An Appeal for Abolition of Slavery on Nantucket

An Appeal for Abolition of Slavery On Nantucket by Elihu Coleman

BY THE LATE CLARENCE KING

(Continued from Historic Nantucket — January 1975)

FORTUNATELY for him, Shubael Coffin arose and said: "I thank Friend Coleman for bringing this important matter before us. He spoke to my condition. I own a slave whom I inherited. I have long felt uncomfortable about this but Bristol is a young boy without any special training. If he were freed now I doubt if he could support himself. I have already executed a paper providing that he shall be free when he reaches the age of 30."

There was a hubbub, several people wanting to speak at once. The clerk calmed the tumult: "Friends," he said, "let us have a period of silence during which we take this important matter to God in prayer and seek His guidance."

The ensuing silence seemed to Elihu to last for an eternity; it may have been ten minutes during which the members relaxed and approached the problem less heatedly. When at last the clerk raised his head, Sylvanus Hussey got up: "As Friend Coleman says Mark is an unusual person for a slave. I inherited him only recently when my father's estate was settled. I did nothing to acquire this ownership and have felt somewhat uncomfortable about it but I reflected that slavery was sanctioned by the Bible."

Another Friend said: "What may have been right for an Israelite to do in days of the Old Testament, may not be right for a Quaker to do today."

From different quarters of the room, several voices murmured, "I agree" or "I unite."

Another member rose and said: "I have always understood that black people were the descendants of Cain and that God ordained that they should live in bondage to expiate Cain's sin."

No one answered this, but Elihu felt that none took the statement seriously. He could have pointed out that there were millions of black people in Africa whom God permitted to live free lives but he thought it wiser to keep still. When all who wished had spoken, there was silence broken only by the scratching of the clerk's pen as he wrote a proposed minute. He then read that it was the sense of the meeting that it is: . not agreeable to Truth for Friends to purchase slaves & keep them Term for life."

A profound silence followed. Surely, thought Elihu, some slave owner present would protest, but there was no objection. The clerk waited, looking over the meeting to see if any wished to speak but there was no response; there was "consensus"; the minute had been adopted. All bowed their heads for the few minutes of silent meditation which preceded adjournment.

Elihu walked home with mixed feelings of elation and doubt. Would Mark be set free? If Sylvanus took no action would the meeting disown him? Certainly not, Elihu said to himself. Elihu did not want that to happen. It must be loving persuasion. He must not disrupt the meeting with a contentious issue. The meeting was only eight years old. Might it break up over the "concern" which he had voiced? Must Quakerism on Nantucket die that Mark might be free? Elihu hoped not. He must consult his grandmother. She would know * what to do, and tell him whether he had acted unwisely.

At Parliament House he asked whether she was feeling well enough for him to see her. In a cheery voice she called to him to come upstairs. She was sitting up in bed, looking frail and worn, but she welcomed him with her usual loving smile. "How is thee, Grandmother?" "Never mind about me," she said impatiently, "tell me what happened at the meeting. I was so sorry not to be there."

Elihu told her of his getting acquainted with Mark and all that followed. When he finished she drew him to her and kissed him. "Thee did absolutely right, my dear. I'm proud of thee. It's lucky that John Swain wasn't there." "How did thee know he wasn't?" "Because if he had been, there wouldn't have been a consensus." "But why didn't the other slaveholders object?" "Thee had shamed them, Elihu. Swain is a poor Quaker. He has little shame and would have none about owning a slave." "But will Mark be freed?" "Yes, eventually, when Hussey feels uncomfortable enough, but thee must be patient. It may take some time." "But is there nothing I can do, meanwhile?" "Yes, thee can pray. The Light within will show thee the way. Then follow thy guidance."

That was the last talk Elihu had with his grandmother. In his grief over her death he forgot all about Mark and about his

AN APPEAL FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 21

hatred of slavery. For months he was like a boat without a rudder. He had become more dependent on the Great Woman than upon his own parents and he was not very self-sufficient within himself. He worked long hours at his carpentering and sought to tire himself out so that he would sleep.

One First Day morning he woke early. The sun was bright. Dressing hurriedly, he went for a walk. His steps turned naturally toward Parliament House and he sat down on the bench beside the quince bush where he and Mary Starbuck had held so many long, interesting discussions. He remembered that last talk with her after the Friends Monthly meeting. What was it she had said to him? "Thee can pray. The Light within will show thee the way. Then follow thy guidance." In the meeting for worship that day he prayed as he had never prayed before. He prayed for forgiveness for having forgotten in his grief the concern which had energized him and he prayed for further guidance. That afternoon as it was growing dark an idea occurred to him. He lit a candle, got paper and ink and settled down to write: "A Testimony Against that Antichristian Practice of Making Slaves of Men."

