, has ever captured the<br />
Phearts <strong>and</strong> minds of as many people as <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong>. Brought as a slave from<br />
Africa, he purchased his own liberty <strong>and</strong> that of his wives, was a successful tanner<br />
<strong>and</strong> became one of 18 th century Jaffrey's most prominent citizens. <strong>His</strong> story has been<br />
related in several books, such as F. Alex<strong>and</strong>er Magoun's fictional biography, <strong>Amos</strong><br />
<strong>Fortune</strong>'s Choice, <strong>and</strong> Elizabeth Yates' Newbery award-winning children's tale, <strong>Amos</strong><br />
<strong>Fortune</strong>, Free <strong>Man</strong>. Yates' work, first published in 1950, has never gone out of print. It has<br />
been translated into several languages <strong>and</strong> is read <strong>and</strong> taught in countless schools throughout<br />
the nation <strong>and</strong> around the world. <strong>The</strong> story of <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong>, a man who died 200<br />
years ago, continues to inspire millions.<br />
But what do we really know about <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong>? Official records from the 18th century<br />
are few, information<br />
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is sometimes sketchy, <strong>and</strong><br />
conflicting accounts add<br />
to the confusion. Who<br />
owned <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong>?<br />
When was he made a free<br />
man? How many wives<br />
did he have? Whatever<br />
happened to his "daughter,"<br />
Celyndia?<br />
Even after exhaustive<br />
research, authors of the<br />
books on <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong><br />
were left to fill in the gaps<br />
using their imaginations.<br />
Although the material<br />
made for great stories <strong>and</strong><br />
the books have helped<br />
spread <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong>'s<br />
fame, they have also led<br />
An 18th century map of West Africa. <strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> most likely came from the<br />
to misinformation <strong>and</strong><br />
region along the Atlantic coast known as "Guinea."<br />
myths.<br />
---"]<br />
<strong>Amos</strong> <strong>Fortune</strong> born<br />
in Africa<br />
George I crowned king<br />
of Engl<strong>and</strong><br />
Smallpox epidemic<br />
in Boston<br />
George II crowned<br />
king of Engl<strong>and</strong><br />
1713 17 4 17IS 1716 1717 1718 1719 1720 1721 1722 1723 1724 172S 1726 I 27 1728 1729 1730
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