27 Facts About Prince Hall

1.

Prince Hall founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and lobbied for education rights for African American children.

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2.

Prince Hall tried to gain a place for New York's enslaved and free blacks in Freemasonry, education, and the military, which were some of the most crucial spheres of society in his time.

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3.

Prince Hall was unanimously elected its Grand Master and served until his death in 1807.

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4.

Steve Gladstone, author of Freedom Trail Boston, states that Prince Hall—known for his role in creating Black Freemasonry, championing equal education rights, and fighting slavery—"was one of the most influential free black leaders in the late 1700s".

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5.

Prince Hall mentioned in his writings that New England was his homeland.

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6.

Prince Hall'storian Charles H Wesley theorized that by age 11 Prince Hall was enslaved to Boston tanner William Hall, and by 1770 was a free, literate man and had been always accounted as a free man.

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7.

Prince Hall joined the Congregational Church in 1762 at 27 years of age.

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8.

Prince Hall married an enslaved woman named Sarah Ritchie who died in 1769.

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9.

An article about Prince for Africans in America by PBS states that Prince Hall married a woman named Delia, a servant outside William Hall's household, and had a son named Primus in 1756.

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10.

In Boston, Prince Hall worked as a peddler, caterer, and leatherworker, owning his own leather shop.

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11.

Prince Hall encouraged enslaved and freed blacks to serve the American colonial military.

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12.

Prince Hall believed that if blacks were involved in the founding of the new nation, it would aid in the attainment of freedom for all blacks.

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13.

Prince Hall proposed that the Massachusetts Committee of Safety allow blacks to join the military.

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14.

Prince Hall hosted community events, such as educational forums and theatre events to improve the lives of black people.

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15.

Brother Prince Hall was interested in the Masonic fraternity because Freemasonry was founded upon ideals of liberty, equality, and peace.

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16.

Prince Hall worked within the state political arena to advance the rights of blacks, end slavery, and protect free blacks from being kidnapped by slave traders.

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17.

Prince Hall proposed a back-to-Africa movement, pressed for equal educational opportunities, and operated a school for African Americans in his home.

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18.

Prince Hall engaged in public speaking and debate, citing Christian scripture against slavery to a predominantly Christian legislative body.

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19.

Prince Hall requested that the Massachusetts Congress create a school program for black children.

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20.

Prince Hall then started a school program for free black children out of his own home with a focus on Liberal Arts and classical education.

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21.

Prince Hall is known for giving speeches and writing petitions.

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22.

Prince Hall's notable written works include the 1792 Charge and 1797 Charge.

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23.

Prince Hall addressed the importance of black leaders playing prominent roles in the shaping of the country and creation of unity.

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24.

Prince Hall was one of several free blacks in Massachusetts who presented a petition to the legislature in 1788 protesting African-American seamen being sold into slavery.

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25.

Prince Hall was involved in the Back-to-Africa movement and approached the legislature to request funds for voluntary emigration to Africa.

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26.

Prince Hall found that there was not sufficient momentum and support for the Back-to-Africa movement to make it a reality at the time.

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27.

Prince Hall died in 1807 and is buried in Copp's Hill Burying Ground in Boston along with other notable Bostonians from the colonial era.

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