Joseph Billings was an original proprietor of Hatfield, Massachusetts. He purchased Amos Newport in 1729, and in 1766, Newport unsuccessfully sued Billings for his freedom. Newport had charged that on Dec. 1, 1765, Billings made "an assault upon him...and...falsely imprisoned and restrained [him] of his lawfull liberty..."
"Caesar Mr. Billing Negro" appears in 1757 entries in Elijah Wiliams' day book, as does "Caesar Billings". Williams had a store in nearby Deerfield.
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