James Forten (Grade 5
Theme 3 Selection 3 Summary)
James Forten is a biography of James Forten, a
sailor at the end of the American Revolution and a sailmaker and a fighter
against slavery afterwards. Forten lived in Philadelphia, home to hundreds of
free African Americans and abolitionist groups, including the Quakers, who wanted
to end slavery. He went to a school that a Quaker founded for African American
children.
Forten wanted to join the fight for America’s
freedom. In 1781, at age fourteen, he went to sea. His job was to bring
gunpowder up from below deck during battles. In his second battle, Forten’s
ship, the
Royal Louis, was trapped by three British
ships. James and the rest of the crew were taken aboard one of the ships. The
Royal Louis surrendered. Its crew was taken aboard the British ship, the
Amphyon. Forten was afraid that he would be sent to the West Indies and sold
into slavery.
The son of the captain of the Amphyon joined
the American boys in a game of marbles and efriended Forten. Instead of going
to the West Indies, Forten was sent to the British prison ship, the Jersey. He
felt that his friendship with the captain’s son saved him from slavery.
Life for the prisoners was awful on the
Jersey, but in two weeks, news arrived that the British army had surrendered to
George Washington, ending the war. Washington did not approve of sending prisoners
to the West Indies. This news, not the game of marbles, is what probably saved
Forten from life as a slave.
After the war, Forten went into the sailmaking
business where his father had worked. He took over that business and became one
of the richest men in Philadelphia. He also became an important abolitionist, speaking
out against slavery.
