Noah Davis (Baptist minister) facts for kids
Noah Davis (born March 1804 – died April 7, 1867) was a Baptist minister. He was a man who was once enslaved but bought his own freedom and his family's freedom. Noah Davis started a church in Baltimore called the Second Colored Baptist Church. He gave talks in the northern states and wrote a book to help raise money to free his wife and children.
Early Life and Freedom
Noah Davis was born in March 1804 in Madison County, Virginia. He was born into slavery. His parents were Jane and John Davis. His father, John, worked as a head miller, which was an important job. The family's enslaver, Robert Patten, owned a big mill near Fredericksburg. Noah Davis said that Patten was kind. He also said his father had more privileges than many other enslaved people.
When Noah was twelve, he wanted to be as good as his parents. His parents were very religious Baptists. In 1816, his enslaver sold the mill. After that, Noah's parents gained their freedom. They were allowed to live on Patten's land in Culpeper County.
Noah remained enslaved. He learned skills like carpentry and farming. He was hired out as a carpenter. This meant he worked for others, and his enslaver received the money for his work. In December 1818, he became a shoemaker's apprentice in Fredericksburg. There, he learned to read and write. Even though he faced challenges in the city, he kept studying the Bible.
Becoming a Minister
Noah Davis joined the Fredericksburg Baptist Church. About 300 African Americans were members there. He was baptized on September 19, 1831. White church leaders chose him to be a deacon. They also gave him permission to preach. He first preached at a plantation.
Starting in 1845, Davis gave talks in the northern states. He also worked as a shoemaker. He did this to earn money to buy his freedom. His enslaver allowed him to travel north for this purpose. By 1847, he still did not have enough money. White Baptists from the Southern Baptist Convention gave him the rest. This was part of an agreement for him to work as a missionary.
After being ordained, he moved to Baltimore. There, he started the Second Colored Baptist Church. In 1854, the church received money for a new building. It was a four-story church and was renamed Saratoga Street African Baptist Church. The building was finished on February 18, 1855. It had a main worship area, offices, a Sunday School, and a high school. At that time, it was the largest educational building for African Americans.
In 1863, Noah Davis was a black delegate at the American Baptist Missionary Convention. This meeting was held in Washington, D.C. He and 11 other black delegates met with President Abraham Lincoln. They asked for black ministers to be able to advise African Americans. This included those fighting in the war or those who were free behind military lines. Their request was successful.
In 1866, the church faced money problems. This was due to the American Civil War and an earlier financial crisis in 1857. Because of these difficulties, the church joined with the Union Baptist Church.
Family and Freedom
At church, Noah Davis met a woman named Fanney. They got married. However, because they were both enslaved, their marriage was not legally recognized. They had children, who were also enslaved. When Noah moved to Baltimore in 1847 after buying his freedom, he had to leave his family behind.
In 1851, he bought the freedom of Fanney and their two youngest children. He bought the freedom of three more children in the 1850s. He wanted to free them before they could be sold and taken away from Virginia. He raised money by giving talks in northern cities. He also wrote a book called A Narrative of the Life of Rev. Noah Davis, a Colored Man. This book helped him get more money to free his children.
In his book, he wrote about what it was like to live in slavery. He also shared that some of his children were still enslaved. He also wrote about his religious journey. The book was published in 1859 by John Frederick Weishampel Jr..
Noah Davis spent about $4,000 (which would be worth much more today) to free himself, Fanney, and five or seven of their children. They had two or more children who were born free after Fanney was freed. In 1860, Noah and Fanney lived in Baltimore with nine children. Their ages ranged from 2 to 25 years old. Their children were Arettia, Louisa, Mary, Isabella, Jane, Sarah, Edward, Henry, and Fanney. Noah's wife, Fanney, worked as a domestic helper and laundress. Noah Davis was sick for at least six years before he passed away on April 7, 1867, in Baltimore.
Legacy and Impact
Noah Davis is remembered as an important leader. He showed great courage and made a big difference. Even though his achievements might not seem "exceptional" to some, his work was heroic and very meaningful for his community.
