Parker Pillsbury facts for kids

Parker Pillsbury (born September 22, 1809 – died July 7, 1898) was an important American minister. He was a strong supporter of ending slavery and fighting for women's rights. He spent his life working for social change.

Early Life and Ministry

Parker Pillsbury was born in Hamilton, Massachusetts. He later moved to Henniker, New Hampshire. There, he worked on a farm and as a wagon driver.

In 1835, his local Congregational church encouraged him to study. He went to Gilmanton Theological Seminary and finished in 1839. He studied more at Andover. During this time, he met social reformer John A. Collins.

Pillsbury became a minister in Loudon, New Hampshire. However, he often spoke out against churches that supported slavery. Because of his strong views, his license to preach was taken away in 1840. After this, Pillsbury joined the Free Religious Association. He preached to their groups in New York, Ohio, and Michigan.

Fighting Against Slavery

Pillsbury strongly disliked slavery. This led him to become a writer and speaker for the abolitionist movement. He also supported other important social reform issues. For more than 20 years, he worked as a speaker for anti-slavery groups. These included the New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and American antislavery societies.

He was the editor of the Herald of Freedom newspaper. This paper was based in Concord, New Hampshire. He edited it in 1840, and again in 1845 and 1846. In 1854, he traveled to Great Britain. He went as a representative for the American Anti-Slavery Society.

Pillsbury gave many talks about ending slavery and other social changes. He often spoke with another abolitionist, Stephen Symonds Foster. Pillsbury was known for handling angry crowds peacefully. He believed in non-resistance, which means not fighting back. He even served on the executive committee of the New Hampshire Non-Resistance Society.

Because of his non-resistance beliefs, Pillsbury did not actively support the Union during the American Civil War. However, he was happy about Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. This document declared many enslaved people free. He also defended John Brown's actions after the raid on Harpers Ferry. Pillsbury supported the Radical Democracy Party. This party challenged Lincoln in the 1864 presidential election. They wanted stronger actions against slavery.

In 1865, Pillsbury disagreed with his longtime friend William Lloyd Garrison. They argued about whether the American Anti-Slavery Society should continue its work. Pillsbury then edited the National Anti-Slavery Standard in 1866.

Supporting Women's Rights

In 1865, Parker Pillsbury helped write the rules for the American Equal Rights Association. This group worked for equal rights for women. He also served as the vice-president of the New Hampshire Woman Suffrage Association. This group worked to give women the right to vote.

In 1868, Pillsbury worked with feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. They were co-editors of The Revolution. This was a newsletter focused on women's rights.

Later Life and Legacy

Pillsbury finished his book about the abolitionist movement in 1883. It was called Acts of the Anti-Slavery Apostles.

His nephew, Albert E. Pillsbury, helped create the rules for the NAACP. This important organization works for civil rights for African Americans.