Amos Fortune, Free Man Character Analysis

Amos Fortune (At-mun)

Amos was a real-life historical figure whose story is fictionalized in Amos Fortune, Free Man. In the book, Amos Fortune is born as At-mun, the son and oldest child of the chief of the… read analysis of Amos Fortune (At-mun)

Violet

Violet is Amos Fortune’s third wife and the mother of Celyndia, whom Amos adopts as his own daughter. When she meets Amos, James Baldwin is her enslaver. Like Amos, Violet is a hardworking… read analysis of Violet

Ath-mun

Ath-mun is Amos Fortune’s younger sister. Like him, she is born free in Africa as the daughter of a trial chief. Because she has a physical disability, the white captors who raid the village… read analysis of Ath-mun

Celyndia

Celyndia is Violet’s daughter and Amos Fortune adoptive daughter. James Baldwin enslaves her from birth, but she’s freed at the age of four when Amos purchases her and her mother from their enslaver. As… read analysis of Celyndia

Celia Copeland

Celia Copeland is a Quaker woman married to Caleb Copeland. Roger and Roxanne are her children. While she allegedly opposes the institution of slavery, she doesn’t protest much when her husband returns home with… read analysis of Celia Copeland

Caleb Copeland

Caleb Copeland is a Quaker (a sect of Christianity emphasizing mistrustful of hierarchies and traditionally committed to pacifism and abolition of slavery) and a weaver living in Boston with his wife, Celia, and children… read analysis of Caleb Copeland

Roxanna Copeland

Roxanna Copeland is the daughter of Celia and Caleb Copeland and the sister of Roger. The book calls her an early and important “friend” of Amos Fortune, although his enslavement means that their… read analysis of Roxanna Copeland

Ichabod Richardson

Ichabod Richardson and his wife, Mrs. Richardson, are Amos Fortune’s second enslavers. Richardson owns a tannery, and he teaches Amos the trade that eventually allows him to make a living when he becomes… read analysis of Ichabod Richardson

Mrs. Richardson

Mrs. Richardson is Ichabod Richardson’s wife. The Richardsons are Amos Fortune’s second enslavers. While Mrs. Richardson profits by the underpaid labor Amos provides the family business, the idea of enslavement sits somewhat uncomfortably… read analysis of Mrs. Richardson

Lois Burdoo

Lois Burdoo is a poor Black widow in Jaffrey who lives with her five children, including Polly and Moses. She receives charity from the town—and Amos Fortune—to support her and her children after… read analysis of Lois Burdoo

Polly Burdoo

Polly Burdoo is Lois Burdoo’s daughter and Moses’s sister. She grows up under the care of her “shiftless” mother and fails to learn responsibility or a good work ethic. Amos Fortune bids for… read analysis of Polly Burdoo

Lydia

Lydia is Amos Fortune’s second wife, whom he redeems for £50 from her enslaver, Josiah Bowers. Lydia reminds Amos of his sister Ath-mun because she is walks with a crutch, but her disability… read analysis of Lydia

Minor Characters

Laban Ainsworth

Laban Ainsworth is the parson of the Keene church. He welcomes Amos, Violet, and Celyndia to the community and loans his own land to the Fortunes until they’ve saved enough money to purchase their own property.

Samuel George

Samuel George is a New Hampshire cobbler who encourages Amos Fortune to set up a tannery of his own in the state. He also sells Amos the clothing that Amos wears to his third wedding.

Moses Burdoo

Moses Burdoo is Lois Burdoo’s son and Polly’s brother. He works in Amos Fortune’s tannery for a time before being auctioned by the town into the care (and employ) of Joseph Stewart.

Lily

Lily is Amos Fortune’s first wife. She is ill and infirm when he buys her freedom from Jonathan Twombly, her longtime enslaver, and she dies within months of her marriage to Amos.

Roger Copeland

Roger Copeland is Caleb and Celia Copeland’s son and Roxanna’s brother.

Jonathan Twombly

Jonathan Twombly is Lily’s enslaver until Amos Fortune purchases her freedom.

Joseph Stewart

Joseph Stewart is a Jaffrey landowner who successfully bids on the right to extract free labor from impoverished Moses Burdoo.

Josiah Bowers

Jonathan Bowers is Lydia’s enslaver. He demands £50 when Amos Fortune asks to buy her freedom.

James Baldwin

James Baldwin enslaves Violet and Celyndia before he sells their freedom to Amos Fortune.

Charlie Toothaker

Charlie Toothaker is a white boy who becomes Amos Fortune’s indentured servant in the later years of Amos’s life.

Deacon Spofford

Deacon Spofford is a Jaffrey community member and church official who helps Amos Fortune draw up his will.