Pleasants, Robert, 1723-1801

vol. 6, p. 17. 1801-03-04, Robert Pleasants, deceased (elder of Curles Meeting). A memorial read concerning him; born at Curles on James River, son of John and Margaret, both Friends; he emancipated upwards of eighty slaves which he possessed and through his patronage and interpostion in courts of law several hundred have had their claim to liberty established; he appropriated 350 acres of land and 10 pounds per annum toward the support of a free school for negro children; he was a kind tender father; died in the 79th year of his age and buried at Friends Burial Ground at Curles.

p. 205. 1749/50-12-03, John Pleasants resigned as clerk of Henrico Monthly Meeting, and his son Robert was appointed in his place; 1759-04-07, Robert Pleasants recommended as an elder.

p. 208. 1801-06-06, Robert Pleasants, deceased, his executors informed Henrico Monthly Meeting that he had directed "by his will a sum of money to be annually applied for the education of Black people"; it is later shown that said Pleasants in his lifetime had set aside 350 acres of land in Henrico County, the profits of which are to maintain a school for free negro children; this school was known as Gravelly Hill and was operated successfully for many years under concern of this monthly meeting, which supplied all books, etc.

p. 207. 1777-09-06, Robert Pleasants granted a certificate to visit our banished Friends at Winchester, Va.

p. 208. 1801-06-06, Robert Pleasants, deceased, his executors informed this Monthly Meeting that he had directed "by his will a sum of money to be annually applied for the education of Black people"; it is later shown that said Pleasants in his lifetime had set aside 350 acres of land in Henrico County, the profits of which are to maintain a school for free negro children; this school was known as Gravelly Hill and was operated successfully for many years under care of this monthly meeting, which supplied all books etc.

p. 147. Robert Pleasants, son of John of Virginia, and Mary Webster, daughter of Isaac of Baltimore Co., province of Maryland, were married on the 14th day 7th month 1748 at Public Meeting of Friends at the dwelling of Isaac Webster.

About 1790 an Abolition Society was formed in Virginia. One of its leaders and its president was Robert Pleasants, whose interesting and noteworthy Letter Book has been mentioned already. This society soon numbered (1791) eighty members, and these were not all Quakers. Methodists are mentioned as being particularly prominent in it, and the absence of Baptists is noted. In 1791 it sent a petition to the Virginia Assembly against slavery. It also petitioned Congress in that year, as did the Yearly Meeting. Pleasants wished to stop the trade from Virginia to Africa for slaves. He corresponded with Patrick Henry, and quotes him as saying in 1776 that some prominent men were in favor of abolishing slavery altogether; he wrote to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, St. George Tucker, and others, and obtained a respectful hearing from all. He also contributed to the public press of Virginia on slavery and the slave trade. He urged that a law for gradual emancipation be passed, under which the children of slaves, born after a certain date, should be free. Pleasants lived to hear the encouraging report in 1796 that there was no complaint of Friends holding slaves when they could be lawfully liberated.

Robert Pleasants was the son of John Pleasants of Henrico County. John Pleasants was for many years clerk of the Upper Quarterly Meeting, and by will, dated August 12, 1771, freed all of his slaves, under limitations partially required by law but chiefly dictated by considerations for the welfare of the negroes. He desired the emancipation of those of his slaves who were thirty years old, of others when they should attain that age, and of the issue of all at that age. He made provision for the maintenance of those above forty-five. Through existing legal restrictions the testament was inoperative, and the slaves remained in the possession of his heirs until 1800, when by a decree of the High Court of Chancery of Virginia, under date of March 19, the freedom of several hundred of the slaves originally freed, and of their issue, was confirmed.

Robert Pleasants died on April 4, 1801, aged 79. He is spoken of in the monthly meeting memorial as an indulgent and prudent master.” He was a philanthropist as well. He emancipated eighty slaves. In a memorial to the Governor and Council of Virginia he says that he "did, about the year 1777, place divers of his Negroes on lands of his own, at a small distance from his habitation, and for their encouragement to industry, and to remove every induce ment to theft and dishonesty, supported them for the term of one year, and allowed them the full benefit of their labor." He also united with other Friends in soliciting the Legislature in behalf of the slaves, and “through his patronage and interposition in their favor in courts of law," had the liberty of several hundred established.

He was also interested in establishing schools for the negroes. We have already referred to the effort to establish a school in 1759 mentioned by him. He circulated, presumably about 1782, or earlier, “Proposals for Establishing a free school for the Instruction of the Children of Blacks and people of Color," in which it was "earnestly recommended to the humane and the benevolent of all denominations, chearfully to contribute to an Institution calculated to promote the spiritual and temporal interest of that unfortunate part of our fellow creatures, in forming their minds in the principles of virtue and religion, and in common or useful literature; Writing, Cyphering and Mechanic arts, as the most likely means to render so numerous a people fit for freedom and to become useful citizens.” He proposed to establish the school on a tract of his own land called Gravely [or Gravelly] Hills,” situated three miles from Four Mile Creek, Henrico County, and containing 350 acres, the whole revenue from which was to go toward its support; or in the event that the school was located else where, to give £100 to it. Ebenezer Maule, another Friend, subscribed £50.

p. 244 (5th month 1801). Robert Pleasants, an Elder and member of Curles Meeting, departed this life the 4th day of the 3rd month last