Jan 22, 1831
A letter from “A Man of Color”. with no namer, offers encouragement. Here are excerpts: “I see before you a mountain over which you have to travel, steep and dark, and pregnant with deep-rooted prejudice of long duration … hope that by the force of truth, sound and mild reasoning, many will come up to your assistance in this great work of human rights, of which we are not so ignorant as many have supposed … public opinion is a masterly engine, and I hope you will secure it in your present enterprise…”
March 23, 1833
Several Resolutions were adopted at a PUBLIC MEETING of the Colored Inhabitants of Boston and Vicinity, March 21, 1833
A series of resolutions were unanimously adopted, including general affirmations of Garrison, the proposed High School for the Education of Colored youth, also stating opposition to Colonization……The Rev. Samuel Snowden is recorded as speaking in support of the resolutions which were offered by Hilton. A collection of twenty-five dollars was raised to support the trip. George Putnam was chairman, and James G. Barbadoes, Secretary.
June 7, 1839
An item title, A VOICE FROM THE COLORED PEOPLE OF BOSTON. Notes and resolutions from a June 3 meeting, at the Infant School Room, Belknap Street. The resolutions note that some abolitionists have recently withdrawn from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, for “reasons that appear to us groundless”, offers support to Garrison and Liberator. “… we denounce every colored person who is an enemy to Garrison (if any there be) as a foe to liberty, and will compare him in point of ingratitude to the sailor who fell from the mast of a vessel, and would have been lost, had it not been for the daring heroism of a colored man, and who as a thank-offering for this praiseworthy deed, asked the captain if there was no one on board to save him but a ‘nigger’!….” John T. Hilton is Chairman, William Cooper Nell, Secretary.
April 3, 1840
Here are resolutions of “a very large body of colored citizens”, March 19th, in the Infant School Room, Belknap St……strong resolutions in support of Garrison and the Liberator. Discussants included George Washington, John Levy, Joshua B. Smith, J. H. Gover, John T. Hilton, and J. G. Barbadoes; resolutions were unanimously adopted. When opportunity was given for people to present their objections, “none were offered”.
February 10, 1843
There is an account of the meeting of a large meeting of colored citizens at the Belknap-street church, Feb 1st. The meeting, among other actions, affirms support of the Latimer petitions, of laws supporting the right of intermarriage, and the Liberator.
November 27, 1846
Aknowledgement by Garrison of thanks to Edmund Quincy for his editorship while Garrison is away.
Reception for Garrison and James Buffum, at Belknap Street Church, upon their recent return from England.
July 13, 1849
Notice that, on July 16, under the auspices of the colored citizens of Boston, there will be a presentation of a pitcher to Garrison, after which there will be a farewell to William W. Brown, who is leaving for Europe. The committee of arrangements includes Hilton, Weeden, Morris, Nell, Elizabeth Riley. Event will be at Washingtonian Hall, Bromfield St.
July 27, 1849
When the pitcher is presented, it is not clear who was the chairman of the occasion, but probably Hilton, who said of Garrison, “We cannot compensate him, nor will the present generation award to him the credit due. But the pen of history will meet out to him ample justice; and to an impartial posterity we shall safely commit his memory.” Nell actually presents the pitcher.
July 29, 1853
A large and spirited meeting was held at the Belknap Street Baptist Church, to hear a report from those who attended the Convention. Mr. Nell is a chief speaker. “Mr. Garrison being present, and called on to speak, three hearty cheers were given to him by the assembly on his rising. He spoke in encouraging terms as to signs of the times, and invoked his colored brethren to display a still deeper interest in the anti-slavery cause, which he characterized as the cause of the whole human race.”
November 18, 1853
Here is an account of a meeting of colored citizens, October 25, 1853, a large meeting, held at the AME Church. Resolutions are passed, among them one which “condemns as unjust” two recent Daily Democrat articles attacking Garrison and the Fosters. They appoint a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws for a proposed association to be known as the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
