Quock Walker facts for kids

Quock Walker, also known as Kwaku or Quork Walker, was an enslaved American born around 1753. He became famous for winning his freedom suit case in June 1781. This court case used an important idea from the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts: "All men are born free and equal."

His victory helped to end slavery in Massachusetts. Even though the constitution wasn't changed to specifically ban slavery, these court decisions made it clear that slavery was against the state's founding principles. Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to completely end slavery. By 1790, official records showed no enslaved people in the state.

Quock Walker: A Fight for Freedom

Early Life and the Promise of Freedom

Quock Walker was born in Massachusetts in 1753. His parents, Mingo and Dinah, were also enslaved. They were believed to be from the Akan people of West Africa. Quock was likely named Kwaku, which means "boy born on Wednesday" in the Akan language. This was a common way to name children among the Akan people.

In 1754, James Caldwell bought Quock and his family. Caldwell was from a well-known family in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Caldwell promised Quock that he would be free when he turned 25 years old.

The Massachusetts Constitution and Freedom

During the mid-1700s, many African people were enslaved in Massachusetts. A count in 1754 showed almost 4,500 enslaved people in the colony. However, more and more people started to believe that slavery was wrong. This idea grew stronger as people talked about independence and democracy during the American Revolutionary War.

Massachusetts made money from the Atlantic slave trade. But its economy was not as dependent on enslaved labor as the Southern states. In the South, farms relied heavily on forced labor to grow crops.

In 1780, Massachusetts created a new state constitution. This important document, mainly written by John Adams, stated a powerful idea: "all men are born free and equal." This statement became a key argument for freedom.

In 1781, an enslaved woman named Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mum Bett, sued for her freedom. She won her case by arguing that slavery went against the constitution's declaration that "All men are born free and equal." Her case helped set a precedent for Quock Walker's cases soon after.

Quock Walker's Legal Battle

Quock Walker's fight for freedom involved three court cases between 1781 and 1783. This happened during the American Revolutionary War, a time when ideas about equality were very important.

The Promise Broken

When James Caldwell died in 1763, his widow married Nathaniel Jennison. After she died a few years later, Quock Walker became Jennison's property.

When Quock turned 25, the age Caldwell had promised him freedom, Jennison refused to let him go. Jennison broke the promise made by his late wife. So, in 1781, Quock ran away. He found work on a nearby farm owned by Seth and John Caldwell, who were brothers of his first enslaver.

Jennison found Quock, brought him back, and beat him badly as punishment. Soon after, Quock Walker decided to take Jennison to court for attacking him. The main question for the court was whether Jennison had the right to beat Quock, or if Quock was a free man and the beating was an illegal attack.

The First Case: Walker vs. Jennison

In the case called Walker v. Jennison, lawyers Levi Lincoln and Caleb Strong helped Quock Walker. They argued that Jennison had attacked Quock, who was a free man. The jury agreed with Quock. They stated that "Quork is a Freeman and not the proper Negro slave of [Jennison]." The jury awarded Quock £50 in damages, meaning Jennison had to pay him for the harm caused. Jennison tried to appeal, but he lost because he didn't show up in court.

Jennison's Counter-Claim

Jennison then sued the Caldwell brothers in a case called Jennison v. Caldwell. He claimed that the Caldwells had encouraged Quock to run away. The court first sided with Jennison and awarded him £25. However, this decision was later overturned by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

The Big Decision: Commonwealth vs. Jennison

In September 1781, a third case was brought against Jennison. This case, Commonwealth v. Jennison, was about the criminal attack and beating of Quock Walker. Chief Justice William Cushing gave important instructions to the jury.

Chief Justice William Cushing, who played a key role in Quock Walker's case.

Justice Cushing explained that while slavery had been allowed in the past, it was never officially made a law in Massachusetts. He said that the idea of slavery came from other European nations and British rules for trade. But, he added, people in America now had a different idea. They believed more in the natural rights of all people and the desire for liberty that everyone is born with, no matter their skin color or features.

He emphasized that the Massachusetts Constitution clearly states "all men are born free and equal." He concluded that the idea of slavery goes against the state's own constitution. He said that no thinking person could be enslaved forever unless they had committed a crime or agreed to it themselves. The jury found Jennison guilty of the attack.

How the Cases Changed Massachusetts

The court decisions in Quock Walker's cases, along with Elizabeth Freeman's case, created a strong legal reason to end slavery in Massachusetts. No new law was passed to ban slavery directly. Instead, slavery slowly faded away in the state over the next ten years. The court rulings removed the legal support for slavery, causing it to end "by erosion."

Some enslavers formally freed the people they held and then paid them wages to continue working. Other enslaved people were freed but had to work as indentured servants for a set period. By 1790, the federal census showed no enslaved people in Massachusetts, making it the first U.S. state to fully abolish slavery.

Celebrating Quock Walker Day

To honor the declaration of rights that made slavery unconstitutional in Massachusetts, a special bill was signed on November 1, 2022. This bill declared July 8 as Massachusetts Emancipation Day, also known as Quock Walker Day. Governor Maura Healey officially marked Massachusetts Emancipation Day as a statewide holiday in 2023. This day celebrates the important step Massachusetts took towards freedom and equality.

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