William Naish (Quaker) facts for kids

William Naish (1785–1860) was an English writer and a strong supporter of ending slavery. He was also a member of the Quakers, a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs and work for social justice. William Naish spent much of his life writing and publishing materials to help stop the practice of slavery.

Early Life and Work

William Naish was born in Bath, England, on March 9, 1785. His father, Francis Naish, was a silversmith. When William grew up, he moved to London and opened a shop on Gracechurch Street where he sold fabrics and small items.

Fighting Against Slavery

William Naish became very interested in the movement to end slavery, which is called abolitionism. He believed that slavery was wrong and worked hard to convince others to join the cause. From his shop in London, he started selling many books and pamphlets that spoke out against slavery. These publications helped spread awareness and gather support for ending slavery.

Family and Legacy

William Naish married Frances Capper. Her brother, Samuel Capper, was also a writer. William and Frances had a son named Arthur John Naish (1816–1889). Arthur helped start the Bevan-Naish Library, which collected books about the Quakers. These books are now kept in a library in Birmingham.

William Naish later lived in Maidstone and then returned to Bath. He passed away on March 4, 1860, at the age of 75. He was buried in a Quaker burial ground near Bath.

Important Writings

William Naish wrote many publications, mostly undated, to support the anti-slavery movement. Here are some of his key works:

• The Negro's Remembrancer: This was a series of thirteen booklets, with many later editions.
• The Negro's Friend: Another series, this one had twenty-six parts.
• A Short History of the Poor Black Slaves: This book was written to help children in England understand and feel sympathy for enslaved people working on sugar, cotton, and coffee farms. It encouraged children to help end slavery.
• Reasons for using East Indian Sugar, 1828: This pamphlet encouraged people to buy sugar from East India instead of sugar produced by enslaved people in the West Indies. It was very popular and went through five editions.
• A Brief Description of the Toil and Sufferings of Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies: This publication shared stories from people who had seen the harsh conditions of slavery firsthand.
• The Negro Mother's Appeal: A poem that highlighted the pain of enslaved mothers.
• The Advantages of Free Labour over the Labour of Slaves: This work explained how farming crops like pimento, ginger, and sugar could be more successful when done by free workers instead of enslaved people.
• Biographical Anecdotes: Persons of Colour: A series of five booklets sharing stories about people of color.
• A Sketch of the African Slave Trade, and the Slavery of Negroes under their Christian Masters in the European Colonies: This book gave an overview of the slave trade and how enslaved Africans were treated in European colonies.
• Sketches from the History of Pennsylvania, 1845: This book explored parts of Pennsylvania's history.
• George Fox and his Friends as Leaders in the Peace Cause, London, 1859: This work discussed how George Fox, the founder of the Quakers, and his followers promoted peace.

William Naish's writings played an important role in raising awareness and encouraging people to fight for the end of slavery in his time.

Sources

• Fell-Smith, Charlotte; Spence, Peter (2004). "Naish, William (1785–1860), slavery abolitionist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 September 2022.

Attribution:

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Fell Smith, Charlotte (1894). "Naish, William (1785-1860)". Dictionary of National Biography 40. Ed. Sidney Lee. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 28-29.