James Forten Black Abolitionists, Businessman and Humanitarian! Mr. Forten
was born in 1766. His ancestors had lived in Pennsylvania for several generations and so far as he could trace them they had never been slaves. In his boyhood the war of the American Revolution began. The States of this Union were then colonies of Great Britain. Being taxed without being represented in the British Parliament, they remonstrated against it as an act of injustice. The loyal respectful petitions of the Colonies were treated with indifference or contempt and at last they resolved to become independent of England.
He never drank any intoxicating liquor and was a steadfast supporter of the Temperance Society. Being of a kindly and humane disposition he espoused the principles of the Peace Society. His influence and pure example were also given to those who were striving against licentiousness. Indeed he was always ready to assist in every good word and work. He died in 1842 at the age of seventy six years. His funeral procession was one of the largest ever seen in Philadelphia thousands of people of all classes and all respect to his character.
The Freedmen's Book By Lydia Maria Francis Child Published 1866
The Boyhood of James Forten
He himself took an active part in the revolutionary war and fell into the hands of the enemy while serving. It was in 1780 that this vessel was captured by the Amphion commanded by Sir John Beazley. Sir John's son who was then a midshipman about the same age with young Forten was one day playing at marbles on the deck when the latter, who had been employed to pick them up, exhibited such superior skill after the game was over in knuckling down and hitting the object aimed at, that the young Englishman was delighted with him. The acquaintance soon ripened into a sort of intimacy, and his generous friend offered if he would accompany him to England to provide for his education and assist him in procuring some respectable occupation,. The young Africo-American however preferred serving his country, small as the chance was that he would ever recover his liberty, to the brilliant career thus placed before him, and he was ultimately transferred to the prison ship, the old Jersey of sixty four guns, then lying in the East river where the New York navy yard now is.
Sir John's son was so affected at parting that he shed tears and having obtained from his father a protection for him against enlistment saved him from the wretched fate which befell many of his brethren who were carried by their captors to the West Indies and sold there as slaves.
He remained in confinement seven months till he was sent home in exchange. During the period of his detention no less than 3500 prisoners fell victims to an epidemic which the crowded state of the vessel occasioned. The average number on board was 1500.
When the war was over Forten went to London where he remained a year and on his return to his native land obtained employment in the sail loft ,which is now his own property and which has witnessed his industry and enterprise for upwards of forty six years. In his business as a sail maker he is generally considered to stand above competition.
Journal of a Residence and Tour in the United States of North America From April, 1833, to October, 1834 By Edward Strutt Abdy Published 1866