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[p. 123] exceed thirty, the town records giving, indirectly, the names of twenty.1 Not that our ancestors believed it wrong; the names of Rev. Mr. Turrell and Deacon Benj. Willis would refute that. But economically it was unprofitable, and its ultimate extinction was doubtless the expectation of all who gave the subject any thought.

I have referred to Deacon Benj. Willis as a slaveholder. The following extract from his will may show the attitude of many masters towards those whom they held in service:

I Benj. Willis . . . for and in consideration of good will which I do bear toward my Negro Woman Cloe of said Medford . . . have given and Granted . . . unto the said Cloe Imediately after my Decease Sundry of my household goods, Namely, as followeth— Viz. my Heifer comeing two years Old. . . . also the Bedstead which she lays on and the little Bed which she says she Bought: also some Pewter (Viz.) two Pewter dishes & four Pewter Plates, one pint and one half pint Pewter Porringer, my smallest Iron Pottage Pot, two Iron Skillets, one pair of Andirons my Tin Still, the Spining wheel and—four chairs. [some chamber furniture] also I do give the said Cloe her Time and Set her Free Immediately after my Decease.

Benj. Willis October 5, 1767.

And the administrator of the estate of Benj. Willis credits himself:

by pasturing the deceased's negro woman's heifer, £ 4, 10s. by sundry clothes for negro man Prince, £35.

1 Partial list of slaveholders: Capt. Caleb Brooks, Ebenezer Brooks, Samuel Brooks, Capt. Thomas Brooks,—Bishop,—Brown, Mary Bradshaw, Andrew Hall, Jonathan Hall, Jr., Stephen Hall, Benj. Hall, Hugh Floyd, Jacob Polly, Zachariah Pool, Isaac Royall, Dr. Simon Tufts, Rev. Mr. Turrell, Stephen Willis, Deacon Benj. Willis, Francis Whitmore.

Medford, MA. 1899.

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October 5th, 1767 AD (1)
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