The Black Women Lead project, which honors Black women from the 1700s to the present, has provided me with an opportunity to learn about a different side of American history. The stories of Black women in colonial Boston have long been overshadowed by those of the white men who enslaved them; including well-known figures like John Hancock. Yet these women were not merely victims of enslavement —they were active resisters through legal battles, intellectual contributions, religious leadership, economic independence, and acts of rebellion. Black women in colonial Boston fought for justice and shaped the city’s history. Their resistance, resilience, and legacy deserve recognition, not as footnotes, but as essential elements of Boston’s story.
The courts became a powerful tool for Black women in colonial Boston to fight for their freedom and rights. Through legal action, these women challenged slavery and set precedents that helped dismantle the institution in Massachusetts. Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mum Bett, successfully sued for her freedom in 1781, arguing that Massachusetts’ constitution contradicted slavery. Jenny Slew, who was born to a free white mother but was illegally enslaved, sued for her freedom in 1765 and won. Hagar Blackmore challenged her enslavement through a freedom petition, part of a larger movement that contributed to Massachusetts abolishing slavery. Rose and Cuba fought for their freedom in Boston’s courts, mirroring Quock Walker’s famous case, which led to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts.
Jane Eames had to fight to maintain her legal freedom, reflecting the constant threat of re-enslavement faced by free Black women. Margaret “Peggy” Johnson, Maria Hammond, and Sarah Peters filed legal petitions, highlighting how widespread legal resistance was among Black women. These legal victories were not isolated incidents; they collectively weakened the institution of slavery in Massachusetts, paving the way for the state’s abolition of slavery in 1783.
While legal challenges provided one pathway to freedom, many Black women also engaged in intellectual resistance, using poetry, memoirs, and religious expression to challenge their oppression. Phillis Wheatley became one of the first published Black poets in America, using biblical imagery to criticize slavery. Lucy Terry Prince, the earliest known Black poet in America, later argued a land rights case before the Supreme Court and won. Belinda Sutton, who was enslaved by Isaac Royall Jr., filed one of the first recorded demands for reparations in American history and successfully petitioned Massachusetts for financial compensation. Chloe Spear published a memoir documenting both her life in slavery and her religious journey. After gaining freedom, she and her husband opened a boarding house for workers and sailors, creating a space for community gatherings. Jane Weston corresponded with white clergy, proving that Black women actively engaged in intellectual and religious discussions. Obour Tanner, though enslaved in Newport, Rhode Island, corresponded with Phillis Wheatley, offering a rare look into the intellectual networks among enslaved women.
Resistance also took the form of direct defiance, sabotage, and escape. Maria Negro was accused of setting fire to her enslaver’s property in 1681 — a crime often associated with slave resistance. Whether she was guilty or not, the accusation itself shows that enslaved people were seen as potential rebels. In 1638, a woman known only as “Mr. Maverick’s Negro woman” resisted an attempt to force her to bear children for her enslaver’s profit. She physically kicked away the man forced upon her, refusing to submit. Sarah Seheter escaped Boston during the American Revolution, using the war’s chaos to flee. Margaret Thomas joined George Washington’s Continental Army, working as a laundress and traveling with the soldiers. Dinah, enslaved by the Mather family, represents the many Black women who labored in influential religious households. Dina Ganson petitioned for her freedom, demonstrating legal resistance. Dinah Craft fought for the freedom of her children, proving that enslaved women were also fighting for their families. Flora, Moll Pitcher, Rose Baker, and Peggy Scott appear in Boston’s legal records, showing that enslaved women were not afraid to challenge mistreatment in court.
Economic independence was another form of resistance for Black women in colonial Boston. Zipporah Potter Atkins was the first recorded Black woman to own property in America, purchasing land in Boston’s North End in 1670. Owning land in 1670 was not just rare for a Black woman — it was a direct challenge to the racial and gender hierarchies that sought to exclude Black people from economic autonomy. Her property ownership foreshadowed the later Black communities that would form in Boston’s Beacon Hill. Elizabeth Humphries raised her children in Old North Church, maintaining a presence in historically significant spaces. Rhoda Hall worked to build Black communities in Boston, settling in Beacon Hill, a center of abolitionist activity.
Beyond individual acts of defiance, Black women built strong community networks through religion, creating spaces for resistance and mutual support. Judith, Mary Cranky, Margaret Hill, and Ruth Black were active in Boston’s early Black churches, proving that religious spaces became central to community-building and activism. Dorcas was among the earliest enslaved women to file legal complaints against mistreatment. Religious institutions provided Black women with a network of allies, a platform for activism, and a source of hope in the face of oppression.
The Black colonial women of Boston were pioneers in the fight for justice, laying the groundwork for abolition and civil rights. By recognizing the contributions of Black women in colonial Boston, we not only correct historical erasure but also draw inspiration from their resilience. Their legacy lives on in modern movements for racial and gender justice, reminding us that the fight for equality is far from over.
Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations.
