Amos Fortune (c.1710-1801) was a prominent tanner, bookbinder, and philanthropist who bought his freedom in colonial New England as an African-American man. In 1781, Amos and his family relocated to Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where Amos established a prosperous tannery. Upon his death in 1801, he bequeathed $233 to the town of Jaffrey for educational programs, and $100 to the church to purchase “a handsome gift,” making him the town’s first benefactor. His contribution to the town for educational purposes established the Amos Fortune Fund, which to this day funds literary contests in local schools.

Join us on August 18 at the Jaffrey Meeting House (15 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey, NH) to honor this incredible man with an historic marker. The ceremony begins at 7:00 PM with music and speakers, then continues with the unveiling and a candlelight ceremony.

Attendees are encouraged to stay for the Amos Fortune Forum after the unveiling. Guest speaker Jennifer Gruda will talk about her path from the small town of Jaffrey, NH, through the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to her current position at the Supreme Court of the United States.

Schedule of Events

6:30 – 7:00 – Cello and Recorder Prelude Music -Charlene Ledoux (cello) and William Letendre (recorder)

7:00 – 7:05 – Song – Rev. Bob Thompson

7:05 – 7:08 – Welcome from Town of Jaffrey – Marc Tieger, Jaffrey Town Moderator

7:08-7:10 – Welcome from BHTNH – JerriAnne Boggis, Executive Director, Black Heritage Trail of NH

7:10-7:15 – History of Amos Fortune – Peter Lambert, Vice president of the Jaffrey Historical Society

7:15 – 7:20 – Reflections on Marker by Rev Steve Miller and Rev Mark Koyama – read by Rev. Kathleen Card

7:20 – 7:25 – Unveiling – Dr. Owen Houghton, Past President of the Jaffrey Historical Society and Chair of the Amos BHTM project

7:25 – 7:35 – Candle lighting

7:35 – 7:40 – Song – Rev. Bob Thompson

Support for this marker comes from an ACLS Sustaining Public Engagement Grants, made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)’s Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP).

Special Thanks To:

The Jaffrey Historical Society, Charles Turcotte, President and Peter Lambert, Vice President, Owen Houghton, Past President.  Rob Stephenson, The Jaffrey Public Library, Julie Perrin, Librarian and John Stone, Chair of the Board of Trustees;financial agent via Jaffrey Amos Fortune Trust Funds, The Town of Jaffrey, Selectmen Frank Sterling, Kevin Chamberlain and Charles Turcotte, Jon Frederick, Town Manager. Peterborough Marble and Monument LLC, John Kaufold, Donation of Rock from Amos Fortune Farm – Doug Cutter, BHTNH marker committee – Jody Fernald, Erin Moulton, Stephanie Seacord, Courtney Marshall, Eric Aldrich, and Barbara Ward, our team of volunteers, and our organizers Dan Comly, Gina Bowker, and Terry Robinson.