Absalom Jones (1746-1818): The Pathfinder
Interviewer: Welcome, Reverend Jones. I am so glad to meet you. I have heard you called “The Pathfinder. That is a fitting description of your life. You undoubtedly did lead many to the right path.
Reverend Jones: By the Lord’s will, yes, I did. We are all born somewhere at some time, without choice, especially for the Africans in the 1700’s. I was born a slave in Sussex County, which is southern Delaware, to an enslaver who recognized my God-given natural intelligence and curiosity. When I was a small boy, he chose to pull me out of the field and bring me into his home as his attendant. My home was at his side, my bed on the floor next to his bed. Fond of learning as I was, I kept the pennies given to me from time to time by the ladies and gentlemen who came to visit. Eventually, I was able to buy myself a primer and begged anyone available to give me instructions. Soon after that, I purchased a spelling book. As I grew, I developed a collection of books, including a Testament. My fondness for books took up much of my leisure time, and in that way, I kept myself out of a lot of trouble that my peers found themselves in while also saving what little money I could.
Interviewer: You must have been a quiet, studious child. What of your family?
Reverend Jones: The man who owned me died sometime before I turned 16. His son became our new master. He knew I would be helpful when he moved to Philadelphia to operate a store, so he took me with him but sold my mother, five brothers, and my sister. At the store in Philadelphia, it was my job to wait for customers then pack-up and carry out their goods. Sometimes I followed along behind a customer, carrying their packages to a nearby home.
Interviewer: Did you ever see your family?
Reverend Jones: I wrote letters mostly. The clerk would send them for me, and my mother could see letters written in my hand. But I needed to move forward as I grew into manhood. Manumission and a way to support myself or marry were on my mind.
Interviewer: So what did you do?
Reverend Jones: In 1766, when I was sixteen years old, I asked my master for liberty to attend night school, to which he said yes. I learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Troy weight, apothecary’s weight, and other things. These would come in handy in my adult years.
Interviewer: I read that you married when you were twenty-four years old. How did you meet her?
Reverend Jones: Mary was the slave of the King family, who attended the same congregation as my master. After we married, I proposed to buy her freedom…
Interviewer: You mean while you were still a slave yourself?
Reverend Jones: Yes. I wanted Mary to have her freedom first so our children could be born free. Her mistress, Sarah King, agreed and set the price as forty pounds for Mary’s freedom. It took some time for us to raise the money. We took loans and donations from friends, and we raised thirty pounds. Ms. King let us pay the rest over time.
Interviewer: What of your freedom, and where did you live?
Reverend Jones: Well, my master’s own family had increased, so I was busier than ever, but I rented us a house, and we set up housekeeping. I worked for seven years until late at night to establish ourselves and pay off her mistress. In 1778, when I was thirty-two years old, we finally paid off her debt, and I felt comfortable asking for my freedom, but I was not granted my freedom until six years later, on October 1, 1784; at forty years old, I was finally a freedman.
Interviewer: That is quite an auspicious beginning, Reverend Jones. Self-determination served you well and that of your wife and children. A few weeks ago, I interviewed a colleague of yours. Richard Allen?
Reverend Jones: Oh, yes. Bishop Allen! I know him quite well, quite well indeed. He was a great help back when we had some trouble with the racial prejudice from the whites at St. George’s Methodist Church. Many of the Black community attended St. George’s Methodist. White people always seemed to find some lack in Africans and in this instance, they did not like the outward show of worship that some in the Black community exhibited… well, it was the loudness and dancing that whites seemed offended by.
However, Christianity drew Africans because of Biblical passages such as King David dancing before the Lord. There is a communion between humans, nature, and the Divine throughout scripture that drew those of our culture to the Christian message. Of course, like any other culture, we have different styles. I am more reserved, but Richard Allen- my friend, colleague, and brother- is a much more outwardly expressive and fiery worshiper and preacher.
Interviewer: What kind of trouble was there, and what did you all do, Reverend Jones?
Reverend Jones: It’s not what we did. It’s what Allen did, and we all followed. When I was about forty-one, Bishop Allen was in his late twenties, and he had been traveling around Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey when the white ministers asked him to preach for us. I was not ordained then. The white church leaders further told Allen they would like our help finishing the church. We agreed because it was our church, too. But after the church began growing with more and more white folks, they pushed us off to the side and eventually up into the gallery that we built. Ms. Milcarzyk, believe me when I tell you this shameful behavior by white ministers who claimed to love and honor the Lord and His people. One Sunday morning, I and the others were in the gallery, kneeling for prayer, when a hand grabbed my arm and tried to make me stand up, a voice whispering loudly, “You cannot be here. You must move along to the back.” I told him, “Let us finish prayer, and we will.” But the man insisted and wouldn’t let go of my arm. Allen intervened, and by then, prayer was over. Our entire group stood and walked down the steps and out the door, never to return. From then on, Allen, I, and others began to worship in each other’s homes and devise a plan for building our place of community and worship.
To be continued…
