Who was James Watkins?
James Watkins was an African American slave born in 1821 on Mr. Abraham Ensor’s plantation in Baltimore, Maryland. Named ‘Sam Berry’, after his mother, he was better known as ‘Ensor Sam’. He escaped in 1841 and for a time settled in Connecticut. Alas, due to a change in the laws relating to slaves, in 1851 he had to flee again. He went much further this time, to England, arriving in Liverpool in February. During his stay in Lancashire he was supported by various clerics and gave talks on his experiences as a slave across the county, including in Liverpool. A carving hanging above the ‘Provenance Food Hall’ in Westhoughton, Bolton is believed to be a rendition of him.
Please see Westhoughton Local History and Presentations
https://westhoughtonlocalhistorypresentationsandphoto s.com/photos-beginning-with-letter-t/