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Archiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 1996-11 > 0846855188


From: taylor conard< >
Subject: Re: Slavery and Quakers...
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 08:33:08 -0500 (EST)


While some Pennsylvania Quakers did own slaves, they were also the
first to formally object to the practice. In 1682 a ship had come
with 150 slaves, who were quickley snapped up by wealthy Philadelphia
Quakers. The first to object were members of Germantown. They wrote
in 1688:

First Anti-Slavery Document in America
(Signed in the home of Thones Kunders):

"This is to ye months meeting held at Richard WorrelUs.

These are the reasons why we are against the traffik of men-body, as
followeth. Is there any that would be done or handled at this manner?
viz., to be sold or made a slave for all the time of his life? How
fearful and faint-hearted are many on sea when they see a strange
vessel-being afraid it should be a Turk, and they should be taken, and
sold for slaves Into Turkey. Now what is this better done, as Turks
doe? Yea, reflect It worse for them which say they are Christians for
we hear that ye most part of such negers are brought hitherto against
their will and consent and that many of them are stolen. Now tho they
are black we cannot conceive there Is more liberty to have them
slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There Is a saying that we
shall do to all men like as we will be done ourselves; making no
difference of what generation, descent or colour they are. And those
who steal or rob men, and those who buy or purchase them, are they not
alike? Here is liberty of conscience wch Is right and reasonable; here
ought to be likewise liberty of ye body except of evil doers, wch is
an other case. But to bring men hither, or to rob and sell them
against their will, we stand against. In Europe there are many
oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those oppressed wh
are of a black colour. And we know that men must not commit
adultery-some do commit adultery, In others, separating wives from
their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the children
of these poor creatures to other men. Ah! doe consider well this
thing, you who doe It, If you would be done at this manner? and If it
is done according to Christianity? You surpass Holland and Germany in
this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe,
where they hear oft, that ye Quakers doe here handel men as they
handel there ye cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or
inclination to come hither. And who shall maintain this your cause, or
pleid for it? Truly we cannot do so, except you shall inform us better
hereof, viz., that Christians have liberty to practise these things.
Pray, what thing In the world can be done worse towards us, than if
men should rob or steal us away, and sell us for slaves in strange
countries; separating husbands from their wives and children. Being
now this Is not done In the manner we would be done at therefore we
contradict and are against this traffic of men-body. And we who
profess that It is not lawful to steal, must, likewise, avoid to
purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this
robbing and stealing If possible. And such men ought to be delivered
out of ye hands of ye robbers, and set free as well as In Europe. Then
is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead It hath now a bad one
for this sake In other countries. Especially whereas ye Europeans are
desirous to know In what manner ye Quakers doe rule In their
province-and most of them doe look upon us with an envious eye. But If
this Is done well, what shall we say is done evil?

If once these slaves (wch they say are so wicked and stubborn men)
should joint them selves-fight for their freedom,-and handel their
masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before; will these
masters and mastrisses take the sword at hand and warr against these
poor slaves, licks, we are able to believe, some will not refuse to
doe; or have these negers not as much right to fight for their
freedom, as you have to keep them slaves?

Now consider well this thing, If It Is good or bad? And In case you
find it to be good to handed these blacks at that manner, we desire
and require you hereby lovingly that you may inform us herein, which
at this time never was done, viz., that Christians have such a liberty
to do so. To the end we shall be satisfied In this point, and satisfie
likewise our good friends and acquaintances In our natif country, to
whose It Is a terror, or fairful thing, that men should be handeld so
In Pennsylvania.

This Is from our meeting at Germantown, held ye 18 of the 2 month,
1688, to be delivered to the Monthly Meeting at Richard Worrell's."

Garret Hendericks
derick up de graeff
Francis daniell Pastorius
Abraham up Den graeff

Note: These Quakers were from the original 13 German families to come
to America aboard the ship "Concord" in 1683.

Hunt Conard
Skidmore College

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