Thomas Allicott
by
Stefan Bielinski


Thomas Allicott was a free person of color living in the city of Albany.

He was born about 1755 and was fifty-years-old in April 1804 when he was freed by Albany businessman and officeholder Abraham G. Lansing. He was married to Catherine and had a son Thomas who was born into slavery in 1799.

Beginning in 1813, city directories identify him variously as a "laborer," cartman, and grocer. In 1815, he was living at 39 Columbia Street. In 1821, "Alicot & Anthony" were listed as grocers at 22 Washington.

In 1818, he purchased the remaining time of his nineteen-year-old son, Thomas, from attorney Stephen Lush.

Subsequent directories list a Thomas Allicot as a "waiter" as late as 1830 - but that may have been his son. Although he was free since 1804, census rolls do not include the name of this prominent Afro-Albanian!

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notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Thomas Allicott is CAP biography number 7126. We seek defining information on his origins and later life. This profile is derived chiefly from community-based resources.




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first posted: 1/15/03