John Laurens
Early Abolitionist
The son of Henry Laurens, one of South Carolina’s wealthiest, most prolific slave traders in the colonies, John Laurens was considered a progressive in his time. John’s antislavery sentiments were encouraged and fostered by friends in England who were members of that country’s budding abolitionist movement. John endeavored to receive his inheritance (including slaves) early in order to free them and create an all-black fighting force. He continued to try to get enslaved persons freed and armed to fight alongside the Patriots in South Carolina. However, neither of these ideas panned out.
The younger Laurens proposed the creation of a regiment of enslaved persons who would receive their freedom following three years of service. His father, serving as president of the Continental Congress among other leadership positions throughout the war, helped push this proposal through Continental Congress. However, it was stipulated that it would be up to the states whether this would go into effect in each location, and South Carolina declined.
Laurens was a fierce fighter on the Patriot side of the war, serving as Aide de Camp for George Washington. However, historian Durant Ashmore suggests that he was probably not the officer one would want to fight under: He was known to put himself and his men in unnecessarily dangerous situations, and he would go on to die in battle in August 1782. Click here to learn more from Ashmore.
Although John Laurens’ efforts to provide a path to freedom for enslaved persons during the Revolutionary era failed, he did encourage a change of heart in his father. See below an excerpt of a letter from Henry to John Laurens in 1776:
"You know, my dear son, I abhor slavery. I was born in a country where slavery had been established by British kings and parliaments, as well as by the laws of that country ages before my existence. I found the Christian religion and slavery growing under the same authority and cultivation. I nevertheless dis-liked it. In former days there was no combating the prejudices of men supported by interest; the day I hope is approaching when, from principles of gratitude as well as justice, every man will strive to be foremost in showing his readiness to comply with the golden rule. Not less than twenty thousand pounds sterling would all my negroes produce if sold at public auction to-morrow. I am not the man who enslaved them; they are indebted to Englishmen for that favour ; nevertheless I am devising means for manumitting many of them, and for cutting off the entail of slavery. Great powers oppose me—the laws and customs of my country, my own and the avarice of my countrymen. What will my children say if I deprive them of so much estate ? These are difficulties, but not insuperable. I will do as much as I can in my time, and leave the rest to a better hand.
I am not one of those who arrogate the peculiar care of Providence in each fortunate event, nor one of those who dare trust in Providence for defence and se-curity of their own liberty while they enslave and wish to continue in slavery thousands who are as well en-titled to freedom as themselves. I perceive the work before me is great. I shall appear to many as a promoter not only of strange, but of dangerous doctrines; it will therefore be necessary to proceed with caution. You are apparently deeply interested in this affair, but as I have no doubts concerning your concurrence and approbation, I most sincerely wish for your advice and assistance, and hope to receive both in good time." Click here to read more.