Dan Newport

first name
Dan
last name
Newport
gender
male
birth, death year
circa 1740 , --
first, last year in records
--, --
confidence level
confirmed identity
freed status (year freed)
unknown
enslaver(s)
Belding, Reuben;
location(s)
Hatfield, MA  
place of origin
Hatfield, MA

Bio

Similar to his father Amos Newport, Sr., in 1767 Dan sued his enslaver Reuben Belding of Hatfield, Massachusetts, for his freedom. However, Dan failed to appear in court after his first session and the case was dismissed with Dan paying Belding £1 for court fees. He was eventually freed and moved to Warren, Massachusetts, in 1777, the same year that he enlisted in the Continental Army. He served until 1782.

Sources Consulted

"'His Own Proper Negro Slave': Amos Newport & his Descendants in Hatfield, Williamsburg & Amherst", Eric W. Weber, 2014