Letter, 1862 Nov. 17 (Newburgh [N.Y.]), to B[enson John] Lossing (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)

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Letter, 1862 Nov. 17 (Newburgh [N.Y.]), to B[enson John] Lossing (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/709592197

Letter enclosing transcription of "the Negro Hymn of Freedom" given to Forsyth by "George Thompson the English Antislavery Missionary... to this country in 1835." The song was alleged to have originated during the planning stages of a slave rebellion in Charleston, S.C., during the War of 1812. The catalyst for revolt was to be the commotion and confusion that would follow an anticipated invasion of British troops, who never appeared; Forsyth's letter appears to include an alternate reason for the abandonment of the plan. Forsyth expressed uncertainty as to how Thompson had come to collect the lyrics, but he vowed that "the full evidence of its genuineness... was conclusive"; Forsyth attributed the lyrics to an unidentified leader of "an intended Slave insurrection in South Carolina in 1813" planned among slaves in Charleston and vicinity; "...they held secret nightly assemblies on one of the islands near Charleston, at which, the proceedings were opened and closed by singing the Hymn. The movement of the Slaves was contingent upon the descent of British forces on the coast of Carolina; the British force was anxiously looked for, but as it never came, the Rising of the Slaves was abandoned," although Forsyth's story concludes with anecdote that when the group discussed "What should be done with the Whites? Some advocated an indiscriminate massacre as the only security of Liberty." The author of the hymn was said to have expressed his affection for his master, and his intent to protect him, after which "The project was instantly given up." Forsyth speaks favorably on the quality of the verses, "I think you will agree... that the above is no mean addition to Negro Literature."

1 item.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8052988

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qc064d (person)

Historian, author. From the description of Transcriptions of documents, n.d. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122583022 Wood engraver, author, editor. From the description of Benson J. Lossing papers, 1861-1891. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 51576931 From the description of Papers, 1861-1891. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155519295 Benson John Lossing, editor, illustrator, and historian born in New York. Edited the Poughkeepsie Telegraph, Poughk...

Thompson, George, 1804-1878

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jm2zsn (person)

George Donisthorpe Thompson, English slavery abolitionist. From the description of George Thompson manuscript material : 1 item, [ca. 1837?] (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 739732839 English abolitionist. From the description of Autograph entry signed : Salem, Ohio, 1864 Dec. 8. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 639601027 ...

Forsyth, John, 1810-1886

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kw61jx (person)

John Forsyth, professor and Reformed minister, was born in Newburgh, N.Y., on December 31, 1810, the eldest son of John and Jane (Currie) Forsyth. He received a bachelor's degree from Rutgers College in 1829, a master's from Union College in 1834, and the Doctor of Divinity from Rutgers College in 1842. Forsyth taught Latin at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) from 1846 to 1853, and taught Hebrew and archaeology in the Reformed Theological Seminary (Newburgh, N.Y.) from 1853 t...