Cesar Chelor
Cesar Chelor was an African-American woodworker, toolmaker, plane-maker and a slave who belonged to the British Army general and colonial official Sir Francis Nicholson. Chelor is the earliest documented African-American plane maker in North America.

Cesar Chelor

BiographyListsAlso Viewed
The basics
Quick facts
Intro
Cesar Chelor was an African-American woodworker, toolmaker, plane-maker and a slave who belonged to the British Army general and colonial official Sir Francis Nicholson. Chelor is the earliest documented African-American plane maker in North America.
Gender:
Male
Places:
United Kingdom
Is:
ArtistVisual artist
Work field:
ArtsCreativity
Birth:
1720
Death:
1784
Biography menu
Menu

Jump to

Introduction Background Notes & references
The details
Biography

Introduction

Cesar Chelor (born in Wrentham, Massachusetts) was an African-American woodworker, toolmaker, plane-maker and was enslaved by the colonial entrepreneur and the earliestdocumented American plane maker Francis Nicholson (1683-1753). Chelor is the earliest documented African-American plane maker in North America.

Background

Chelor's exact birthdate is unknown, however, he is thought to have been born in 1720. He was owned by Nicholson as early as 1736. In 1741, Chelor was admitted as a member to the Congregational Church in Wrentham Center, when he was supposedly 21. Chelor would become a freeman when Nicholson died in 1753. Along with freedom, Nicholson willed Chelor a workshop, 10 acres of land, tools and materials to continue on independently. Chelor was married to Juda Russell in 1758, with whom he had shared eight children. In 1784, Chelor died without a will with an estate inventory valued at 77 pounds 2 shillings.

Notes & references