Freeborn Garrettson - The Methodist Paul Revere
Freeborn Garrettson was an itinerant Preacher who was essential to the spread of Methodism and an early abolitionist.
Freeborn Garrettson
Freeborn Garrettson began hearing voices when he was a child.
By his estimation, Garrettson was being spoken to by God.
This led him on the path to become one of the most important Preachers of the American Founding.
Itinerant Preacher
When he came of age, Freeborn studied under itinerant Preacher Francis Asbury.
He too became an itinerant (or traveling) Preacher for the rapidly rising Methodist faith.
Garrettson travelled so frequently and so far that he is sometimes called the Methodist Paul Revere.
Freeborn’s journeys began just as the Revolutionary War was breaking out in Massachusetts. He would stay on the move for most of the war, with the exception of a short stint in prison which seems to have been for either his desire to stay out of the hostilities or his views on slavery...or both.
Slavery
When his father passed away, Garrettson inherited a large plantation.
However, having come to the spiritual conclusion that slavery was immoral, Freeborn liberated those he held in bondage.
Furthermore, his sermons often spoke of the evils of slavery.
Additionally, he published a pamphlet, A Dialogue Between Do-Justice and Professing Christian which outlined the reasons slave owners should emancipate their servants.
By the time of his death, Garrettson had swayed the opinions of dozens of plantation owners and helped secure the freedom of hundreds of slaves.
New York
After the Revolutionary War concluded, Freeborn married Catharine Livingston. With this, he became a member of the powerful Livingston Family and his inlaws included the likes of Chancellor Robert Livingston, Edward Livingston and Morgan Lewis.
Garrettson settled in New York and although he travelled less frequently, his home became a center of Methodism in America.
The next generation of itinerant Preachers would regularly stop at his home for a respite from their adventures.
Here are some other articles about RELIGION DURING THE REVOLUTION:
Pierpont Edwards Organizes the Toleration Party
The Other James Madison - President of the College of William and Mary
William Williams Supports a Religious Test
To learn more about Garrettson, check out this biography from 1984.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
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