Uncovering the Life of Quash, a Black Man in Eighteenth-Century Topsham

Please join Pejepscot History Center for our next virtual event!

Uncovering the Life of Quash, a Black Man in Eighteenth-Century Topsham

Thursday, June 10th at Noon via Zoom

In the spring of 2020, while working on a genealogy project in the the history of a local white family, independent researcher, James Tanzer came across a digital copy of the will of a formerly enslaved Black man named Quash, who lived in Topsham during the eighteenth century.

Eager to learn more about Quash, but unable to find any mention of him in local history books, James decided to research Quash’s life himself. Thus began a months-long project in local history and online archives during a global pandemic to uncover the life of Quash, and bring his memory to the fore once again in the communities in which he lived.

By searching for evidence in Quash’s surroundings, including town records and social connections, not only was James able to find direct evidence of Quash’s life, but build a vibrant picture of a well-connected, motivated, and successful individual, whose story adds weight to arguments that Black history is there to be found, if only we know where to look.

Tickets: PHC Members: $5 (and we cover online ticket processing fee!); Non-Members: $10. Zoom link provided upon registration. For more information including ticket link, visit: pejepscothistorical.org/events/talks-presentations