The Browns of Marblehead
Pension Application, 1832
Joseph Brown was an extremely influential figure in his community as he and his wife, Lucretia Brown, owned a successful business
Lucretia Brown Mortuary Notice, 1857
Lucretia Brown’s mortuary notice, published in the Salem Register in 1857
Lucy Foster
Andover US Census, 1840
Andover US Census record in which Lucy Foster, an enslaved person who was granted freedom, is listed in
Hannah Chandler's Will
Hannah Chandler’s will granting Lucy Foster her freedom
Items Found at Lucy Foster's Homesite Excavation
Ruffin/Ruffen Family
Philip Ruffin Freedom Papers, 1833
The papers documenting Philip Ruffin’s freedom
Lynn Item Article Ruffin Family, 1992
An article in Lynn Item describing the Ruffin family history in Lynn, Massachusetts
Advertisement for Ruffen Business
An advertisement for the Ruffen hair business in Lynn, date unknown, found in Lynn Museum archival collection
Portrait of the Ruffin/Ruffen Family,
Cato Freeman
Articles Describing Cato Freeman
Articles describing Cato Freeman’s life published in the Andover Advertiser after his death
Projects
Pathways In Freedom – Salem Maritime National Historic Site: A virtual interactive exploration of the history of Black history in Salem, MA following emancipation in Massachusetts
Untold Stories: Community Changemakers – Lynn Museum: Exhibit highlighting the legacy of Black people in Lynn from the colonial period to the present day
References
“Advertisement for Ruffen Business in Lynn.” Date Unknown. Lynn Museum Archives.
“Andover US Census.” 1840.
“Articles Describing Cato Freeman.” Andover Advertiser, August 27, 1853 & September 3, 1853.
Freeman, Cato. “Letter Written by Cato Freeman.” 1789. North Andover Historical Society.
“Hannah Chandler’s Will.” Date Unknown. In US Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991.
“Items Found at Lucy Foster’s Homesite Excavation.” Phillips Academy Archives.
“Joseph Brown Pension Application.” 1832.
“Lucretia Brown Mortuary Notice.” Salem Register, 1857.
“Permit to Cato Freeman for Cow Grazing, Andover.” May 31, 1802.
“Phillip Ruffin Freedom Papers.” 1833. Lynn Museum Archives.
“Philip Ruffen Deed to Property in Lynn, MA.” 1853. Lynn Museum Archives.
“Ruffen Family Portrait.” Date Unknown. Lynn Museum Archives.
“Lynn Item Article Ruffin Family.” 1992.
The references for these sources contain as much information as was available to Essex Heritage at the time. Many of the sources used on this site are from a previous initiative, Teaching Hidden Histories. If you have any questions concerning a particular citation, feel free to contact us at info@essexheritage.org and we will do our best to assist you.
Additional Resources
Andover History and Culture, Hinton Family Objects. Accessed December 20, 2023. https://andoverhistoryandculture.pastperfectonline.com/Search?search_criteria=Hinton&onlyimages=false.
Andover, Lest We Forget. “Allen Hinton – Faces of Andover.” Accessed December 20, 2023. https://www.andoverlestweforget.com/faces-of-andover/gleason-holt/allen-hinton/.
Maddie O’Leary. “Hinton Family.” YouTube. December 10, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alYUqG4_4bo.
Marblehead Museum. “Joseph and Lucretia Brown.” Accessed December 20. https://marbleheadmuseum.org/joseph-lucretia-brown/.
Marblehead Museum. “Lucretia and Joseph Brown: The Real Story.” YouTube. April 28, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf0Le_Iz4Go.
National Park Service. “African American Heritage Sites: Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Salem, Massachusetts.” National Park Service. 2003. http://npshistory.com/brochures/sama/african-american-heritage-sites-2003.pdf.
