Amos Fortune (c. 1710 – November 1801) was an African-American citizen of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, in the 18th century.
[1] He purchased his freedom at the age of 60 and moved to Jaffrey to start a leather tannery business.
Documents now archived at the Jaffrey Public Library testify to his literacy, community position, and financial success.
[2] On November 9, 1779, Fortune purchased the freedom of a woman named Violet (also spelled Violate, including on her tombstone) from James Baldwin.
[6] Fortune instructed his executor, Eleazer, to have "hand stones" erected to his wife and himself and to make a "handsome present" to the church.
The Jaffrey Public Library now administers the Fund, using the income to develop and distribute educational materials on Amos Fortune.
Their epitaphs were written by the Reverend Laban Ainsworth: Sacred to the memory of Amos Fortune, who was born free in Africa, a slave in America, he purchased Liberty, professed Christianity, lived reputably, and died hopefully,
91Sacred to the memory of Violate, by sale the slave of Amos Fortune, by marriage his wife, by her fidelity, his friend and solace, she died his widow
73Elizabeth Yates wrote a Newbery Medal-winning biographical novel entitled Amos Fortune, Free Man, in 1950.