Betsey Stockton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Betsey Stockton
Betsey Stockton, circa 1863
Born	c. 1798 Princeton, New Jersey
Died	October 24, 1865 Princeton, New Jersey
Resting place	Cooperstown, New York
Occupation	Educator and Missionary

Betsey Stockton (born around 1798 – died 1865) was an amazing American educator and missionary. She traveled all the way to Hawaii to teach and help others. Her life story shows how she overcame many challenges to make a big difference in the world.

Early Life and Education

Betsey Stockton was born in Princeton, New Jersey, around 1798. At that time, she was born into slavery. This meant she was owned by another person. When she was a child, her owner, Robert Stockton, gave her to his daughter. His daughter was married to Reverend Ashbel Green. Reverend Green was the president of the College of New Jersey, which is now Princeton University.

Most of what we know about Betsey's early life comes from Reverend Green's diary. This diary shows that he controlled her life. It often leaves out important details about Betsey herself. At one point, Betsey was sent to work for Reverend Green's nephew, Nathaniel Todd. She seemed to do well there. However, she had to return to Green's home in 1816.

Becoming Free and Learning

In 1817, Betsey joined the First Presbyterian Church in Princeton. It is believed she became free around this time. She chose the last name Stockton for herself. This likely honored her former owners, the Stockton family. It might also suggest her father was a white Stockton.

After gaining her freedom, Betsey stayed with the Green family as a paid helper. She learned to read, possibly with help from Reverend Green's sons. She spent a lot of time reading books in Reverend Green's large library. She became very good at reading. She could even read religious and scholarly books in different languages. Betsey was a very religious person. She felt a strong desire to become a missionary in Africa.

Journey to Hawaii

Betsey Stockton heard about a plan. Charles S. Stewart, a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, was going to Hawaii. At that time, Hawaii was known as the Sandwich Islands. He was going there as a missionary. Betsey wanted to go with him and his family.

Becoming a Missionary

Dr. Green and Betsey's Sabbath school teacher wrote letters for her. These letters recommended her to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The Board then officially made Stockton a missionary. She was only the second single American woman to be sent overseas as a missionary. Her agreement said she would go "neither as an equal nor as a servant, but as a humble Christian friend." It also said she would not do more housework than the other missionaries.

Life and Teaching in Hawaii

The missionary team left New Haven, Connecticut, on November 22, 1822. Their journey by ship lasted five months. The Stewarts and Betsey Stockton settled in Lāhainā on the island of Maui. Betsey was special for many reasons. She was the first unmarried woman from the U.S. to travel to Hawaii as a missionary. Most women went with their husbands. She was also the first African American to serve as a missionary in Hawaii.

Betsey became the teacher of the first mission school. This school was open to all people in Hawaii, not just chiefs. She also trained local Hawaiian teachers. These teachers took over her work when she left. Betsey returned to the U.S. with the Stewarts in 1825. This was because Mrs. Stewart was not well. Parts of Betsey's diary from Hawaii were published in a newspaper called the Christian Advocate.

Later Life and Legacy

Betsey Stockton continued to live with the Stewart family until at least 1830. She taught for a short time at a school for young children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also started a school for Indigenous children at Grape Island in Canada.

Return to Princeton

In 1835, Betsey returned to Princeton. She taught in a school for people of color there until she passed away on October 24, 1865. In 1840, she helped create Princeton's First Presbyterian Church of Color. This church was later renamed the Witherspoon Street Church in 1848. Betsey Stockton was buried in Cooperstown, New York, next to the Stewart family. Her life shows her dedication to education and helping others.