Primus Hall

Primus Hall (February 29, 1756 – March 22, 1842) was born a slave. He was the son of Prince Hall, an abolitionist, Revolutionary War soldier and founder of the Prince Hall Freemasonry.

In 1798 he established a school for African American children in his home and after the school was moved to the African Meeting House, he raised funds until 1835 for the school. Like his father, he was a recognized leader in the African American community.[1]

Having been given to Ezra Trask as a baby, he was also known as Primus Trask, but within the Boston community known to be the son of Prince Hall.[2]

Early life

Hall was born a slave on February 29, 1756, in Boston. At that time his parents — Prince Hall and a woman named Deliah — were both slaves (though Wikipedia's main entry on Prince Hall contains disputation on whether Prince Hall was ever enslaved, was ever married to a woman named Delia, or fathered Primus; this based on the work of Prince Hall biographer David L Gray). At the time of Hall's birth, his father was enslaved by William Hall; he attained his freedom in 1770.[3][nb 1]

He was "bound out" to Ezra Trask, an Essex County shoemaker, as a baby or an infant. An arrangement was made to teach Primus to be a shoemaker, and at the age of twenty-one he was set to obtain his freedom. Instead, before that happened, due to diagnosed health issues Hall was given his "freedom with full liberty for me to transact any of all business of every kind." Until 1776 he worked as a truckman and farmer in the Salem, Massachusetts, area.[1][4]

Revolutionary War
Surrender of General Burgoyne, October 17, 1777. Painted by John Trumbull, 1821.

He was a Revolutionary War soldier, having enlisted at the age 19[1] in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment. His father encouraged enslaved and freed blacks to serve the American colonial military. He believed that if blacks were involved in the founding of the new nation, it would aid in the attainment of freedom for all blacks.[5][6] Although the colonial army did not initially accept African American soldiers, after the British Army allowed black men to join the army in exchange for their freedom, the Continental Army relented.[6][7][8] It is believed, but not certain, that Hall's father was one of the six "Prince Halls" from Massachusetts to serve during the war.[3]

Hall first went with the 5th Massachusetts regiment to Winter Hill, Massachusetts. There, his company "waited out the Siege of Boston." In New York, the regiment fought in the White Plains and Harlem Heights battles. They also fought in Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey. After one year, Hall re-enlisted and fought in Saratoga, New York, and was there for the Surrender of General Burgoyne.[9]

Steward to Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering served in the Massachusetts militia and Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was a politician from Salem, Massachusetts, and the third United States Secretary of State under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.

After the war, Hall met Timothy Pickering, who was a Quartermaster General and politician. Hall offered to work for Pickering, who hired him as a steward. He wrote his wife, "I have luckily met with a likely negro fellow who has lived several years in Salem ... He desired to live with me as a Servant ... He said he would not have tendered me his service, but that I was a New England man, & he knew my character." and further that "he was so intelligent to be capable of learning anything." Pickering's wife lived in Newburgh, New York, and Pickering was posted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hall transported supplies and letters between the two locations during the summer of 1781.[9]

Margot Minardi wrote of Hall's proactive offer to work for the Quartermaster General: "Hall's choice to work for Pickering might be best read as a carefully calculated step in this former bondman's upward mobility."[9]

The Godey's Lady's Book published an account of Hall engaging with George Washington during a visit to Pickering. Minardi wrote:

[W]hile in camp, when Washington felt he needed exercises, Hall set up a sort of jump rope for him, fastening one end to a stake and holding the other taut at his own chest. This anecdote gave an amusing picture of the nation's founding father engaged in play 'with true boyish zest.' It revealed little about Primus Hall, other than he seemed to be at General Washington's beck and call.[10][11]

During another visit, Washington and Pickering had completed their work late in the day. Hall stated that there was an extra blanket and straw for Washington. After both Washington and Pickering had fallen asleep, Hall sat on a box, leaned his head into his hands to sleep. Washington awoke, realized that Hall had given him his bed provisions and insisted that there was sufficient straw and blanket to cover them both. Hall stated that the general need not be concerned, but Washington insisted and the two men shared the straw and blanket that Hall had given up.[11][12]

Boston

Family and work life

Hall was the father to seven children, having married more than one time. He established himself, independently, as a soapboiler in Boston after working for Pickering.[1][9][nb 2]

