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1796 Petition of Prince Hall for School for Black Children in Boston

MasonicAdept

Premium Member
In 1796, after being denied in 1787, Prince Hall petitioned the Selectmen of Boston for a School for Black Children in Boston. This document is dated October 4, 1796.

Transcription [corrections mine]:

"A [copy] of a Petition to the Selectmen of the Town of Boston October 4, 1796

To the [gentlemen] the Selectmen of the Town of Boston: The Petition of a number of Blacks [families] citizen of the said town humbly addressing admitting a number of children who are [destitute] of the [means] of common [education]: [Notwithstanding] the good [gentlemen] of the school [committee] hath [admitted] Black Children as well as Whites into the Free [Schools] and a few hath [been admitted]: [but] it hath not [been] found to [answer] the good intent of those [gentlemen]: but it rather bred a Discord and a [hindrance] to both [parties]: [Whereas] if [they] had a school by themselves [they] may [unintelligible] but [they] may make good [scholars as well as viable] members of the state and citizens: [Whereas] on the [contrary] being destitute of common learning [they] may be [apt] to [run] into all manner of [violence] and be a pest to society and [unintelligible] [their] Parents: there is a [gentleman in Town that will [undertake] that task. Your [petitioners] do [humbly] hope that you [gentlemen] under God will take [their unhappy] children under your consideration and do for them and us their [parents] as God and your [conscience] shall [direct] and guide you: this is our [unintelligible] which and [desires] and that you would grant us a schoolhouse and [teacher] for that end.
as in duty bound and ever pray----
Prince Hall"

Source:
Records of African Lodge No. 459 Boston and Philadelphia, microfilm (1950)

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