Cesar Chelor

Cesar Chelor (born in Wrentham, Massachusetts)^[1][2] was an African-American woodworker, toolmaker, plane-maker and was enslaved by the colonial entrepreneur and the earliest documented American plane maker^[3] Francis Nicholson (1683-1753).^[4][5][6][7] Chelor is the earliest documented African-American plane maker in North America.^[8][9][10]

Background

Chelor's exact birthdate is unknown; however, he is thought to have been born in 1720.^[11][8] He was owned by Nicholson as early as 1736. In 1741, Chelor was admitted to the Congregational Church in Wrentham Center when he was supposedly 21. Chelor would become a freeman when Nicholson died in 1753.^[12][13] Along with freedom, Nicholson willed Chelor a workshop, 10 acres of land, tools and materials to continue independently. Chelor was married to Juda Russell in 1758, with whom he had shared eight^[a] children. In 1784, Chelor died without a will with an estate inventory valued at 77 pounds 2 shillings.^{[15][16][11][1]}

Notes & references

Notes

1. According to some sources, he had nine children, six of whom he buried himself before he died in 1784.^[14]

References

1. "17 May 1989, Page 36 - The Orlando Sentinel". The Orlando Sentinel. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
2. "25 May 1989 entry". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. 1989-05-25. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
3. "Chelor". antiquetools.com. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
4. "26 Dec 1993, 37 - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. 1993-12-26. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
5. "18 Oct 1978, p. 22 - The Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
6. "16 Jul 1982, p. 27 - Bennington Banner". Bennington Banner. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
7. "18 Jan 1997, 24 - The World at Newspapers.com". The World. Coos Bay, Oregon. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
8. "Cesar Chelor- Earliest documented African-American plane maker of North America". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. 2001-02-04. p. 17. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
9. "Acquisitions at Williamsburg Highlight African American Experiences". Enfilade. 2017-02-04. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
10. "Tools of the Trade". Suiter Swantz IP. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
11. "4 Feb 2001, 17". Lexington Herald-Leader. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
12. "30 Sep 1985, 28 - The Post-Star". The Post-Star. from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
13. "15 May 1989, p. 8 - The Newark Advocate". The Newark Advocate. from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
14. "26 Dec 1993, 37 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
15. "The Planes of Cesar Chelor". 2006-07-08. from the original on 2006-07-08. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
16. "26 Dec 1993, 37 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.