The Meeting discussed the Testimony for weeks. At last in slightly improved form it was approved by adopting the following minute on December 23, 1729: "Our frd Elihu Goleman offered a small piece of manuscript to this meeting which was read and approv'd in & by this meeting & order'd to be carried to ye Quarterly meeting at Rhode Island which was a testimony against making slaves of men."

Meanwhile the Great Woman, Mary Coffin Starbuck's prediction was proving true and a few slave owners on Nantucket were beginning to execute documents of manumission freeing their slaves. Elihu's eyes would never see "the glory of the the coming of the Lord" nor the trampling out of the "vintage wfhere the grapes of wrath are stored," nor would he have "loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sWord." As a man of peace he could use only loving persuasion.

Month after month he labored with the remaining slave owners, urging them in loving terms to trust the "Light Within" and to follow its guidance. At last there was only one slave owner left. That was John Swain. He owned Prince Boston who in 1769 was aboard the whaleship Friendship, Captain Elisha Folger, in the South Atlantic. In the latter weeks of that year she came rolling home with a full cargo of oil. The barrels of oil were rolled up the wharf to William Rotch's warehouse.

Captain Folger and Rotch calculated the value of the cargo and determined the "lay" due each man aboard the Friendship.

22 HISTORIC NANTUCKET

This was a percentage agreed upon before the voyage began. Prince Boston's was a substantial one. Swain insisted that the money be paid to him as Boston's owner and that the slave be turned over to him to work on his farm in Polpis. On Rotch's advice, Captain Folger refused and paid Boston directly. William Rotch told Swain that he knew of no law permitting slavery on Nantucket. Swain sued in the Court of Common Pleas in Nantucket before a jury. The verdict was for the defendant*. Swain was furious and threatened to appeal to the Supreme Court in Boston.

The next morning while Elihu Coleman was at breakfast, a boy came with a message from William Rotch. Would he come to Rotch's office at 9 o'clock that morning? As Coleman walked down State Street he was joined by Captain Folger. At the warehouse several of the elders were waiting. When all were seated, Rotch explained the purpose of the meeting. "Friends," he said, "we have got to win this appeal. I propose that we send to Boston and retain John Adams to defend it." "What chance is there," said one of the elders, "that he would agree? He has more cases now than he can handle." "Yes," said another, "since he won that case of Michael Corbet and got a verdict of justifiable homicide for killing a British officer with a harpoon when they were trying to impress him into the British Navy, Adams has been the most sought after lawyer in Massachusetts." "Yes, I know," said Rotch, "if one of us goes to the great man and appeals to him as a business man appealing to a lawyer, there isn't a chance. That's why I propose that we send Elihu Coleman." "But why," blurted out Elihu, "why send me?" "Friend Coleman," said Mr. Rotch, "thee has spent 50 years of thy life fighting to rid Nantucket of slavery and thee has won unless we lose this appeal. Adams isn't going to let that happen without a struggle. Today our island is the one bit of Massachusetts where slavery is illegal. Go to Adams and tell him the whole story, how thee got thy concern. Show him the minute thee got adopted in the monthly meeting when thee was only sixteen. Show him thy Testimony against slavery. Tell him that all the other slave owners have voluntarily freed their slaves, we have."

All agreed that it was their only chance.

* Starbuck's History, page 622.

AN APPEAL FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 23

So next morning, with many misgivings, Elihu sailed to Falmouth and caught the packet for Boston. As a busy carpenter he had seldom been on the mainland. He knew Falmouth and New Bedford but had never been in Boston. They moored at Long Wharf. As he walked up King Street, Boston looked to Elihu like a metropolis. He had no difficulty in finding John Adams' office. The first passerby from whom he inquired was proud to direct him.

In the outer office a young man sat poring over a law book. Elihu presented his letter of introduction from William Rotch. The young man said: "Mr. Adams is in Court now but if you come back at 3 o'clock I think he will see you."

Coleman roamed over the Common and along the wharves. He had an excellent fish dinner at a tavern on the waterfront and was back at the office well before three. He was shown immediately into the inner office. John Adams rose from his desk and shook hands. He was a shorter man than Elihu had expected but he was broad and thickset. He wore a neat black suit, a snowy wig and white silk stockings and silver buckles on his shoes. "Your William Rotch is well known here in Boston," said the lawyer, "he is a fine citizen and a credit to Massachusetts. "What can I do for you, Mr. Coleman?"

