Helmick Family History
By Anna M. Moore
Fortune to an Old Slave
African American History From the Buckhannon Knight Errant, December 1877 - Dorsey heir to Fortune
Chief of Police Van Tassel, of Springfield, Ohio, has received a letter that James
Wesley Dorsey, an old colored man, has fallen heir to a large fortune, left him by Peter
Shaffer, a wealthy planter of Frederick County, Md., who died a few weeks ago. Dorsey
and his mother were slaves to Mr. Shaffer and when freed he came here, but left
a few months ago, going East. His whereabouts are unknown at present. Mr. Shaffer
had no children, and when his will was probated it was found that he had left most of his
estate, valued at $150,000, to Dorsey. It is stated that the colored man saved his life some years ago.
Comments regarding this page to:
Deborah Johnson.
