Slavery in NH: Primary Source Packet

Primary Source Packet: Slavery in New Hampshire Teacher’s Guide

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There were African enslaved people living in New Hampshire as early as 1645. Many lived near the busy ports of the seacoast. Newspaper advertisements list both inbound and outbound ships from the West Indies, advertisements for West Indies goods and enslaved people, as well as notices for runaways. Slavery was not formally outlawed in New Hampshire until the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865. Students can find enslaved people in the United States censuses (1790, 1800, 1830, and 1840).

It is important for students to realize that slavery was present in the North and that most village stores were connected to the West Indies trade. An important document in NH history is the 1779 Freedom Petition submitted by enslaved people to the NH Legislature. Students must see examples of enslaved people taking a stand and engaging in political resistance. Ona Judge, an African American woman enslaved by George Washington’s family, is another example of someone who takes a stand and emancipates herself by escaping to Portsmouth, NH. What ensues reveals more about attitudes toward slavery in New Hampshire. In addition to the political resistance and resistance through emancipating oneself, it is important to remember that enslaved people resisted every day in small, but significant ways.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS

● Slavery existed in the North and was central to the development and growth of the northern economies. ● Slavery shaped the beliefs of Northerners about race and whiteness even as they worked as allies to people of color. ● Enslaved people were human beings with inspirations, dreams, fears, and families. They resisted their enslavement in small and large ways.

TEACHING IDEAS

Provide students with newspaper clippings, leaving off the source citations. If students are unfamiliar with primary sources, look at one newspaper clipping together first. Ask them to do a close read, gathering details, and guess where the newspaper might be from based on what they know of American history. Then reveal the source citations and discuss. Look closely at the advertisements and consider the people mentioned. Access the film, Shadows Fall North and discussion guide.

Examine the 1790 census for New Hampshire. Review each column. What do students think “all other free persons” means? Who might that include? How many communities reported the presence of enslaved people? If your students live in NH, they could look for their own town or neighboring town to gather information: https://www.census-online.com/links/NH/1790.html How are these people remembered in their own communities? How should they be remembered and could students take up the challenge of proposing a way to remember and honor their lives?

Examine the 1779 Freedom Petition submitted by enslaved people to the NH Legislature. Teaching Tolerance has a set of discussion questions and answers. Examine this set of quotes pulled from the 1779 petition. This petition is important to combine with the other primary sources in order for students to see enslaved people taking a stand and engaging in political resistance.

For another example of resistance, explore the life of Ona Judge. Carefully examine the runaway ad, taking note that she has run away from the President. What does this advertisement reveal about George Washington’s attitude toward his slaves? Watch the video on the Mount Vernon website. Ona Judge lived in the Portsmouth area for the rest of her life. Consider what it means to resist...and to be complicit.

Have students investigate when and why New Hampshire abolished slavery. Slavery in the North is a resource.

PRIMARY SOURCES

NH Gazette, 1758: Likely Negro Boys and Girls NH Gazette, 1759: Imported by Robert Traill NH Gazette, 1757: To be sold, has been two years in this country NH 1790 Census NH Gazette, 1764: Servant/Slave Curfew Notice, Portsmouth NH Gazette, 1764: Runaway Ad 1779 Freedom Petition submitted by enslaved people to the NH Legislature Runaway Ad: Oney Judge: Pennsylvania Gazette,1796