Amos Beman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amos Beman
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| Born | 1812 |
| Died | 1872 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Pastor |
| Known for | Abolitionism |
Amos Gerry Beman (1812-1872) was an important African American pastor and social activist from Connecticut. He lived in the 1800s and was a strong leader in the movement to end slavery.
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Amos Beman's Early Life
Amos Beman was born in Colchester, Connecticut. Later, his family moved to Middletown, Connecticut. His grandfather, Cesar, became a free man by fighting in the Revolutionary War. He took the name Beman to show his right to "be a man."
Amos's father, Jehiel Beman, was also a pastor. He led the Cross Street AME Zion Church in Middletown. Jehiel was very involved in social justice movements. Amos followed in his father's footsteps, choosing a path of study and ministry. He attended the Oneida Institute.
Amos Beman briefly studied with Samuel Dole at Wesleyan University. However, he faced challenges there and could not continue his studies. After this, Beman moved to Hartford, Connecticut to begin his career.
Amos Beman's Family Life
Around 1835, Amos Beman married Eunice Jeffrey. They had five children together: Mary, Amos, Fannie, Charles, and Emma. In 1856, their daughter Mary married Richard Mason Hancock. Mary, her husband, and her brother Charles moved to Lockport, New York.
Sadly, in August of that year, Amos's wife Eunice and his son Amos passed away from illness. Six months later, their daughter Fannie also passed away.
In 1858, Beman married Eliza Kennedy Howell. This marriage caused some difficulties for him at his church. Eliza had two daughters from her first marriage, Eliza and Catherine Romena. Both daughters married ministers in 1864. Eliza Beman passed away from illness in November 1864.
Amos's son Charles served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. He passed away in 1875. Amos's daughter Emma lived in New Haven, Connecticut until she passed away in 1910. Amos Beman married a third time to Mary Allen.
Amos Beman as a Pastor
In 1841, Amos Beman became the pastor of the Temple Street African Church in New Haven, Connecticut. This was a very old and respected African American church. Beman served there for 17 years.
He often faced financial difficulties and sometimes could not take a salary. Despite these challenges, his church grew a lot. Many people admired Beman for his leadership and dedication. He resigned as pastor after his second marriage.
As a pastor, Beman was active in many causes. He spoke out against alcohol use (the temperance movement). He strongly supported the anti-slavery movement. He also helped people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. Beman was a big supporter of African Americans gaining the right to vote in Connecticut.
Fighting for Change: Abolitionism and Social Activism
Amos Beman was a key leader in the fight against slavery and for civil rights for African Americans. He attended many meetings and councils to promote these causes. He worked hard to get African Americans the right to vote in Connecticut. Even though his efforts did not succeed at the time, he continued to write for important African American newspapers. These included Frederick Douglass' North Star.
Beman was known for opening his church to people who had escaped slavery. As the Civil War got closer, he traveled around the country. He gave speeches about the anti-slavery movement. His speeches were printed in many newspapers.
He was also a strong supporter of the temperance movement, which aimed to reduce alcohol use. He was the president of the Connecticut Society of the Negro Temperance Movement. In 1855, Beman was the president of the Colored National Convention in Philadelphia. This meeting discussed important issues like slavery, voting rights, and moral reform.
Amos Beman kept four scrapbooks of articles. These scrapbooks documented important moments and ideas he cared about. You can see them at the Yale library today.
