James Forten by Krystina Yeager

Portrait of James Forten, c. 1834, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
“Many of our ancestors were brought here more than one hundred years ago, and many of our fathers, many of ourselves, have fought and bled for the Independence of our country… Let not the spirit of the father behold the son robbed of that Liberty which he died to establish.”

Charlotte Forten is a prominent historical figure in Salem, Massachusetts. Those visiting downtown since 2019 may have found themselves at Charlotte Forten Park, a park of approximately 25,000 square feet located on Derby Street. Forten was born a free black citizen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 17, 1837 to Robert Bridges Forten and Mary Virginia Wood. Her parents wanted her to receive an equal education that was unavailable to her in Pennsylvania and she was sent to Salem in 1854 when she was sixteen years old. She moved in with the Remond family who were notable abolitionists. Charlotte became the first black student in Salem’s public schools. Revolutionary feats weren’t anything new to her family, however, since her grandfather, James Forten, was involved in the Revolutionary War.

A historic marker found in Philadelphia located between 3rd and 4th street, PA. Image courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution.

James Forten was born a free citizen on September 2, 1766 in Philadelphia to Thomas and Margret Forten. According to some sources, it is believed that Forten’s grandfather self-emancipated and established a life in Philadelphia. As a child, Forten attended the Benezet’s School, a Quaker school for children of African descent, and assisted his father’s work with Robert Bridges, a sailmaker. When his father died, he had to stop his schooling. He continued to work for Robert Bridges and eventually got a second job as a grocer. Around the same time, the revolution was rising in Philadelphia.

Image courtesy of Ann Arbor District Library.

At the age of 14, Forten joined the revolutionary effort when he enlisted in the Continental Navy and became a crew member on the privateer ship the Royal Louis. Privateers were essentially legal pirates during times of war who would seek out British merchant ships for their cargo. Later that year, the Royal Louis was captured by the British and Forten and the rest of his crew were held captive by the British for seven months on the Jersey. According to some sources, the captain was so charmed by Forten that he offered to send him to be educated in England. Forten declined.

Business announcement, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In 1786, Forten returned back to Philadelphia and continued his work with Robert Bridges. Impressed by Forten's work, Bridges quickly promoted Forten. Forten eventually purchased the sail-making company and continued the practice of hiring people regardless of their race. The sail business was so successful that Forten became one of the richest people in Philadelphia.

Exhibit from the Independence Seaport Museum on James Forten

Forten used much of this wealth to support the abolitionist movement. He made a connection with abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and published often in his newspaper, The Liberator. Forten married Charlotte (Vandine) Forten and together they had eight children. The entire Forten family was passionate for the abolishment of slavery, founding multiple anti-slavery groups and organizing stops on the Underground Railroad. James Forten died on March 4, 1842 at the age of 75 and thousands of people, both black and white, attended his funeral. Robert Purvis, an abolitionist and his son-in-law wrote “To delineate the character of any good man is no ordinary task. But how much more difficult is it to unfold the life of a great good man.”

James Forten grave, ancestry.com.

Sources

  • Ancestry.com. "James Forten Grave." U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Available at: Ancestry.com.
  • "Business Notice for James Forten & Sons." The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 20, 1834. Available at: Newspapers.com.
  • "James Forten - An African American Abolitionist in Philadelphia." The Signal of Liberty, March 30, 1842. Available at: Ann Arbor District Library.
  • "James Forten Discovery Cart." Museum of the American Revolution. Available at: Museum of the American Revolution.
  • Jordan, Christopher D. "James Forten (1766-1842)." Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Available at: Pennsylvania Center for the Book.
  • "Portrait of James Forten" in "Black Founders: The Free Black Community in the Early Republic - Section 9." The Library Company of Philadelphia. Available at: Library Company of Philadelphia.
  • Purvis, Robert. "Eulogy for James Forten." University of Detroit Mercy Libraries, Black Abolitionist Archives. Available at: University of Detroit Mercy Library Archive Research Center.

Additional Resources

Edited by Alisa Grishin