(1724-1821)
Although best known as the author of the first poem composed by an African American woman, Lucy Terry Prince was a remarkable woman whose many accomplishments included arguing a case before the Supreme Court.
Lucy was stolen from Africa as an infant and sold to Ebenezer Wells of Deerfield, Massachusetts. She was baptized during the Great Awakening, and nineteen years later, at the age of 20, she was "admitted to the fellowship of the church."
Although Lucy Terry was a poet, only one of her poems, a ballad called "Bars Fight," has survived.
In 1756, Lucy Terry married Abijah Prince, a prosperous free black man who purchased her freedom. Their first child was born the following year, and by 1769 they had five others. In the 1760s, the Prince family moved to Guilford, Vermont.
Lucy was well known for her speaking ability -- according to her 1821 obituary, "the fluency of her speech captivated all around her" -- and she used her skills a number of times in defense of her family's rights and property. In 1785, when a neighboring white family threatened the Princes, Lucy and Abijah appealed to the governor and his Council for protection. The Council ordered Guilford's selectmen to defend them. Lucy argued unsuccessfully before the trustees of Williams College for the admission of one of her sons, skillfully citing scripture and law "in an earnest and eloquent speech of three hours."
Later, when a Colonel Eli Bronson attempted to steal land owned by the Princes, the case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court. Lucy argued against two of the leading lawyers in the state, one of whom later became chief justice of Vermont -- and she won. Samuel Chase, the presiding justice of the Court, said that her argument was better than he'd heard from any Vermont lawyer.
Lucy Prince Terry died in 1821, at the age of 97.
(Source: PBS)
BARS FIGHT
August, twas the twenty-fifth, Seventeen houndred forty-six, The Indians did in ambush lay, Some very valiant men to slay Twas nigh unto Sam Dickinson’s mill, The Indians there five men did kill. The names of whom I’ll not leave out, Samuel Allen like a hero foute, And though he was so brave and bold, His face no more shall we behold. Eleazer Hawks was killed outright, Before he had time to fight, Before he did the Indians see, Was shot and killed immediately. Oliver Amsden he was slain, Which caused his friends much grief pain. Simeon Amsden they found dead Not many rods from Oliver’s head. Adonijah Gillett, we do hear, Did lose his life which was so dear. John Sadler fled across the water, And thus escaped the dreadful slaughter. Eunice Allen see the Indians comeing And hoped to save herself by running: And had not her petticoats stopt her, The awful creatures had not cotched her, Not tommyhawked her on the head, And left her on the ground for dead. Young Samuel Allen, Oh! lack-a-day! Was taken and carried to Canada.