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You are here: Home>Our History>Diverse Watford>Servants at Cassiobury

Servants at Cassiobury

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, there was a great expansion in Britain's black population. Many wealthy plantation owners were returning to London with their fortunes and personal slaves.

The Earls of Essex, who lived at Cassiobury in Watford, had no known links to the plantations or slave trade, but employed black servants who were likely to have been recruited in London. Having a black servant was almost like having a fashion accessory - they were flaunted as evidence of wealth.

The lives of these servants are recorded in paintings, gravestones and parish records.

  • At the edge of the canvas

    At the edge of the canvas

    Artists routinely positioned black people at the edge of the canvas. This painting of Cassiobury Park is an example.
  • Turner's different view

    Turner's different view

    A painting by Turner shows a black servant who is well-dressed and evidently enjoys high status among his workmates.
  • George Edward Doney Gravestone

    George Edward Doney Gravestone

    One of Cassiobury's black servants.
  • Burials

    Burials

    The burials of two black men are recorded in Watford parish records.
  • Baptisms

    Baptisms

    These records show the baptisms of three black servants in the 18th century.
  • Cassiobury Estate records

    Cassiobury Estate records

    Estate records from the 18th century list 'Doney the Black' among the servants.
  • Militia lists

    Militia lists

    The militia lists from 1782-86 record the name of George Doney, a servant at Cassiobury, who was captured in Gambia as a child.
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