Benezet, Anthony, 1713-1784

p.88. 1736. Anthony Benezet and Joyce Marriot appeared the second time at this meeting, declaring their intention of marriage with each other...

BENEZET, Anthony (1713-1784). Born at St. Quentin, France, son of a French Protestant John Stephen Benezet. His parents took him to Holland when he was two years old, and then via Rotterdam, to London, to escape persecution. Here, at the age of fourteen, he became a Quaker, and the family removed in 1731 to Philadelphia, where in 1736 he married Joyce Marriott. In 1739 he tried manufacturing at Wilmington, but returned to his teaching shortly, which thoughout his active life was his chosen profession. He taught the Friends' School in Germantown, and in the Friends' Public School in Philadelphia, finally establishing a very successful school for girls in the latter town... His great interest in the coloured race and his association with John Woolman in his anti-slavery efforts caused him to devote the last two years of his life to teaching coloured children... His death occurred 1784, at the age of 71... Anthony Benezet wrote and circulated a large volume of papers, tracts, and books upon philanthropic subjects, chiefly, however, on slavery, which he opposed in every possibly way.

p.170-175. 1785. A Memorial from the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, concerning our beloved Friend and Brother Anthony Benezet, lately deceased~ His labours for the relief of the afflicted and oppressed, particularly that much injured people the enslaved Africans and their descendants, having been unabated and successful, beyond almost any advocate they have had in his time, devoting no small portion of his life and wordly substance in vindication of their violated rights of men, and their instruction in things relating to their temporal and everlasting interests... He was born in France, at a town named St. Quintin, in the Province of Picardy, on the 31st of that now called the first month 1713. At which time Romish Bigotry and superstition subjected the Protestants in that kingdom to very rigorous persecutions, which occasioned many thousands of them to leave it among whom were the parents of our deceased friend, who removed from thence on the third of the second month called February 1715, and after spending a few months in Holland, proceeded to London, where they resided about sixteen years, and in the month called November 1731, they arrived in this city, being well recommended by diverse friends... In the 5th month 1736 his was married to our friend Joyce Marriot of this city... He was employed the last two years of his life, as teacher in the school of instruction of the Black-people and their offspring... he departed... the third day of the fifth month 1784.