James Poovey facts for kids

James Poovey (born around 1769) was an American man from Philadelphia. He was born into slavery. An abolitionist named Isaac Hopper wrote about him in a book called Tales of Oppression. James Poovey tried to gain his freedom by simply refusing to work. This was a non-violent way to protest.

Historians still discuss how accurate Tales of Oppression is. However, some stories in the book have been proven true by old court records. Isaac Hopper's story about James Poovey was later changed by another abolitionist writer, Lydia Maria Child. She added her own memories of how Hopper told the story.

Life and Education

In 1780, the state of Pennsylvania passed a law called "An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery". This law stopped new enslaved people from being brought into Pennsylvania. It also said that children born into slavery after this law would become free at age 28.

However, James Poovey was born about 11 years before this law. So, he could not use this law to become free.

James Poovey was enslaved by a man named Coates. Coates was a blacksmith in the Southwark District of Philadelphia. James learned the blacksmith trade, which made him very valuable to Coates.

During winter evenings, James Poovey went to a school called the Young Men's Society for the Free Instruction of Colored People. There, he met Isaac Hopper. Hopper was a Quaker and a member of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Hopper taught James Poovey how to read.

Seeking Freedom

Negotiating Freedom

In 1802, when James Poovey was about 33 years old, he tried to get his freedom from Coates. In Hopper's story, James Poovey said that staying enslaved was "a great sin". He also used the Golden Rule from Christianity, saying, "we must do as we are done by." This means treating others as you want to be treated.

First, James offered to work faithfully for Coates for seven more years if Coates would free him. But Coates said no. Then, James offered to buy his freedom by earning money working at sea. Coates also refused this idea. After these rejections, James Poovey said he would not make any more offers. He simply announced that he would refuse to work and then walked away.

Time in Jail

Coates quickly went to a judge to get an arrest warrant for James Poovey. James was arrested and put in jail. He was called "a disobedient, refractory slave."

Almost a month later, Coates visited James in jail. He asked James to change his mind and come back to work. James Poovey again refused to work for Coates. He said he understood that he might have to live the rest of his life in jail.

Becoming Free

After this, Coates asked the prison officials to keep James Poovey in jail until he agreed to work again. According to Lydia Maria Child, after James's first jail term ended, Coates arranged for him to be put in jail for another 30 days. Coates even tried to bribe James with new clothes. But James Poovey firmly refused to ever work for him again.

Coates could not sell James Poovey to someone outside of Pennsylvania. It was also unlikely he could sell him in Philadelphia. So, Coates finally gave up. After James finished his second jail sentence, he was let go without any more trouble. He became a free man, even if it wasn't officially written down by law.

See also

• History of slavery in Pennsylvania
• Timeline of abolition of slavery and serfdom
• Isaac Hopper
• Henry Box Brown
• List of slaves