Gabriel Prosser facts for kids
Gabriel (born around 1776 – died October 10, 1800), sometimes called Gabriel Prosser, was an African man born into slavery in Virginia. He was a skilled blacksmith owned by the Prosser family. Gabriel planned a large slave rebellion in the Richmond, Virginia, area in the summer of 1800.
This planned uprising became known as "Gabriel's Rebellion." Information about the revolt was shared before it could happen. Gabriel and twenty-five of his followers were hanged. Many believe Gabriel was executed at the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground. This place was historically known as the Burial Ground for Negroes.
Gabriel's rebellion was important not because it succeeded, but because of its potential. It showed the big difference between the idea of liberty and the reality of slavery in America. After this event, Virginia and other states made new laws. These laws restricted free Black people. They also stopped enslaved people from getting an education, meeting in groups, or being hired out. This was done to prevent similar rebellions.
In 2002, the City of Richmond honored Gabriel. They passed a resolution on the 202nd anniversary of his planned rebellion. In 2007, Governor Tim Kaine gave Gabriel and his followers an informal pardon. He recognized that Gabriel's goal, "the end of slavery and the furtherance of equality for all people—has prevailed in the light of history."
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Gabriel's Early Life and Skills
Gabriel was born into slavery in 1776. This was at Brookfield, a large tobacco farm in Henrico County, Virginia. He and his two brothers, Solomon and Martin, were enslaved by Thomas Prosser. Gabriel was able to read and write. This was rare, as only about 5% of enslaved people at that time could do so.
Gabriel became a trained blacksmith and a carpenter. His brother Solomon was also a blacksmith. Gabriel was often "hired out" by his enslaver to work in Richmond. He could keep a small part of the money he earned. Most of his wages went to Thomas Prosser. Gabriel traveled freely around Richmond and Henrico County for his work.
Gabriel was married to Nanny, an enslaved woman. They are not widely known to have had children by most historians. However, his living descendants would say otherwise. Newspaper articles described him as being "six feet two or three inches high." He had a long, "bony face" with two missing front teeth. He also had "two or three scars on his head." Both white and Black people saw him as "a fellow of great courage and intellect."
In 1799, Gabriel, his brother Solomon, and another man named Jupiter tried to steal a pig. Gabriel got into a fight with the owner, Absalom Johnson. For an enslaved person, assaulting a white person was a very serious crime. Gabriel could have been hanged for it. But because he was a valuable worker, the judge sentenced him to one month in jail. He also had his thumb branded. Gabriel was released when Prosser paid a bond. He also promised to behave well for a year. Historian Philip J. Schwarz said this event showed Gabriel's desire to challenge the system of slavery.
Douglas R. Egerton, who wrote Gabriel's Rebellion, described him as a "natural leader." He said Gabriel was "physically big, he was literate, he's a fighter, he's a skilled artisan."
Why Gabriel Planned the Revolt
In 1800, Richmond had about 5,700 people. There were slightly more Black people than white people. Richmond was a city where slavery was very common. Enslaved men worked hard, loading tobacco onto boats. Across Virginia in 1800, nearly 40% of the population were enslaved. They mostly lived on large farms in the Tidewater region.
Gabriel lived in Virginia during a time of big changes. He was inspired by ideas of freedom from the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. During his lifetime, the number of free people of color grew a lot in the southern states. Many enslaved people gained their freedom. This was partly due to the efforts of Methodist and Quaker groups who opposed slavery. Free Black people who escaped the Haitian Revolution also added to this number. Some of these refugees had even owned slaves themselves. Some Virginia slaveholders worried about the increasing number of free Black people in the state.
Gabriel's Rebellion: The Plan and Its End
Quick facts for kids Gabriel's Rebellion |
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| Part of the Slave Revolts in North America | |||
| Date | 1800 | ||
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| Goals | Emancipation | ||
| Resulted in | Discovered, suppressed | ||
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Some historians believe Gabriel became the leader of the planned rebellion because he was smart, could read, and was a blacksmith. In West Africa, blacksmiths were respected and sometimes feared. This was because they could make weapons. They also knew the secrets of metal and its spiritual meaning. They were connected to Ogun, the god of iron and warfare. In Virginia, enslaved Black people continued to respect blacksmiths. During the slave trade, Virginia brought blacksmiths from West Africa. Enslaved and free African-American men in Virginia taught their metalwork skills to their sons.
During the spring and summer of 1800, Gabriel started planning a revolt. His goal was to end slavery in Virginia. Plans were made with enslaved people across 10 counties. This included the cities of Richmond, Norfolk, and Petersburg, Virginia.
