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]
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]
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]
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]