Mesheck

Bio

Mesheck and Mishap both appear in the genealogy section of the History of the Town of Northfield, Massachusetts as being "African slaves." It is noted that Mishap was enslaved by Capt. Samuel Hunt and Mesheck was enslaved by farmer and deacon Paul Field. However, "Mishap" is a mistaken transcription of "Mesheck", so these two names refer to the same person. It is possible that he was first enslaved by Capt. Hunt, who died in 1770, and then Field acquired him soon after. Paul Field died of smallpox in 1778. In the reminiscence below "Esq. Seth Field" is mentioned. He was Paul's brother and the enslaver of Ishmael. Seth might have been Mesheck's next enslaver.

As a boy Mesheck worked in Hunt's store or tavern through at least 1763, and might have still been there in 1785. He was known to be a good hunter. From "Slavery in Massachusetts" by Phineas Field, in History & Proceedings PVMA Assn.", V. 1, p.483:

On one occasion he caught a wolf, and thought him to be "somebody's nice hunting dog." He patted him, called him "poor dog," and liberated him from the trap. When he saw the way he trotted off, he first found out his mistake...

Meshach was the owner of a fiddle, which was often brought into requisition at the "Kitchen digs" of the young folks. On one occasion, at the house of Esq. Seth Field [Paul Field's brother], his services were secured, while the Squire was gone to Boston. But, unexpectedly to all, he returned while the dance was in progress; and, being a mortal enemy of the fiddle, and having a bundle of whalebone in his hands as he entered the room, he made the old fiddle play its death dirge. Then followed a scene of wailing! "Nice fiddle; best fiddle ever see; druther lost the brightes' silver dollar ever see!"

Sources Consulted

 "Slavery in Massachusetts", Phineas Field, in History & Proceedings PVMA Assn.", V. 1, 1879, p.483

History of the Town of Northfield, Massachusetts, J.H. Temple & George Sheldon, 1875, pp. 497, 499