BLACK HISTORY IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

The earliest record discovered so far of a Black presence in the county is contained within the Pipe Rolls of 1205, which refers to "Peter the Saracen" a crossbow maker in Northampton. Increasing numbers of Black people can be found from the late sixteenth century onwards. Northamptonshire’s economy was intertwined with the slave trade. Many large families enhanced their wealth through the slave trade and emerging industrialists used the capital it generated to fund their enterprises. Many also brought Black people to the county as slaves/servants, such as Caesar Shaw at Althorp, Caesar Parisetti at Upton and Black Charles at Boughton, who were illustrated in family portraits. There are also numerous entries for Black people in parish records and on gravestones; and in documents, such as militia lists, newspapers, personal correspondence and depositions. Not all were tied as slaves/servants, some were free like James Chappel of Gretton and the visiting preacher Sampson Occom.

The standardisation of parish registers makes it harder to research the Black population in Northamptonshire during the nineteenth century, but there is still plenty of evidence of their existence. A school logbook in Pytchley (1869), for example, notes the presence of ‘A Black Boy from Africa’. There were also some notable visitors such as John Anderson the fugitive Slave, the Black actor Ira Aldridge, an Hawaiian Queen, several African kings, some Indian leaders and Susi & Chuma, the former servants of David Livingstone.

Over many generations, Black people have made an important contribution to British society. They have been doctors, nurses, preachers, actors, musicians, sportsmen and women, merchants, grocers, servants, soldiers and sailors. The list is endless and some lived in Northamptonshire. However, until recently, this contribution has largely been ignored and in some cases it still is. Perhaps the most notable omission in the twentieth century is the lack of recognition of the efforts of Black people in the First and Second World Wars, such as Walter Tull and the Salem family. Over one and a half million Indian soldiers, for example, fought in the First World War and two and a half million in the Second World War.

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The Northamptonshire Black History Project is seeking to record and promote the history of Black peoples in Northamptonshire. It includes interested individuals and researchers, representatives from community groups, educationalists, librarians and archivists. For further information Carolyn Abel on 01604 590 967 or email carolyn_abel@hotmail.com