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The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage was the first American abolition society. It was founded April 14, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and held four meetings. Seventeen of the 24 men who attended initial meetings of the Society were Quakers, that is, members of the Religious Society of Friends, a branch of Christianity notable in the early history of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Abolition (or Abolitionist) Society, which had members and leaders of both races, became a model for anti-slavery organizations in other states during the antebellum years. Prominent African-American members included Robert Purvis, who was admitted in 1842 as the Society's first Black member.
The Pennsylvania Abolition Society still exists, dedicated to the cause of combating racism. The oldest abolitionist organization in the United States, since the late twentieth century, it has worked to improve issues of criminal justice and the over-representation of African Americans in prison, reduction in harsh sentencing laws, and improving economic and environmental justice.
Officers, Members and Supporters
Officers of the Society:
Franklin, Benjamin, President, co-founder. (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Benezet, Anthony, co-founder, Pennsylvania Abolition Society (PAS)
Rush, Dr. Benjamin, President, Secretary (Locke, 1901; Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787; Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Rawle, William, President, 1829, Counsellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787; Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Pemberton, James, Vice President (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Penrose, Jonathan, Vice President (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Patterson, Robert, Vice President, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Parker, Thomas, Vice President, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Preston, Jonas, Vice President, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Tucker, Benjamin, Vice President, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Coxe, Benjamin, Secretary (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Barton, Isaac, Secretary, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Ridgway, Thomas, Secretary, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Coxe, John, Counsellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Fisher, Miers, Councellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Lewis, William William, Counsellor (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Troth, Henry, Treasurer, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Bouvier, John, Esq. (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)
Earle, Thomas, Esq. (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Mott, James (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)
Phipps, Thomas, Treasurer, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Sheppard, Samuel C. (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)
Smith, Nathan, Secretary, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Weatherly, David (Minutes of the Proceedings of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery)
Williams, Benjamin, Secretary, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Electing Committee, 1787:
Armatt, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Bailey, Francis, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Boys, Nathan, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Carson, Andrew, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Coates, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Griffitts, Samuel Powell, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Harrison, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Jones, Norris, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Reed, James, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Richards, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Rogers, William, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Shoemaker, Jacob, Jr., Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Todd, James, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Todd, John, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Warner, John, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Whitehall, James, Electing Committee, 1787 (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Wistar, Caspar, Electing Committee, 1787 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Third Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies… Philadelphia, January, 1796)
Acting Committee:
McElhenney, William, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Oldden, John, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Parker, Thomas, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Shields, Thomas, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Warner, John, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Zane, William, Acting Committee (Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, April 23, 1787)
Counsellors, 1812:
Chapman, Abraham, Bucks, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Delany, William L., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Fisher, George, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Hallowell, Jno., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Hopkinson, Joseph, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Rush, Richard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Consellor, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Electing Committee, 1812:
Brown, William, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Harrison, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Kinsey, Edmund, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Hilyard, Abraham, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Master, William, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Moore, Joseph, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Pearson, Isaac, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Price, Joseph, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Phipps, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Rogers, Thomas, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Smith, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Townsend, Charles, Electing Committee, 1812 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Thirteenth American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1812)
Board of Education, 1829:
Barton, Isaac, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Atlee, Edwin P., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Earle, Thomas, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Evans, Joseph, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Parker, Joseph, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Parker, Thomas, Jr., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Peterson, George, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Ridgway, Thomas, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Weatherly, David, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Wright, Peter, Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Cope, Charles S., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Sheppard, Samuel C., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Wilson, James R., Board of Education, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Electing Committee, 1829:
Todhunter, Joseph, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Ross, Samuel, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Mott, James, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Truman, Joseph M., Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Atmore, Marshall, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Jones, William, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Stackhouse, Powell, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Murphy, Robert, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Evans, R., Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Stanly, Jesse, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Wood, D. C., Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Walter, Edwin, Electing Committee, 1829 (Minutes of the Proceedings of the Twenty-First American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 1829)
Related projects:
- https://www.geni.com/projects/American-Abolitionist-Movement/619
- https://www.geni.com/projects/1783-Quaker-Anti-Slavery-Petition-Signatories/8044
- https://www.geni.com/projects/Free-African-Society/4498248
Resources:
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Abolition_Society
- http://www.americanabolitionists.com/pennsylvania-abolition-society...
- https://paabolition.org/
- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/institutions-afr...
- https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/franklin
- https://guides.library.upenn.edu/benjamin-rush/Rush_on_Abolition_an...
- https://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/objects/4770
Research Resources: