New York Quakers and

Slavery

Early Voices Many Friends (Quakers) purchased and

traded slaves This created a conflict between their

property rights (own slaves) and their religious beliefs

NY Friends New York Quakers did not own a large

number of slaves Farmers in Westchester, Long Island and

Hudson River valley held slaves, but not in the numbers found in Newport RI, Philadelphia or the W. Indies

NY Opposition 1716 –Horsman Mullenix was first NY Friend

to raise issue at the Quarterly meeting In 1719- London Yearly Meeting instructed

Friends to do unto others as they would want done unto them Slave Owners = they fed, clothed and

employed their slaves Antislavery = no one would ever want to be

enslaved

NY Opposition 1759 – NY Meeting decides Friends cannot

import slaves – not really an issue since hardly any Friends had imported slaves recently

1767 – Purchase Friends resolve that slavery is “inconsistent with the Christian Spirit.”

1770 – Quakers assist in creation of Free Black settlement – the Hills

Manumission Society

1785 – Formed in NYC by 18 men – 12 of whom were Quakers

Purpose: secure laws to end slavery in NY, monitor compliance with laws (kidnapping and exporting), educating “people of color”, working with other abolitionist organizations

1829- Ten of 13 members were NY Friends Of the first 454 members during its first 40

years, at least 251 were Friends