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Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite
Once Known: A History of Slavery in Westford, Massachusetts, is written by Leslie Gwen Howard. The author visited the Westford Museum, Westford Women Doll Collection in 2013, and found one doll dressed in colonial clothing but with a dark fabric for skin, representing Peggy, a slave owned by Joseph Hildreth Jr. This piqued her interest to find out what happened to Peggy, her life, and if others were also held as slaves in Westford and the surrounding area. The author introduces readers to the history of slavery and the rules that governed the purchasing and owning of slaves. The rules were quite strict; some were observed, but others were quietly overlooked at the owner's whim. This is a very interesting book, bringing history to light and providing references to back up the facts.
It was most interesting to read how towns handled slaves and even free people who could not support themselves. Slaves could be emancipated, but they had to have $50 to actually be free, which in the years 1720–1780, when Massachusetts abolished slavery, was a pipe dream. The enslaved that the author was most interested in were Peggy Hildreth, Dinah Robbins, Jenny Prescott, Phyllis Dutton, George Chandler, Prince Read, Dinah Hall, Phillis Lawrence, Cesar Fletcher, and Dinah Parker. The author explains and puts to rest some of the myths about slaves. All slaves had to be baptized, and in being baptized, they were given the surname of their master, which became their surname until they either married or died. I found this book very interesting, especially to discover how slaves got their surnames. Once Known by Leslie Gwen Howard is an insightful book on slavery.
