James Forten

 

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.