Elihu hardly knew how to begin. "It's a long story," he said, "and you are a very busy man." "Never mind that," said Adams, "I have enough time to listen to anyone recommended by Mr. Rotch. Why not just start at the beginning and tell me all about it."

Thus encouraged, Elihu began. He told of how he had first become concerned. He showed a copy of the minute accepted by the meeting in 1716, and presented his Testimonial against slavery. As a busy lawyer, Adams had a knack of scanning a lengthy document and getting the gist of it quckly.

"Mr. Adams," said Elihu, "all the other slave owners on Nantucket have now freed their slaves voluntarily except John Swain." "Tell me about the parties to this suit and what the issue is in Swain versus Folger," said the lawyer. "Folger," said Elihu, "is Captain Elisha Folger of the whaleship Friendship just returned from the whaling grounds with a full cargo of oil. In the crew was Swain's slave 'Prince Boston'. He is a skilled harpooner."

At the word, Adams smiled; another harpooner! This might prove interesting.

24

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

"As a skilled man," continued Elihu, "he was entitled to a large lay. That means . . "Yes, I know," interrupted the lawyer, "he gets an agreed percentage of the value of the cargo." "Exactly," said Coleman. "Swain insisted that the money be paid to him and that Boston be sent back to him to work on his farm in Polpis. Mr. Rotch refused. He instructed Captain Folger to pay the money to the harpooner directly, and he told Swain that he knew no law which permitted slavery on Nantucket." "Oh he did, did he!" exclaimed Adams, "good for him!" "Swain brought suit in the Court of Common Pleas in Nantucket," said Elihu, "the jury brought in a verdict for the defendant and the judgment of the court was that slavery was illegal on Nantucket."

When Coleman finished speaking, Adams sat for a few moments playing with a quill pen and humming to himself. At last he spoke, "That may be bad law but's good morals. I wish it was the law in the rest of Massachusetts*. Do you realize, Mr. Coleman, that while that decision stands, your Island is the only bit of territory in this colony where slavery is illegal. You can tell Mr. Rotch and your associates that I accept your retainer." "Oh, Mr. Adams, they will be so grateful. Mr. Rotch said that if you will tell us the probable amount of your fee, we will start raising the money at once."

The lawyer held up his hand. "Wait, wait," he said, "that may not be necessary. Tell me, what kind of a man is this John Swain." "He claims to be a Quaker but he is not a good one." "Would you say that he was a bully?"

Elihu thought for a moment: "Yes, I would." "And how do most of the people on Nantucket feel about this suit?" "Oh, they're all opposed to Swain, every one." "Mr. Coleman, do you think Swain expects to go on living on Nantucket?" "Oh, certainly. He owns a good farm in Polpis, the most fertile part of the Island."

Again Mr. Adams sat playing with his quill pen, humming to himself with a faraway look in his eyes. Finally he said: "When

* In 1761 there was a slave auction in Boston. In 1770 there were 5,000 slaves in Massachusetts.

AN APPEAL FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 25

you get back, don't make any secret of the fact that you have retained me." "Certainly not," Elihu agreed. "Mr. Coleman, when you tell Mr. Rotch, how soon do you think it will be before Swain hears about it?" "Oh, ours is a small village," said Elihu, "perhaps you have lived in a small town? Everyone knows why I'm up here. When I land at Straight Wharf there'll be a crowd waiting for the news. Before I say anything they'll see my face and they'll begin to cheer. Before I can get to Mr. Rotch's office the news will be on its way out to Swain in Polpis."

The lawfyer nodded with satisfaction. He rose from his desk, came around and shook hands with Elihu. Evidently the interview was ended. "You tell Mr. Rotch," Adams said, "that I don't think we'll ever have to defend the appeal. And Mr. Coleman," shaking hands with him again, "I congratulate you on what you have done for Nantucket; yes, and for Massachusetts and the other colonies."

Elihu, blushing from such praise, left the office and caught the packet for Falmouth, still somewhat mystified by his victory.

On the way home Elihu remembered his last talk with his grandmother. How happy she would have been if she could have known how things were turning out! If he succeeded, it would be because of the influence of her spirit inspiring and urging him on.

Needless to say, the decision of the local court was never appealed.

The late Clarence King completed this article only a few weeks before his death, which came in his 90th year. Always interested in the history of his adopted island home, he wrote the life of Peter Foulger under the title of The Half Share Man, which was published by the Nantucket Historical Trust and is on sale at the Whaling Museum, Peter Foulger Museum and other exhibit buildings of the Nantucket Historical Association. Clarence King contributed much of his talents to various community enterprises, but received an especial satisfaction in his researches into Nantucket history.