Petition to the Massachusetts Legislature

{"autoplay":"true","autoplay_speed":3000,"speed":300,"arrows":"true","dots":"true"}

Early in the history of Massachusetts, organizations that wanted to be incorporated into a legal body had to petition the state legislature. In 1812 Primus Hall and five other men of color living in Boston petitioned the Massachusetts legislature to be incorporated into the “African School Association.” The petition did not pass, so the association did not gain legal status. However, this document provides valuable clues into the origins of the African School. In the petition, the petitioners mention that they have acted as an association for several years. They also note how they have relied on voluntary subscriptions and charitable donations to operate.

Questions to Consider

1. What benefits or recognition do you think the petitioners hoped to realize through legal incorporation?
2. What challenges existed for the association and the African School if they relied on subscriptions and donations?

Transcription

To the Hon[orable] Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in General Court assembled, the petition of the Subscribers, citizens of Boston, humbly represents, that the blessing s of education have been extended to the children of themselves and other people of color in this town, but not in general a manner as is believed to be practicable; that they, and others, their associates, have been several years united as an African School association, and have provided an instructor, from whose labours much benefit has resulted to the town; that their expenses have been chiefly defrayed by a few benevolent gentlemen in Boston, and partly by subscription of the association, but that they think voluntary subscription less likely to afford permanent support to such a valuable institution, than the same might receive by an act of incorporation, wherefore they pray that they and their associates may be incorporated into a Society by the name of the African School association, with such privileges and under such restrictions as to your Hounours may seem good.

Primus Hall

Fortune Simes

Abel Barbadoes

John Gray

John Brown

Cyrus Vassal