Rebecca Buffum Spring facts for kids

Rebecca Buffum Spring (born June 8, 1811 – died 1911) was an amazing woman who worked for many important causes. She was a Quaker, which is a type of Christian faith. She fought to end slavery, improve education, and gain equal rights for women. She also worked for women's right to vote.

Rebecca was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Her father, Arnold Buffum, helped start the New England Anti-Slavery Society. This group worked to end slavery. Her sister, Elizabeth Buffum Chace, was also a strong activist. In 1836, Rebecca helped create the Fall River Female Anti-Slavery Society.

Around 1840, Rebecca married Marcus Spring. He was a kind businessman from New York who supported many good causes. Rebecca and Marcus were friends with other famous people. These included Fredrika Bremer, Lydia Maria Child, Margaret Fuller, and Elizabeth Palmer Peabody.

Rebecca Spring and John Brown

Rebecca Spring was known for her brave actions. In 1859, a famous abolitionist named John Brown was in jail. He was waiting for his trial in Virginia. Lydia Maria Child offered to visit and help him, but he said no.

Rebecca Spring did not ask for permission. She traveled all the way to Charles Town, Virginia. She wanted to meet John Brown and offer him comfort. After some delays, she was allowed to visit him twice. Rebecca later wrote about her visits. She felt that John Brown was a very special person. She believed his actions were almost holy.

Helping Others During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Rebecca and her husband continued their good work. They supported a school in Virginia for children who had been enslaved. This helped many young people get an education.

They also helped people who were escaping slavery. After the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, many formerly enslaved people traveled north. Rebecca and Marcus opened a soup kitchen. This provided food and help to these refugees.

Building New Communities

Rebecca and Marcus Spring were interested in new ways of living. They helped start two special communities. These communities were based on the ideas of Charles Fourier. He believed people should live and work together.

The first community was the North American Phalanx in Red Bank, New Jersey. It started in 1843. Later, they were not happy with how it was going. So, they started a new one called the Raritan Bay Union in 1853. This community was in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

The Raritan Bay Union had a unique school. It was a boarding school where boys and girls learned together. It also welcomed students of all races. Theodore Dwight Weld was the director of this school. The famous Grimké sisters were teachers there.

Later Life and Legacy

In the late 1850s, Rebecca Spring founded the Eagleswood Military Academy. She also showed great compassion for others. After John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, two of his followers were executed. They did not have family to bury them. Rebecca arranged for them to be buried at Eagleswood.

In her later years, Rebecca faced financial difficulties. In the late 1890s, she moved to Southern California. She lived with her daughter, Jeanie Peet. There, she became involved with many local artists and writers. Rebecca Buffum Spring lived to be 100 years old, passing away in 1911.