New Paul Cuffe Biography Spotlights Black Founding Father from South Coast

Activist, businessman, and arguably America’s greatest Black sea captain from the “Age of Sail;” the story of Paul Cuffe from the South Shore of Massachusetts has long fascinated Emmanuel Associate Professor of History Dr. Jeffrey Fortin. 

Having channeled that interest into 10 years of research and writing, Dr. Fortin hopes his new book, Captain Paul Cuffe, Yeoman: A Biography, will help build deeper understanding of this historic figure’s life and times. 

“He was very much a go-getter, who went to sea and used that to build his own shipping business,” said Dr. Fortin. “He was a compelling character and a big part of the identity and maritime history of the South Coast.”

Dr. Fortin said Cuffe (1759-1818) is best understood as a member of the Black founding fathers—a group of eminent African Americans who built institutions and movements in the early years of the United States.

The son of a former slave and a Wampanoag woman, Cuffe used profits from an early whaling voyage to build his own ship. He was owner of a small fleet after the Revolutionary War. Crewed entirely by people of color, Cuffe’s shipping operation challenged narratives of institutional racism and the captain’s celebrity coincided with rise of the abolitionist movement, which he was part of. Cuffe’s reputation was such that he visited the U.S. Secretary of State during the War of 1812 and successfully requested that his ships be released from embargo. 

While parts of Cuffe’s story are extraordinary, Dr. Fortin said it also illuminates much about the South Coast, with its deep roots in maritime industries and a seagoing workforce that was 30 to 40 percent people of color. 

“Yeoman” draws primarily from Cuffe’s archives, about 90 percent of which are housed at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the town’s public library. In some cases—such as Cuffe’s parents—documentation was sparse, and Dr. Fortin tackled that challenge by outlining norms of the time to give an idea of how things likely were. 

“That first chapter was probably the piece of writing I’m most proud of,” said Dr. Fortin. “I could only find five documents about Cuffe’s mother and father, so I took that framework and inserted what I know about African American history on the South Coast to build around what was known.” 

Born in Hawaii, Dr. Fortin was an Air Force kid who eventually settled in New England. He first learned about Cuffe while brainstorming dissertation topics as a graduate student. His advisor said the captain hadn’t been chronicled since the ‘80s, and it was likely time for a new biography. There was a chapter on Cuffe in Dr. Fortin’s dissertation and his interest was officially piqued. Things came full circle when he began teaching at Emmanuel and regularly vacationing with family near New Bedford. 

“The circumstances just seemed kind of perfect,” said Dr. Fortin. “At that point, I felt I kind of had to write this book.”

Cuffe is well known on the South Coast and in academic circles, but Dr. Fortin is hoping the new biography will help change that. While researched with the methods of a professional historian, “Yeoman” is written for general audiences.

“This is a great story, which deserves a wide audience,” said Dr. Fortin. “A mentor once told me, great historians tell great stories. Ultimately that’s what we do.”

“Yeoman” was Dr. Fortin’s second book, and he credited the unique environment of Emmanuel College for helping his vision for the project come together. From the diligent assistance of Reference Librarian Diane Zydlewski, to the words of encouragement from students and peers, Dr. Fortin said the support helped keep him going. 

“That’s the kind of environment Emmanuel provides—we really support each other being innovative with our scholarship,” said Dr. Fortin. “When you’re working on a lengthy project, there’s some days where you wonder if you’re ever going to finish it. It’s little things like that which really help push you along and make it more satisfying when it’s complete.”

Captain Paul Cuffe, Yeoman: A Biography was published by the University of Massachusetts Press and is available at UMasspress.com and through Amazon.