Quock Walker facts for kids

Quock Walker, also known as Kwaku or Quork Walker, was an enslaved man who lived in Massachusetts. He was born in 1753. Quock Walker became famous for winning his freedom in court in June 1781. His case used words from the new Massachusetts Constitution (1780), which said that all people are born free and equal.

This important court case helped end slavery in Massachusetts. Even though the constitution wasn't changed to specifically ban slavery, Massachusetts was the first state to fully get rid of it. By 1790, official records showed no enslaved people in the state.

Early Life of Quock Walker

Quock Walker was born in Massachusetts in 1753. His parents, Mingo and Dinah, were also enslaved. They were thought to be from Ghana, a country in Africa. Quock's name, Kwaku, comes from the Akan language. It means "boy born on Wednesday," which was a common naming practice among the Akan people.

When Quock was about one year old, his family was bought by James Caldwell. Caldwell was a well-known person in Worcester County. Mr. Caldwell promised Quock that he would be free when he turned 25.

When Quock was 10, James Caldwell died. His wife, Mrs. Caldwell, then promised Quock his freedom at age 21. Later, Mrs. Caldwell married Nathaniel Jennison in 1769. She died around 1772, when Quock was 19 years old.

When Quock was supposed to become free, Jennison refused to let him go. Jennison felt he didn't have to keep his late wife's promise. In 1781, Quock Walker was 28 years old. He decided to run away. He found work on a nearby farm owned by Seth and John Caldwell, who were brothers of his first owner.

Jennison found Quock and brought him back. He beat Quock badly as punishment. After this, Quock sued Jennison for hitting him. At the same time, Jennison sued the Caldwell brothers. He claimed they had encouraged Quock to leave him.

Slavery in Massachusetts

By the mid-1700s, having enslaved African people was common in Massachusetts. A count in 1754 showed almost 4,500 enslaved people in the colony. However, ideas about ending slavery, called abolitionist ideas, were growing stronger. This was especially true as people talked more about independence and democracy.

Massachusetts had made money from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. But its economy, which included merchants and different types of businesses, didn't rely on enslaved labor as much as southern states did.

In 1781, an enslaved woman named Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mum Bett, also sued for her freedom. She won her case in a local court. She argued that slavery didn't fit with the state constitution's idea that "all men are born free and equal." Her case was mentioned in the state court during Quock Walker's trials.

Important Court Cases

In 1780, Judge John Lowell helped write the new Massachusetts state constitution. He is known for writing the part that says "all men are born free and equal."

Chief Justice William Cushing

There were three court cases linked to Quock Walker's situation. Two were civil cases (about disagreements between people), and one was a criminal case (about a crime). These cases happened during the American Revolutionary War. At this time, people were talking a lot about equality. The new Massachusetts constitution had also just been passed in 1780.

The civil cases were:

• Jennison v. Caldwell: Jennison sued the Caldwells, saying they took his "servant," Quock Walker.
• Quock Walker v. Jennison: Quock Walker sued Jennison for assault and battery (hitting him).

Both cases were heard by the Worcester County Court of Common Pleas on June 12, 1781.

In the first case, Jennison argued that the Caldwells had encouraged Quock to leave him. The court agreed with Jennison and ordered the Caldwells to pay him 25 pounds.

In Quock Walker's case, his lawyers argued that the idea of slavery went against the Bible. They also said it went against the new Massachusetts Constitution (1780). The jury decided that Quock Walker was a free man under the constitution. They also awarded him 50 pounds in damages.

Both decisions were appealed, meaning they were taken to a higher court. Jennison's appeal against Quock's freedom was thrown out in September 1781 by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. This happened because Jennison didn't show up or his lawyers didn't turn in the right papers. The Caldwells won their appeal. A new jury agreed that Quock Walker was a free man. This meant the Caldwells had the right to employ him and didn't owe Jennison any money.

In September 1781, a third case was started by the Attorney General against Jennison. This was a criminal case called Commonwealth v. Jennison, for hitting Quock Walker. In his instructions to the jury, Chief Justice William Cushing said that slavery was not consistent with the new constitution. He explained that the constitution declared all men are born free and equal. This meant that slavery was against the law of Massachusetts.

The court decisions in Walker v. Jennison and Commonwealth v. Jennison laid the groundwork for ending slavery in Massachusetts. No new law was passed, but slavery slowly ended in the state over the next ten years. The rulings in the Elizabeth Freeman and Quock Walker trials took away the legal support for slavery. Many enslavers formally freed their enslaved people and paid them for their work. Others were "freed" but had to work as indentured servants for a long time. By 1790, the official count showed no enslaved people in Massachusetts.

Quock Walker's Family

Quock Walker married Elizabeth Harvey on February 6, 1788, in Barre. Records show he was living in Barre, Massachusetts, in the 1790 census. He likely died before 1810.

His sister, Minor Walker (born 1752), married Peter Pitts Peters Sr. in 1792. Around 1820, Minor, Peter, and their eleven children moved from Barre, Massachusetts to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Some of their children, like Walker Lewis, Peter Lewis Jr., and Andress Lewis, later moved to the new town of Lowell, Massachusetts. There, they married, raised their families, and worked for many years.

See also

• Elizabeth Freeman, also known as "Mum Bett", an enslaved woman who won her freedom in court in 1781. Her case was used as an example in Walker v. Jennison.
• Walker Lewis, Quock Walker's nephew, who became one of the first African-American Mormon Elders.
• American slave court cases
• List of slaves