Laurel Hill Cemetery (3C) - will of Amos Potamia

(In order to learn more about Amos Potamia, we will now look at his will. You may access the will via our website, at the bottom of the "Documents" page, or the transcript listed below)

Take some time to read or skim Amos Potamia’s will. As you read, what do the details reveal? What questions does this document raise? 

As we can see, Potamia orders his executor, Caleb Wakefield, of Reading “ to pay all my just debts, funeral charges, and charges of administration.” He then bequeathed five hundred and fifty dollars to various charitable societies including the Massachusetts Sabbath Social Society, the American-Sunday School Union Society, and the Massachusetts abolition society . His last will and testament  bequeaths his money to various Christian and moral societies, revealing the  compassion and humanity of a man once enslaved. 

The life of Amos Potamia proves that some of the enslaved people of Middlesex County could experience a stable and respectable life as freemen. He owned a house, and had money to invest and later distribute upon his death.

Considering the fact that Amos was born quite late in Massachusetts’ slavery period, 1770,  it is likely that he had more time than other freedmen to earn wages and thus was able to sustain a more prosperous life. 

The only reminders in plain sight of Reading’s enslaved  lay at your feet, their memories etched in stone. Now is the time to bring to light their stories, sacrifices, and contributions to the foundation of the town.

As you proceed with the tour, I encourage you to contemplate the following questions: why do you think Sharper Freeman and Amos Potamia have gravestones while others do not, and how can we remember those without marked graves?

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Amos Potamia Last Will and Testament, 1848

Be it remembered, that I Amos Potamia of Reading in the County of Middlesex Commonwealth of Massachusetts Cordwainer on this second day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred forty-eight, do make and publish this my last will and testament in in manner following vis. In the first place I order my hereafter named to pay all my just debts, funeral charges, and charges of administration.

I give and bequeath into the American Home Missionary Society two hundred dollars. 

I give and bequeath unto the Massachusetts Abolition Society two hundred dollars. 

I give and bequeath into the Seaman’s Friend Society fifty dollars. 

I give and bequeath into the Massachusetts Sabbath Social Society for the Formation of Sabbath Schools in the West fifty dollars 

I give and bequeath into the American Sunday -School Union Society fifty dollars. 

My Executor is directed to see all my real and  personal estate at public and private sale as my executor may deem for the best intent of the estate, and all my notes and book accounts settled and collected which may remain due and unpaid at my (demise or decease), and after my executor has collected all the debt due to the estate unpaid all my just debts and against and settled his account of administration the surplus of my estate remaining and not otherwise disposed of shall be equally divided between the five above mentioned societies in equal proportion as soon as may be by my executor. 

Lastly I do appoint Caleb Wakefield of Reading in the County of Middlesex Esquire to be my sole Executor of this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my land and ____ the day and year above written.

Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Amos Potamia declaring this to his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request were called as witnesses to the terms and in his presence hereinto 

Subscribed our names

Jonathan Frost 

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John ________