Gabriel and other blacksmiths turned scythe blades into many swords. They made musket balls and 50 spears. They also planned to steal muskets from a tavern. Hundreds of enslaved people from central Virginia were expected to march into Richmond. They planned to take control of the Virginia State Armory and the Virginia State Capitol. Their main goal was to hold Virginia's Governor James Monroe hostage. They hoped to negotiate for their freedom.
However, on August 30, 1800, the planned day of the attack, heavy rain flooded Richmond's streets. Two enslaved men told their owner, Mosby Sheppard, about the plans. Sheppard warned Governor Monroe. The governor then called out the state militia. They patrolled the area and began arresting those involved. Gabriel escaped downriver to Norfolk. But he was spotted and betrayed there by another enslaved man named Will "Billy" King. More than 70 enslaved men were arrested for planning a rebellion.
Gabriel was brought back to Richmond for questioning. He refused to give information. His trial was held by five justices, not a jury. A recruit, Ben Woolfolk, said that Gabriel planned to write "death or liberty" on a silk flag. This referred to Patrick Henry's famous speech from 1775. One enslaved man reportedly said, "I have nothing more to offer than what General Washington would have had to offer, had he been taken by the British and put to trial."
Gabriel, his two brothers, and 23 other enslaved people were hanged. Eight enslaved men were moved or sold outside of Virginia. Thirteen were found guilty but were pardoned by the governor. Twenty-five were found not guilty. Two men gained their freedom for telling their enslaver about the plot.
Effects of the Rebellion
Newspapers across the country reported on the rebellion. James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson worried about how the many executions would look to others. Jefferson said, "the other states & the world at large will forever condemn us if we indulge in a principle of revenge."
Fears of slave revolts often spread through communities with many enslaved people. After Gabriel's rebellion, many slaveholders greatly limited enslaved people's ability to travel. This happened after another plot was found in 1802 among enslaved boatmen. New laws were made to restrict both free Black people and enslaved people. In 1802, Virginia made it illegal for Black people, whether free or enslaved, to own or pilot a boat. Two years later, they could not meet in groups after work or on Sundays. In 1808, state lawmakers banned hiring out enslaved people. They also required freed Black people to leave the state within 12 months or risk being re-enslaved. The growing number of free Black people had to ask the government for permission to stay in Virginia.
Understanding Gabriel's Story
Historian Douglas Egerton shared new ideas about Gabriel in his book Gabriel's Rebellion (1993). He used many old documents to learn more. Egerton believed that Gabriel was inspired by working with people of different backgrounds at the foundries. These workers included Europeans, Africans, and mixed-race individuals. They hoped that Thomas Jefferson's Republican party would free them from the control of wealthy merchants.
Egerton noted that Gabriel told his followers not to kill white Methodists, Quakers, and Frenchmen. During that time, Methodists and Quakers were actively working to free enslaved people.
Remembering Gabriel
Gabriel's rebellion showed how enslaved people fought for their freedom.
- In 2002, the City of Richmond honored Gabriel. They passed a resolution on the 202nd anniversary of his execution. It called him a "patriot and freedom fighter." His death became a symbol of the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.
- The Spring Park Historic Site in Henrico County remembers Gabriel.
- In 2004, the Virginia Board of Historic Resources approved a marker. It is at the spot where Gabriel was hanged on October 10, 1800. This spot is between 15th and 16th streets, on the north side of East Broad Street.
- In 2006, the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP asked Governor Tim Kaine to pardon Gabriel. They wanted to recognize his fight for civil rights.
- On August 30, 2007, Governor Kaine informally pardoned Gabriel and his co-conspirators. Kaine said Gabriel was motivated by "his devotion to the ideals of the American revolution." He added that Gabriel's cause, "the end of slavery and the furtherance of equality of all people—has prevailed in the light of history."
Gabriel in Books and Music
- Arna Bontemps wrote Black Thunder (1936), a historical novel about Gabriel's Rebellion.
- Gigi Amateau wrote Come August, Come Freedom (2012). This is a historical fiction novel based on Gabriel's Rebellion.
- In Roots, Alex Haley's historical fiction book, the characters hear about the rebellion.
- In Sally Hemings, a 1979 novel by Barbara Chase-Riboud, Governor Monroe asks Thomas Jefferson for advice. This is about the rebels still in jail after many were executed. Hemings asks Jefferson to help them. She suggests they be sent away instead of being hanged. The novel implies Jefferson followed her advice.
- "Gabriel, the Musical" was performed in Richmond, Virginia, in 2022. It tells a story about Gabriel's plan and what happened afterward.
Songs About Gabriel
- Tim Barry, a singer from Richmond, wrote "Prosser's Gabriel." This song tells the story of Gabriel's life and the rebellion.
- Gabriel is mentioned in Public Enemy's song "Prophets of Rage."
- Gabriel is the hero of a sea shanty recorded around 1840. This song is in Frederick Marryat's book, Poor Jack.
See also
