Lucy Terry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lucy Terry
Born	c. 1733 Africa
Died	1821 (aged 87–88) Sunderland, Vermont
Spouse(s)	Abijah Prince ​ ​ (m. 1756; died 1794)​
Children	6

Lucy Terry Prince (around 1733–1821) was an important American writer and early settler. She was born in Africa and, as a child, was brought to America and lived under slavery in the British colony of Rhode Island. Later, her future husband bought her freedom before they married in 1756. Lucy Terry Prince wrote a famous poem called "Bars Fight". This poem describes an event from 1746 where two families had a conflict with Native Americans. Her poem was passed down by word of mouth for many years. It was finally published in 1854. "Bars Fight" is known as the oldest piece of literature by an African American.

Early Life and Family

Lucy Terry was born in Africa around 1733. When she was a baby, she was brought to Rhode Island and lived as an enslaved person. At about five years old, she was moved to Ebenezer Wells' home in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Wells allowed young Lucy to be baptized into the Christian faith. This happened during a time of religious revival called the Great Awakening.

In 1756, Lucy married Abijah Prince, a successful free Black man from Curaçao. He had bought Lucy's freedom before their marriage. A justice of the peace named Elijah Williams married them. In 1764, the Prince family moved to Guilford, Vermont. They had six children there: Tatnai, Cesar, Drucilla, Durexa, Abijah Jr., and Festus. Their son Cesar later fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Poetry and Stories

Lucy Terry Prince was well-known in her time for her "rhymes and stories." Sadly, most of her writings have been lost over the years. We know her family sometimes bought paper, so it's likely she wrote more than what has survived. Only small parts of her work were printed while she was alive. One complete poem was published many decades later.

"Bars Fight" Poem

Lucy Terry Prince's poem, "Bars Fight", was written in 1746. It is a ballad, which is a type of poem that tells a story. The poem describes an event that happened on August 25, 1746. This was a conflict involving two families and Native Americans in an area of Deerfield called "The Bars." "The Bars" was a colonial name for a meadow.

For many years, people remembered and shared this poem by telling it to each other. It was finally published in 1854 in The Springfield Daily Republican newspaper. It appeared as a part of a book by J. G. Holland. Holland called her "Luce Bijah," using part of her husband's name.

"Bars Fight" is considered the oldest known piece of literature by an African American. However, Phillis Wheatley's book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was the first book by an African American to be printed in 1773.

"Fightiad" Poem Fragment

In 2024, a small part of another poem by Lucy Terry Prince was found. It seems to be called "Fightiad." This fragment was in an old newspaper from 1818. The poem talks about Colonel Ephraim Williams, who died in the French and Indian War. His brother was the person who married Lucy and Abijah. Even though it's just a small piece, it gives us a glimpse into her other writings.

Standing Up for Her Family

Lucy Terry Prince and Abijah Prince became successful farmers in Guilford, Vermont. However, they faced serious challenges because of a disagreement with their neighbor, John Noyes. Their neighbor caused problems for their farm and started unfair legal cases against them. The Princes won every case, but the problems continued.

In 1785, Lucy bravely spoke in front of the Governor of Vermont. She explained her family's situation. The Governor agreed that she and her husband had been treated unfairly. Soon after, a group of people, encouraged by their neighbor, caused great damage to their farm, destroying crops and property. This was a very difficult time for the family. The state of Vermont punished the people who caused the damage.

Later, in 1803, Lucy, who was facing financial hardship, went to the Vermont Supreme Court. She argued on behalf of her sons about unfair land claims. She won the case and was awarded $200. She was the first woman to argue a case in Vermont's highest court. She stood strong against two of the state's best lawyers.

In 1806, Lucy convinced the town leaders of Sunderland, Vermont to buy more land for her family. This helped her provide for them. The land cost an additional $200 (~$3.74 thousand in 2022).

Lucy also tried to get her son Festus admitted to Williams College. She reportedly gave a long speech to the college's leaders. Sadly, Festus was not allowed to attend because of unfair rules that prevented students of color from enrolling. People in her hometown remembered Lucy as a popular person. Young boys would often visit her home to hear her talk and tell stories.

Later Years and Legacy

Lucy's husband, Abijah, passed away in 1794. By 1803, Lucy had moved to Sunderland, Vermont. She continued to ride her horse every year to visit her husband's grave until she died in 1821.

An obituary for Lucy Prince was published on August 21, 1821. It appeared in The Frankylin Herald newspaper in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The obituary described her as a remarkable woman with many special qualities. It noted that she was a great speaker and that her words were full of wisdom and education. She was highly respected by everyone who knew her. It also mentioned details about her life, such as her age (97), her baptism, her marriage to Abijah Prince in 1756, and that she was a mother of six children.

The Prince family was remembered in Guilford for many years after they passed away. Their story continues to be an important part of Vermont's history.