Introduction to the primary source written by James G. Basker, from James G. Basker (editor) with Nicole Seary, Black Writers of the Founding Era: 1760–1800 (New York: Library of America, 2023), p. 190
“In New Hampshire, too, African Americans were inspired by the Revolution to claim the right to their own freedom. The twenty enslaved men who put their names to this petition explicitly affirmed that they were ‘natives of Africa’ and, significantly, that they were all ‘forcibly detained in Slavery’—almost as if their birth in freedom abroad made their present condition an even greater moral outrage. Ranging in age from 24 to 68, each of the twenty has a remarkable story. Nero Brewster, for example, was the longtime elected ‘King’ of the black community in Portsmouth; the determined Seneca Hall had run away in 1764 and in 1776, both times recaptured; Peter Frost was owned by George Frost, a three-time New Hampshire delegate to the Continental Congress who had supported a measure to raise a black regiment from South Carolina; and Prince Whipple had already served with his master General William Whipple (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) in the Continental Army on campaigns to Saratoga and Rhode Island. Their petition was discussed and tabled, but then allowed to die in the legislature. The historical records are patchy and unclear about how many of these men achieved freedom in their lifetimes (at least 10 did), but by 1800 there were no slaves in New Hampshire.”
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State of New Hampshire
To The Honble the Council and House of Representatives of said State now siting at Exeter in and for said State———
The Petition of Nero Brewster, Pharaoh Rogers, Romeo Rindge, Cato Newmarch, Cesar Girrest, Zebulon Gardner, Quam Sherburne, Samuel Wintworth, Will Clarkson, Jack Adiorne, Cipio Hubbard, Seneca Hall, Peter Warner, Cato Warner, Pharaoh Shores, Winsor Moffatt, Garrott Cotton, Kittindge Tuckerman, Peter Frost, Prince Whipple, Natives of Africa, now
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forcably detained in Slavery in said State most humbly Sheweth that the God of Nature gave them Life and Freedom, upon the Terms of the most perfect Equality with other men; That Freedom is an inherent Right of the human Species, not to be surrendered, but by Consent, for the Sake of social Life; That private or publick Tyranny, and Slavery, are alike detestable to Minds, conscious of the equal Dignity of human Nature; That, in Power and Authority of Individuals, derived solely from a Principle of Coercion, against the Will of Individuals, and to dispose of their Persons and Properties, consists the compleatest Idea of private and political Slavery; That all men being ameniable to the Deity, for the ill Improvement of the Blessings of his Providence, they hold themselves in Duty bound, strenuously to exert every Faculty of their Minds, to obtain that Blessings of Freedom, which they are justly intitled to from the Donation of the beneficient Creator; That thro’ Ignorance and brutish Violence of their native Countrymen, and by the sinister Designs of others (who ought, to have taught them better) and by the Avarice of both; They, while with Children, and incapable of Self Defence, whose Infamy might have prompted Protection, were seized imprisoned and transported from their native Country, where (Tho’ Ignorance and Inchristianity prevail’d) They were born free, to a Country, where (tho’ Knowledge, Christianity and Freedom, are their Boast) They are compelled & their unhappy Posterity to drag on their Lives in miserable Servitude!— Thus, often is the Parent’s Cheek wet for the Loss of a Child, torn by the cruel hand of Violence from her aking Bosom! Thus, often, and in vain, is the Infants Sigh for the nurturing Care of its bereaved Parent! and thus, do the Ties of Nature and Blood, become Victims; to cherish the Vanity and Luxury of a Fellow Mortal! Can this be Right? Forbid it gracious Heaven!———
Permit again your humble Slaves to lay before this Honarable Assembly, some of those Greivances which they dayly experiance and feel; Tho’ Fortune hath dealt out our Portions with ruged hand, yet hath she smiled in the Disposal of our Persons to those, who claim us as their Property; of them, as Masters, we do not complain: But from what Authority, They assume the Power to dispose of our Lives, Freedom and Property, we would wish to know; Is it from the sacred Volumes of Christianity?
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Here we believe it is not to be found! but here hath the cruel hand of Slavery made us incompetent Judges, hence Knowledge is hid from our Minds! Is it from the Volumes of the Laws? of these also, Slaves can not be Judges, but those, we are told are founded in Reason and Justice; it cannot be found there! Is it from the Volumes of Nature? No! Here we can read with others! of this Knowledge Slavery can not wholly deprive us, Here, we know that we ought to be free Agents! Here, we feel the Dignity of Humman Nature! Here, we feel the Passions and Desins of men, tho’ check’d by the Rod of Slavery! Here, we feel a Just Equality! Here, we know that the God of Nature made us free! Is there authority assumed from Custom? if so, Let that Custom be abolished, which is not founded in Nature, Reason nor Religion, Should the Humanity and Benevolence of this Honorable Assembly restore us to that State of Liberty of which we have been so long deprived, We conceive that those, who are our present Masters, will not be Sufferers by our Liberation, as we have most of us spent our whole Strength, and the Prime of our Lives in their Service; And as Freedom inspires a noble Confidence and gives the Mind an Emulation to vie in the noblest Efforts of Interprize, and as Justice and Humanity, are the Result of your Deliberations; we nobly fondly Hope that the Eye of Pitty and the Heart of Justice may commiserate our Situation and put us upon the Equality of Freemen and give us an Opportunity of evincing to the World our Love of Freedom, by exerting ourselves in her Cause, in opposing the Efforts of Tyranny and Oppression over the Country in which we ourselves have been so long injurously inslaved——
Therefore your humble Slaves most devoutly Pray for the sake of injured Liberty, for the Sake of Justice, Humanity, and the Rights of Mankind; for the Honour of Religion, and by all that is dear, that your Honours would graciously interpose in our Behalf, and enact such Laws and Regulations, as you in your Wisdom think proper, whereby we may regain our Liberty & be rank’d in the Class of free Agents, and that the Name of Slave may not more be heard in a Land gloriously contending for the Sweets of Freedom; And your humble Slaves as in Duty bound will ever Pray,
| Nero Brewster Pharaoh Rogers Romeo Rindge Cato Newmarch Cesar Gorrish Zebulon Gardner Quam Sherburne Samuel Wentworth Will Clarkson Jack Odiorne |
Cipio Hubbard Seneca Hall Peter Warner Cato Warner Pharaoh Shores Winsor Moffatt Garrett Cotton Kittindge Tuckerman Peter Frost Prince Whipple |
Portsmouth November 12th 1779
Source: Nero Brewster et al.: “Petition to the New Hampshire State Legislature, November 12, 1779,” Manuscript, New Hampshire State Archive, Concord, New Hampshire. In James G. Basker (editor) with Nicole Seary, Black Writers of the Founding Era: 1760–1800, New York: Library of America, 2023, pp. 190–193.