On May 2, 1786, Primus Trask Hall was married to Phebe Robson by Stephen Lewis at the Christ Church, now commonly known as the Old North Church. They were identified as negros and were married by Rev. Stephen Lewis [who was the minister there at that time].[17] Phebe died on December 8, 1808 (or December 22, 1808) at 47 years of age of consumption or atrophy.[18][19]

On January 17, 1810, Primus married Martha Gardner, according to Manifesto Church (Brattle Street Church) records.[20][21] She died of typhoid fever on January 20, 1817, at 36 years of age.[22]

Primus Hall was married to Anna Clark on October 29, 1817, by Joshua Huntington.[23][24] Anna was born February 17, 1791, to Peter Clark, who died June 22, 1820.[25]

Hall was an active member of his father's Prince Hall Freemasonry lodge.[1] He was a property owner in Boston.[10]

Education activism
African Meeting House, built by Thomas Paul, where African American students obtained their education beginning in 1806.

Primus established a school in his home in 1798 for the education of 60 African American children and sought funding from the community, including African American sailors.[1][9][26] Elisha Sylvester was a teacher there. After Elisha, two Harvard University students taught the school. Unsuccessful in attempts to establish a public school with the city of Boston in 1800, the school was moved to the African Meeting House, the church built by the Thomas Paul, an African American minister. Hall was one of the founders of the church and he continued fund-raising to support the African American school until 1835.[1][9]

Besides inspiring Boston's African-Americans to pursue justice and quality in education, the school offered them opportunities for employment and economic growth, which in turn provided funds for future generations of African-American Bostonians to pursue higher education.[1]

Hall advocated for better education for African American children, including access to college educations.[9]

Abolitionism

Primus Hall was active in signing and submitting petitions to the state legislature regarding slavery starting in 1788. He was a supporter of William Lloyd Garrison's abolitionist viewpoints by the 1830s.[10]

Boston Harbor fortification

Hall aided in fortifying Boston Harbor's Castle Island during the War of 1812.[27]

War pension benefit

Pension suit

In the 1830s, Hall filed a suit for a pension as a Revolutionary War soldier because he had been denied a pension by the pension commissioner. It was assumed that as a colored man, Hall had been a servant and had not participated in battles. In his petition, Hall gave an account of his engagement in New York and New Jersey battles, including when he followed two enemy soldiers for half a mile and took them prisoner. After his second period of enlistment was completed "to the earnest request of George Washington he volunteered for the further term of six weeks." After his service in Princeton and Morristown was completed, George Washington signed his honorable discharge.[28]

White men who had served with him provided testimony that Hall had served as any other soldier, and that he had the respect of officers and other soldiers. The pension commissioner's decision was overruled and Hall received a pension.[28] His suit was filed under the name Prius Hall, alias Trask and was H.R. 318 of 1838.[29][30] On June 28, 1828, he was approved to receive a pension of $60 (~$1,599 in 2022) per year.[31]

Widow's benefits

Ann applied for benefits under the Widow's Pension Application file #W.751. Her husband was listed as Primus Trask Hall in the Continental Army, Massachusetts.[32]

Death and obituary

Hall died on March 22, 1842, in Boston.[1] His obituary read that he "was well known, particularly to the younger portions of our citizens, to whom he was in the habit of recounting scenes of the Revolutionary War."[33]

Notes
  1. Deliah's last name may have been Hall. Primus' mother's name was stated to be "Deliah Hall" in the Making Slavery History book.[4]
  2. Daughter of Primus and Phebe, Glora Hall, died at Hingham, Massachusetts, on June 8, 1799.[13] Phebe Ann Clark Hall was buried on June 1, 1821 in Boston; She died of whooping cough at 3 years age.[14] Sons of Primus died in the early 1820s. Peter Hall was buried in a Lew family grave site or cemetery on December 24, 1820 in Boston. He was 14 months old and died of whooping cough.[15] George P. Hall was buried on June 8, 1825. He died in Boston of scrofula at 4 years of age.[16]

