Primary Sources

Note: Media literacy and building context for these sources are all important to consider as we think about using them with students. Please see resources page for source analysis models and frameworks.

These lists are not exhaustive and many opportunities for future research and discovery exist. Essex Heritage thanks North Andover High School History Coordinator Brian Sheehy for compiling these sources as well as the contributing organizations/archives.

General Context of the Institution of Slavery Essex County

Religion as Context for Black Exclusion

Black Abolitionists

Resistance During Slavery

Cato Freeman- Andover

Emancipation / Court Records 

Slavery and Atlantic Trading Networks linked to Essex County

Post-Slavery / Gradual Emancipation: Lack of options, examples, and resistance

Black Entrepreneurship - Brown Tavern Marblehead

Property Ownership - Lucy Foster’s Homesite

Primary Sources to Assist in Research

Town Histories

Primary Source Groupings Document