Books and Manuscripts

An Early and Rare Quaker Anti-Slavery Pamphlet

"Now dear Friends, if we continually bear in Mind the royal Law, of doing to others, as we would be done by, we shall never think of bereaving our Fellow Creatures of that valuable Blessing Liberty; nor endure to grow rich by their Bondage."

(Benezet, Anthony, and John Woolman)
An Epistle of Caution and Advice, Concerning the Buying and Keeping of Slaves
Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by James Chattin, 1754. First edition. 12mo. (ii), 8 pp. From the library of James Moon, Bucks County Quaker abolitionist, and with his ownership signature on verso of front flyleaf, and head of title-page, recto and verso. Contemporary limp wrappers, title in manuscript on front wrapper (presumably by Moon), additional small old ownership initials on same ("JHM" possibly another Moon); "and Sold" crossed out with seemingly contemporary ink on title-page. Sabin 22695; Evans 7201; Hildeburn, Pennsylvania 1359; Smith, Friends’ Books I, p. 761; Library Company, Afro-Americana 3877; Hogg, African Slave Trade 1725; ESTC W20271 (locating 14 institutions with copies)

A rare copy of this important and early Quaker anti-slavery tract, attributed to Quaker abolitionists Anthony Benezet and John Woolman. Adopted by the Society of Friends at the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1754, the pamphlet urges Quakers to abandon the buying and selling of slaves, exhorting them, "to avoid, in any Manner encouraging that Practice of making Slaves of our Fellow Creatures." Although Quakers were the first in colonial America to protest the institution and inhumanity of slavery and the slave trade, especially amongst members of their own ranks, it would be another 20 years following the publication of this pamphlet that they officially declared slaveholding inconsistent with their religion and called on their members to free their slaves.

Authorship of this pamphlet has been contested in the past, with George S. Brookes attributing it to Benezet (Friend Anthony Benezet, 1937), and Janet Whitney attributing it to Woolman (John Woolman, American Quaker, 1942). Jean R. Soderlund further contested Whitney's claim in 1985, while Irv A. Bredlinger summarizes that "While there is disagreement about the authorship of the Epistle of 1754, it is probably the work of Benezet; however it reflects the spirit and cooperation of both." (To Be Silent...Would Be Criminal, 2007, Chapter 5, p. 30, see note 83).

James Moon (1713-1796) was the eldest son of Roger Moon (1679-1759) and Ann Nutt Moon, and grandson of English Quaker from Bristol, James Moon (1639-1713), who immigrated to Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1682, purportedly alongside William Penn in the Welcome. A noted nurseryman, James lived on a farm in Middletown Township, now known as Woodbourne, for the majority of his life, but is known to have traveled extensively along the East Coast, keeping a highly detailed journal of his travels and Quaker associations. He married three times: first to Hannah Price (d. 1738) in 1737; Elizabeth Lucas (d. 1748); and to Ann Watson. He had five children in all, three of whom survived to adulthood.

Anthony Benezet (1713-1784) was a French-born Quaker who immigrated to America in 1731, and settled near Phialdelphia. At the age of 18, he began preaching on the inconsistencies of practicing a Christian faith while simultaneously owning slaves. After failing as a merchant he became an educator, teaching at a number of different schools, and eventually held classes at night for African Americans, who were not permitted during the day. In 1755 Benezet established his own public school, solely for girls, the first of its kind in America. In 1775 he was a founder of the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, one of the world's first anti-slavery societies, later reconstituted by Benjamin Franklin after Benezet's death as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery

John Woolman (1720-1772) was a preacher, journalist, and early abolitionist in the colonial America. He was an avid traveler early in his life, spreading Quaker ideals along the American frontier, advocating against slavery, conscription, and other economic injustices. He kept a detailed journal throughout his life, which was published posthumously in 1774 as The Journal of John Woolman. It was influential in the development of the abolitionist movement and has since become regarded as an important work on American spiritual life.