Abraham Elliot Griffiths facts for kids
Abraham Elliot Griffiths (born sometime in the 1700s – died 1802) was an important person who helped start the country of Sierra Leone in West Africa. He was one of the first settlers there.
Griffiths had a mixed background, with both African and Welsh family roots.
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Early Life and Education
When Abraham Elliot Griffiths was in London, he met a kind man named Granville Sharp. Sharp became his helper, or "patron." This meant Sharp paid for Griffiths to learn how to read and write. This was a big help for Griffiths.
Helping to Start a New Colony
Griffiths became a leader among a group called the "Black Poor" in London. This group helped many people who were struggling. He played a very important role in organizing the first trip to Sierra Leone in 1787. This trip was meant to start a new colony for people who had been enslaved or were poor in London.
Abraham Elliot Griffiths also helped share news about the new colony. He wrote letters to London newspapers to tell everyone about Sierra Leone. Later, he moved to a place called Rogbana. There, he became a translator and an adviser to a local leader named Naimbanna II. He also married Naimbanna II's daughter, who became known as Clara.
Working with the Sierra Leone Company
In 1792, a group called the Sierra Leone Company hired Griffiths as a translator. He was recommended for this job by Alexander Falconbridge. However, Griffiths supported another leader, Thomas Peters. Peters wanted the settlers to have a bigger say in how the colony was run. Because of this, the Sierra Leone Company did not fully trust Griffiths.
Abraham Elliot Griffiths faced challenges later in his life and passed away in 1802.
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