References
  1. Faustine C. Jones-Wilson (1996). Encyclopedia of African-American education. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-313-28931-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  2. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. "Prince Hall (1735 - 1807)". Africans in America. WGBH-TV, Boston. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  4. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. Loretta J. Williams, Black Freemasonry and Middle-Class Realities, (University of Missouri Press, 1980).
  6. William A. Muraskin (1975). Middle-class Blacks in a White Society: Prince Hall Freemasonry in America. University of California Press. pp. 33–. ISBN 978-0-520-02705-3. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  7. What a Mighty Power We Can be: African American Fraternal Groups and the Struggle for Racial Equality. Princeton University Press. 2006. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-691-12299-1. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  8. What a Mighty Power We Can be: African American Fraternal Groups and the Struggle for Racial Equality. Princeton University Press. 2006. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-691-12299-1. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  9. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  10. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  11. William Cooper Nell (1855). The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution: With Sketches of Several Distinguished Colored Persons: to which is Added a Brief Survey of the Condition and Prospects of Colored Americans. Robert F. Wallcut. pp. 29–32. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  13. Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook) p. 2641.
  14. Massachusetts Vital Records. Boston 1630-1849. Holbrook Research Institute. p. 13195. ISBN 978-0-931248-76-4.
  15. Boston Deaths, 1810-1821 North District of Boston. Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). volume 20. p. 126.
  16. Massachusetts Vital Records. Boston 1630-1849. Holbrook Research Institute. p. 13919. ISBN 978-0-931248-76-4.
  17. Boston Church Marriages 1751 - 1786; Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). p. 54 of 61.
  18. Boston deaths, 1800-1810. volume 32. image 44 of 116. Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). Note: Phebe Hall, wife of Primus, died on December 8, 1808 at the age of 47. No cause of death is listed. Her death notice appeared in the Columbian Centennial.
  19. The Manifesto Church: Records of the Church in Brattle Square, Boston, with Lists of Communicants, Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals, 1699-1872. Benevolent Fraternity of Churches. 1902. p. 281. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  20. The Manifesto Church: Records of the Church in Brattle Square, Boston, with Lists of Communicants, Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals, 1699-1872. Benevolent Fraternity of Churches. 1902. p. 271. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  21. Jay Mack Holbrook. (1985). Massachusetts Vital Records. Boston 1630-1849. Holbrook Research Institute. p. 8896. ISBN 978-0-931248-76-4 Marriage record/intention for Primus Hall and Martha Gardner on December 26, 1809 in Boston, both were colored.
  22. Boston deaths, 1810-1848. volume G-O. Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). page 36.
  23. Boston Marriages 1807-1828, volume 15, p. 134. Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
  24. Marriage certificate of Primus Hall to Anna Clark, October 29, 1817. Fold 3. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  25. Stacia Caplanson; Holly V. Izard. "Peter Clark Probate Record, Documents on the Clark Family of Hubbardston: African Americans in Central Massachusetts". Old Sturbridge Village. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  26. "Abiel Smith School - Boston African American National Historic Site". Nps.gov. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  27. William Cooper Nell (1855). The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution: With Sketches of Several Distinguished Colored Persons: to which is Added a Brief Survey of the Condition and Prospects of Colored Americans. Robert F. Wallcut. p. 29. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  28. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. pp. 63, 65–68. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  29. Sheep Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1837. p. 153. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  30. Senate, United States. Congress (1837). JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEING THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS EGAN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON DECEMBER 4, 1837. p. 506. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  31. The Public statutes at large of the United States of America: from the organization of the Gov. in 1789, to March 3, 1845. Little, Brown, & Company. 1846. pp. 976–. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  32. Number W. 751 BLM 26340-160-55. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files. Hall, Martha - Hall, Robert. The National Archives, National Archives and Record Service, General Services Administration, Washington, 1969. Archive publication number M804. Archive Roll 1164. p. 832.
  33. Margot Minardi Assistant Professor of History and Humanities Reed College (2 September 2010). Making Slavery History : Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts: Abolitionism and the Politics of Memory in Massachusetts. Oxford University Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-19-970220-6. Retrieved 25 April 2013.

Further reading
  • Robert Ewell Greene, Black Defenders of American, 1775-1973 (1974).
  • Sidney Kaplan and Emma Nogrady Kaplan, The Black Presence in the Era of the American Revolution (1989).
  • Charles H. Wesley, Prince Hall, Life and Legacy (1977).
  • Arthur O. White, "The Black Leadership Class and Education in Antebellum Boston," The Journal of Negro Education, 42 (Fall 1973): 506–10.
  • George W. Williams, History of the Negro Race in American, 1619-1880 (1968).
  • Nell, William C. The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, 1855.
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