Site of Clara Vaught's House

Clara Vaught lived at Sears Place. Its entrance was in this approximate location off Anderson St.

NPS Photo/Woods

Quick Facts

Location:

Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts

Significance:

Boarding house for freedom seekers

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

Likely living at several different addresses in Beacon Hill throughout her life, Clara Vaught resided at 3 Sears Place in Boston around the time of her death in 1874.¹ As a Black woman born circa 1812 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Clara Vaught likely began her life enslaved. It can be inferred that between 1812 and 1855, Vaught escaped enslavement and ultimately came to reside in Boston.

In December 1852, the Account Book of Francis Jackson, Treasurer the Boston Vigilance Committee credited Vaught for boarding three freedom seekers at her home.² According to the same account book, Vaught received reimbursements for housing more freedom seekers throughout the decade. In March 1855, she boarded 10-year-old George Mapson for at least two months.³ In June 1856, she opened her home to Elizabeth White.⁴ In 1859, Vaughn received reimbursements for boarding a Chas. Parmeter and James Gaston, whom she also provided with two shirts.⁵ It is unclear whether she lived at this location while housing these freedom seekers, or at some other residence in Beacon Hill.

Footnotes:

1. Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
2. The Vigilance Committee of Boston, Account Book of Francis Jackson, Treasurer The Vigilance Committee of Boston (Marlboro, NH: The Chalet Underhill Farm, 1851), 24.
3. The Vigilance Committee of Boston, Account Book, 32. “Massachusetts, U.S., State Census, 1855.” Ancestry®. Ancestry®. Accessed January 19, 2021. Ancestry.com
4. The Vigilance Committee of Boston, Account Book, 50.
5. The Vigilance Committee of Boston, Account Book, 62.