Massasoit Guards facts for kids
The Massasoit Guards were a group of African-American men in Boston who formed their own military company in the 1850s. They wanted to protect their community, especially from people called slave catchers. These slave catchers tried to capture formerly enslaved people who had escaped to freedom in the North. John P. Coburn, a clothing store owner, started the group. Even though they tried many times, the state of Massachusetts never officially recognized them. The Massasoit Guards helped pave the way for later groups like the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
Contents
History of the Massasoit Guards
Why the Guards Were Formed
In 1850, a new law called the Fugitive Slave Law was passed. This law made it harder for formerly enslaved people to be safe in Northern cities like Boston. It meant that slave catchers could legally come North and try to take people back to slavery.
Because of this danger, Black communities in many Northern cities started forming their own groups for protection. These groups were like local militias. For example, there were the Attucks Guards in New York City and the Hannibal Guards in Pittsburgh. In Boston, the first group like this was the Massasoit Guards.
Who Started the Group
The Massasoit Guards were founded in 1854 by John P. Coburn. He owned a clothing store in Boston's Beacon Hill area. Coburn was also part of groups that helped people escape slavery. He was the captain of the Massasoit Guards.
The group was named after Massasoit, a Native American leader from the 1600s. He was a chief of the Wampanoag people and was known for being friendly with early settlers in Massachusetts.
Some people wondered why the Massasoit Guards were only for Black men. One newspaper editor asked why they would separate themselves when they had fought against being separated in schools.
The Massasoit Guards might have been active even before 1854. Some historians believe members of the group helped in the rescue of Shadrach Minkins in 1851. Minkins had escaped slavery and was arrested in Boston. A group of about 20 Black activists, including John Coburn, stormed the courthouse and helped Minkins escape.
Trying to Become Official
In the mid-1850s, a lawyer named Robert Morris tried many times to get the Massasoit Guards recognized by the state of Massachusetts. He wanted them to be part of the official Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. At that time, state and federal laws said that only white men could serve in the militia.
Many white people were worried about Black men having weapons and military training. Because they were not allowed to use state weapons, the Massasoit Guards bought their own gear. They continued to operate as a protective group for several years, even without official recognition.
Morris and other supporters argued that Black people were born in America, unlike many immigrants who were arriving in Boston. They said that some of the Massasoit Guards' ancestors had been in America long before any white Europeans. Despite these arguments, their requests were denied. Eventually, the Massasoit Guards became frustrated and disbanded.
