Eunice Davis facts for kids

Eunice Russ Ames Davis (born October 22, 1800 – died 1901) was an important abolitionist. This means she worked to end slavery. She was one of the people who helped start the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. In 1896, The New York Times newspaper called her the "oldest living female abolitionist in the world."

Eunice's Early Life and Family

Eunice Davis was born Eunice Russ in North Andover, Massachusetts. Her father, Prince Ames, was a Black American Revolutionary War patriot. This means he fought for America's freedom during the American Revolution.

Her mother, Eunice Russ, had a white mother and a Native American father. Because her father served in the Revolutionary War, Eunice joined the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was special in this group because of her mixed heritage.

Eunice married her first husband, Robert Ames, in 1819. They had two sons and one daughter. Her family lived in Lowell, Massachusetts. Sadly, Eunice became a widow in 1825 when Robert died. After his death, Eunice moved to Boston. There, she married her second husband, John Davis. John Davis was an African American Baptist minister.

Fighting for Freedom: Abolitionist Work

Eunice Davis was a very religious person. She was the leader of the first independent Baptist Female Society. She went to the Zion church in Boston, where she met other people who wanted to end slavery. Davis worked with other abolitionists like Margarett Scarlett and Eliza Ann Logan Lawton. They fought against segregation in Boston's public schools. Segregation meant keeping Black and white students separate.

In 1833, Eunice helped create the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. She became an officer in this group. She helped gather signatures for petitions. These petitions asked for laws to end slavery. She also strongly supported other abolitionists. One important person she supported was William Lloyd Garrison. He was the editor of a newspaper called The Liberator. This newspaper spoke out against slavery and other issues.

Some members of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society disagreed with Garrison. They felt his anti-government and anti-church ideas went too far. This caused a split in the group. In 1840, those who didn't support Garrison formed their own group. It was called the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.

In 1839, Davis and other members of her group asked the Massachusetts government to change a law. This law stopped people of different races from marrying each other. The law was finally removed in 1843. When Eunice was in her nineties, The New York Times newspaper called her the "oldest living female abolitionist in the world."

Later Life and Lasting Impact

Eunice Davis passed away in Boston in 1901. She lived longer than both her husband and her children. She was buried at Brookdale Cemetery.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) considers Davis a "Real Daughter." This means she was the actual daughter of a soldier or patriot from the American Revolution. She was a member of the DAR's Old South Chapter. Her work helped to make America a more equal place.