Long-Lost Home of 'King Pompey' May Have Been Found in New England

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of what they believe was the 18th century home of "King Pompey"—an enslaved African who later won his freedom—in New England.

Researchers identified the likely location of the homestead on the banks of the Saugus River in Massachusetts, where the man, named Pompey Mansfield, lived with his wife Phylis (or possibly named Phebe) more than 260 years ago.

Historical sources indicate that Mansfield was a prominent figure in the Black community who bought land and built a stone house in what is now Saugus, Massachusetts, becoming one of the first Black property owners in colonial New England. At his home, Mansfield hosted free and enslaved Blacks from the region during an annual event known as "Black Election Day."

"King Pompey was an esteemed leader in the Black community but his home and property have always been a mystery," Kabria Baumgartner, Dean's Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at Northeastern University, who was involved in the investigations, said in a press release.

"The history of enslaved and free Africans in colonial New England is not well-known in part because few archival records exist, and those that do are often written by or from the perspective of enslavers," Baumgartner told Newsweek. "Archaeological work adds incredible depth and dimension not only to Pompey's story but to the Black experience in colonial New England as a whole."

To find the location of the home, a team of archaeologists from Northeastern and the University of New Hampshire spent months examining public documents, deeds and genealogical records. They also compared historical maps with contemporary topographic maps, cross-referencing them with probate records and historical newspapers to identify specific landmarks and narrow the search area.

At one promising location on the banks of the river, the team began excavating and unearthed foundations that matched the documentation they had reviewed.

"The big find was the handmade pebble foundation without quarry rock," Meghan Howey, Professor of Anthropology and Director of the University of New Hampshire's Center for the Humanities, said in the press release. "That showed determination and ingenuity. And then the compelling match of the historical descriptions, the bend in the river, marshy meadow, oak trees.

"We are thrilled. I'm extremely confident this is a foundation from the 1700s and everything that points to this being the home of King Pompey is very compelling."

Colonial-era home foundations in New England were routinely built with large stones which were variously purchased and/or shared between neighbors.

"So, when we excavated this foundation built from river pebbles brought up by hand from the river bank, we are seeing evidence of someone living here who didn't have access to the same resources as their neighbors. It tells us it was built by someone who was self-reliant, who found an industrious solution to building a foundation, and it tells us it was built by someone deeply committed to having their own home," Howey told Newsweek.

"King Pompey didn't write his own history—he was never allowed to do that—but he did build his own house, and if this foundation was built by him, as is so compelling, then the archaeology is giving us firsthand insight into his actions, to his own efforts, to the story he himself inscribed in this land."

Much of what is known about King Pompey comes from a mix of archival records and secondary sources, specifically town histories written in the 19th century. These reveal some key facts about his life.

The team's research shows that Pompey was likely born in early 18th-century West Africa. He was probably kidnapped and trafficked across the Atlantic in a brutal journey that some scholars call the Middle Passage. He was then enslaved but he was later freed—although when and by whom is unclear. On March 5, 1762, he paid £10 for two acres of land where he built his stone house. It is not clear when Pompey died, but the researchers believe he passed away in the late 1780s or 1790s.

The title of king was bestowed on Mansfield at an annual event known as Black Election Day that he hosted at his property, beginning in the 1760s.

"He (and perhaps his wife) welcomed hundreds of enslaved and free Africans in the area to enjoy the festivities," Baumgartner told Newsweek.

At the event, attendees voted for and crowned a king who would then be expected to deal with important matters in the local Black community. The event, held on the same day that white men voted for their leaders, involved dancing and singing based on West African traditions. Similar events took place in other locations across New England and the rest of the country.

"It is our understanding that Pompey was elected king of his community nearly every year until his death," Baumgartner told Newsweek. "These events were important to Black communities in New England because it brought them together, allowed them to share and impart cultural traditions, and—possibly—organize for their own freedom and autonomy."

"He is said to have had royal African ancestry, which may have distinguished him in early Black communities in eastern Massachusetts and prompted his election as king year after year."

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about archaeology? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

Update 07/08/24, 1:58 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional comment from Kabria Baumgartner and Meghan Howey.