James Poovey (c.1769–unknown) was an 18th-century Philadelphian described by abolitionist Isaac Hopper in Tales of Oppression. According to Hopper, Poovey was enslaved from birth and sought manumission through non-violent disobedience, simply refusing to work.[1] Although the accuracy of Tales of Oppression is debated by historians, some narratives have been verified through court records and other corroborating evidence held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.[2] Hopper's written account of James Poovey's life was later edited and embellished by his colleague, abolitionist author Lydia Maria Child,[3] who supplemented the narrative with her own recollections of how Hopper told the story.[4]
James Poovey | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1769 |
| Died | Unknown |
| Occupation | Blacksmith's assistant |
| Known for | Freeing himself through non-violent disobedience |
Legal status and education
editIn 1780, the Pennsylvania legislature ratified "An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery",[5] which effectively abolished the importation of future enslaved people to Pennsylvania, and granted children born into slavery after its enactment freedom at age 28.[6] James Poovey, born roughly 11 years before the institution of this law, was excluded from claiming freedom under the act.[3][1] According to Child, the fact that other men a few years younger than Poovey were eligible for their freedom, while he remained in bondage, was a "source of uneasiness" for him.[3]
Poovey was enslaved by Coates, a blacksmith in the Southwark District of Philadelphia, and had learned the trade, making him "very valuable".[7] During winter evenings, Poovey attended the Young Men's Society for the Free Instruction of Colored People, where he first became acquainted with Isaac Hopper, a Quaker and member of the Acting Committee of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, who taught him to read.[7][1]
Manumission
editFailed negotiations
editIn 1802, around 33, Poovey attempted to negotiate his freedom from the blacksmith.[1][7] In Hopper's account, Poovey argued that his continued submission to slavery was "a great sin",[7] and invoked the Golden Rule of Christianity (Matthew 7:12),[8] saying, "we must do as we are done by".[7] Initially, Poovey offered Coates seven years' faithful service in exchange for his freedom, but Coates refused.[7] He then offered to purchase his freedom from Coates by earning wages at sea.[7] Coates also rejected this.[7] Poovey announced that he would never make another offer, reported that he refused to work, and walked off.[7][1]
Jail time
editCoates responded immediately by applying to the magistrate for an arrest warrant.[7][1] Poovey was arrested and imprisoned "as a disobedient, refractory slave".[7] Almost a month later, Coates visited Poovey in jail to ask him to recant and return to work.[7] Poovey repeated his refusal to work for Coates again, saying he understood that he might live the rest of his life in jail.[7][1]
Escalation to prison board
editAfter the confrontation, Coates applied for the inspectors to hold Poovey in the cells until he was finally willing to "submit".[7] Coates was referred to Hopper, who was on the prison board and refused to make Poovey return to bondage or punish him further.[7][1] According to Child, after Poovey's first jail term had expired, Coates arranged to have him incarcerated for another 30 days and also tried to bribe him with a new suit and "Methodist hat", but Poovey flatly refused to ever work for him again.[3] Coates could not sell Poovey out of state, and it was unlikely he could sell him in Philadelphia, so he finally gave up.[1] Following the completion of his second jail sentence, Poovey was discharged without further interference,[3] and became de facto, if not legally, a free man.[1][3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Densmore, Christopher (November 2005). "Seeking Freedom in the Courts: The Work of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and for the Relief of Free Negroes unlawfully held in Bondage, and for improving the Condition of the African Race, 1775–1865" (PDF). Pennsylvania Legacies: 16–19 – via Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
- ^ Meaders, Daniel (Spring 1995). "Kidnapping Blacks in Philadelphia: Isaac Hopper's Tales of Oppression". Journal of Negro History. 80 (2): 47–65. doi:10.2307/2717752. JSTOR 2717752. S2CID 140789960.
- ^ a b c d e f Childs, Lydia Marie (1853). "James Poovey". Isaac T. Hopper: A True Life.
- ^ Child, Lydia Marie (1853). "Preface". Isaac T. Hopper: A True Life – via Project Gutenberg.
- ^ "Avalon Project - Pennsylvania - An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, 1780". avalon.law.yale.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
- ^ Turner, Edward Raymond (1912). "The Abolition of Slavery in Pennsylvania". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 36 (2): 129–142. JSTOR 20085586.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hopper, Isaac (1994). "James Poovey 1". In Meaders, Daniel (ed.). Kidnappers in Philadelphia: Isaac Hopper's Tales of Oppression 1780–1843. London: Routledge. pp. 183–185. doi:10.4324/9780429024122-36. ISBN 9780429024122. S2CID 198008994.
- ^ "Matthew 7:12. In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets". biblehub.com. Retrieved 2022-05-14.