Testonites facts for kids

The Testonites were an important group of people in England who worked to end slavery. They were active in the late 1700s.

Who Were the Testonites?

The group of activists got their name from Teston, Kent. This is a village in England where they started meeting. Their meetings began in the early 1780s at Barham Court. This was the home of Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham.

How the Group Started

This informal group came together after James Ramsay returned to England in 1781. Ramsay was a former naval officer. He chose to become a priest and work on the Caribbean island of St Christopher. This island is now known as St Kitts.

In the West Indies, Ramsay saw how much enslaved people suffered. He was shocked by the cruelty shown to enslaved Africans. He started to campaign against the slave owners and plantation managers. These people were largely responsible for the suffering. In 1781, Ramsay was offered jobs as a priest in Teston and Nettlestead, Kent.

Key People in the Group

Many important campaigners became part of the Teston group. These included Hannah More, who was a writer and helped many people. Another key member was Beilby Porteus, who was the Bishop of Chester. He was also a priest in the nearby village of Hunton, Kent. Ramsay's writings had a big influence on him. Charles Middleton and his wife Margaret (Lady Middleton) were also central to the group.

James Ramsay's Story

James Ramsay saw terrible things during his time in the Caribbean. He witnessed the harsh conditions and cruelty faced by enslaved people. This experience made him a strong voice against slavery. When he returned to England, he continued his fight.

Other Important Members

Hannah More used her writing to spread awareness. Bishop Porteus used his position to speak out against slavery. The Middletons provided a meeting place and supported the cause. Together, they formed a powerful team.

Their Big Impact

The Testonites were very important in starting new ideas and changes in Britain. They influenced people like Thomas Clarkson. Because of their work, the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was founded in May 1787. Clarkson had promised to work on a national campaign to end the slave trade in the autumn of the previous year.

Working with William Wilberforce

A young man named William Wilberforce later became closely connected with the group. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull and then Yorkshire. He first met the Testonites in the winter of 1786–87. Wilberforce later guided laws through Parliament. Almost twenty years later, this led to the passing of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. This act made the slave trade illegal in the British Empire.