The long-lost 18th-century home of King Pompey, who was a prominent African, may have been discovered by archaeologists in New England.
The homestead was likely found along the Saugus River banks in Massachusetts.
King Pompey's Long-Lost Home
The area where the likely homestead was found is also where King Pompey, or Pompey Mansfield, lived with his wife over 260 years ago.
According to historical records, Pompey was prominent in the Black community. In his home, he hosted enslaved and free Blacks in the area during Black Election Day.
To find the prominent African's home location, archaeologists from Northeastern as well as the University of New Hampshire examined public documents, genealogical records, and deeds for months.
They also made comparisons between contemporary topographic maps and historical maps, further checking them using historical newspapers and probate records. They did so in order to note certain landmarks to narrow down the area of search.
The researchers then discovered that Pompey bought the equivalent of 2 acres, or 0.8 hectares, of land by the Saugus River back in 1762. They were able to further down the area of his house with the help of certain landmarks.
They were then able to hit a foundation of hand-chiseled river rocks roughly 1.2 meters below the ground. This aligned with historical record descriptions.
Archaeologist Meghan Howey from the University of New Hampshire noted that the major discovery was the pebble foundation that was handmade. Howey expressed confidence that it was a discovery from the 1700s and that it all points to the possibility of it being King Pompey's long lost home.
Who Was King Pompey?
Across the region of New England, some individuals who got traffic during the early 1700s in the Atlantic Ocean had a heritage of royal Africans. They were brought to the region and forced to do labor on farms and ports.
In at least four colonies, enslaved Africans kept one of their practices, which was to select a "king" or governor.
Pompey was bestowed with the "King" title during an annual occasion called "Black Election Day," or "Negro Election Day."
During this event, attendees decided on a "king" who would have to handle crucial matters for the local Black community. The festival would go on for a week and include singing, dancing, music, and games.
The event also coincided with Election Day among male property owners who were white.
Event participants also wore fashionable clothing, which was often done to mimic the dress of white people.
As for King Pompey, he could have been born as a prince back in West Africa and may have gone to Massachusetts during the early 1700s in bondage.
Based on historical accounts, Pompey was a leader of the community who hosted the Black Election Day occasions at his own property, which he purchased after he was freed.
Though the exact time frame of King Pompey's election remains a mystery, historical records show that he served the position more than one time during the 1750s.
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