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Cesar Chelor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

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Chelor's exact birthdate is unknown; however, he is thought to have been born in about 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

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Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "17 May 1989, Page 36 - The Orlando Sentinel". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived 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. Archived 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. Archived from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  5. ^ "18 Oct 1978, p. 22 - The Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  6. ^ "16 Jul 1982, p. 27 - Bennington Banner". Bennington Banner. Archived 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. Archived from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  8. ^ a b "Cesar Chelor- Earliest documented African-American plane maker of North America". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. 2001-02-04. p. 17. Archived 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. ^ a b "4 Feb 2001, 17". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  12. ^ "30 Sep 1985, 28 - The Post-Star". The Post-Star. Archived from the original on 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  13. ^ "15 May 1989, p. 8 - The Newark Advocate". The Newark Advocate. Archived 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. Archived 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.