Free African Union Society facts for kids
The Free African Union Society was a very important group started in 1780 in Newport, Rhode Island. It was the first "mutual aid society" in America created by and for African Americans. A mutual aid society is a group where members help each other, especially when someone is sick, needs money, or needs support.
Some of the people who helped start this society were Prince Amy, Lincoln Elliot, Bristol Yamma, Zingo Stevens, and Newport Gardner. They wanted to create a place where Black people could support each other and build a stronger community.
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Why the Society Was Needed
Even though Rhode Island had a law against slavery in 1652, it wasn't really followed. By 1750, Rhode Island actually had more enslaved people than any other state in New England. Enslaved Black people worked in many jobs, like sailors, farm workers, and house servants.
Slavery in Rhode Island only started to end slowly after a law called the Gradual Emancipation Act was passed in March 1784. Even after this, Newport was a busy port city and continued to be a center for the slave trade until at least 1807.
At that time, most help for people in need came from groups controlled by white people. Because of this, free Black people across the United States started their own mutual aid societies. These groups offered places to gather, spiritual help, and money to their members.
The Free African Union Society in Newport was the very first of these groups for Black people in the United States. Other similar societies soon formed in other cities, like the Free African Society in Philadelphia, which started in 1787.
How the Society Helped Its Members
Newport was a major port for the slave trade, so it had one of the largest populations of both enslaved and free Black people in the American Colonies.
The Free African Union Society of Newport officially began on November 10, 1780. It was founded by Newport Gardner (also known as Occramer Marycoo), Zingo Stevens, and Prince Amy. Their main goals were to help those who were poor or sick. They also wanted to show the wider white community that Black people could be responsible and helpful citizens.
The society provided many important services:
- They made sure members received proper burials.
- They cared for widows and children who had lost their parents.
- They actively supported the movement to end slavery.
- They kept important records about Black people in the community.
- They even helped young enslaved Black apprentices by hiring them, hoping they could earn enough money to buy their freedom.
We know the names of at least 85 members of the Free African Union Society who joined between 1787 and 1810. Some of the founding members included Abraham Casey, Salmar Nubia, Quam Bowers, Zingo Stevens, Quash Mowat, Cubber Rodman, Cudjo Hicks, Congo Jenkins, Cuffe Mumford, and Arthur Tikey.
In 1824, the society changed its name to the Colored Union Church and Society. This showed their strong connection to the church community.
Early Black Churches in Newport
Churches were very important to the African American community in Newport, just as they were in many other places. They served as centers for social life, support, and worship.
Newport's first church for people of African heritage was the Union Colored Congregational Church, which was officially started in 1824 at 49 Division Street. Other important Black churches followed:
- Mount Zion AME Church began in 1845 at 1 Zion Place.
- Shiloh Baptist Church started in 1869 at 29 School Street.
- Mount Olivet Church was founded in 1897 at 79 Thames Street.
Newport is also home to a special African-American burying ground called "God's Little Acre." This site might have the largest and oldest collection of burial markers for both enslaved and free Africans from that time period. It's a very important historical place.
See also
- Benefit society
- Free African Society, Philadelphia
- Garrison Literary and Benevolent Association, New York
- List of African American newspapers in Rhode Island
