William Allen (Quaker minister)
William Allen (April 2, 1821 – May 21, 1898) was an American Quaker minister, known as the only Black Quaker minister in 19th century Canada. In his later years, he was a Meeting's Minister of Newmarket Friends Church until his retirement.[1]
Allen was born in Tennessee.[2] The son of an Irish plantation owner and a female slave, Allen was also born into slavery.[2]
On the passing of William's master and father, his slaves were granted their freedom, a civil liberty that was concealed from them for four years to the profit of the white members of the family.[3]
Allen later relocated from Tennessee to Indiana,[4] a state that would later support the Union during the American Civil War and the emancipation of slaves in America.
Allen never married, dedicating his life to ministry. He was a minister in Newmarket, Ontario from 1893 to 1897.[5]
He kept a journal, known as William Allen's Memorandum Book (1887–1891). The journal is located at the Quaker archives in Newmarket.
Allen died on May 21, 1898.[6]
References
- Bond, Jane Zavitz (1999). "William Allen: Friends Minister and Evangelist". Canadian Quaker History Journal (64): 51–54.
- Ryon 1956, p. 94.
- From the Auction Block of Slavery to the Rostrum of Quaker Ministry, the Life of William Allen, by Jesse M. Walton, Aurora, 1938, 8 pp. pamphlet
- Ryon 1958, p. 95.
- Willson, Ethel Trewhella. Yonge Street Quakers: the story of "The Friends" in the Early Days of York County, Ontario. Aurora, Ontario: J. M. Walton. p. 13.
- "Memorial of William Allen, Minister of Yonge St Meeting" (PDF). Canadian Quaker Archives and Library. 1898.
Sources
- Ryon, Fred L. (1958). "William Allen, Negro Evangelist of the Society of Friends". Bulletin of Friends Historical Association. 47 (2): 94–105. ISSN 0361-1957.