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Analysis Of The Sin Of Slaveholding By Samuel Sewall

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Slavery started in North America soon after permanent settlements were established. The first slaves arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Slavery abolition efforts began more than a century later. Samuel Sewall was a judge, author, and merchant living in Massachusetts. In 1700, he published The Sin of Slaveholding. This document was a rebuke of slavery making him one of the earliest abolitionists in the colonies. This essay will discuss if this document should be treated as a primary source, the historical context and the main argument of the document. Samuel Sewall presents an original, firsthand account of slavery written as the events were happening, therefore, this document is a primary source. Samuel Sewall was, among other …show more content…

Twenty men and women were found guilty of witchcraft and executed. It's been suggested, though not widely accepted, that the influx of war refugees was partly responsible for the trials. In 1693, he was promoted to the Supreme Court of the Massachusetts colony. Four years later, he apologized for his involvement in the witchcraft trials. Then, in 1700, he published The Sin of Slaveholding. This makes him one of the earlier abolitionists in colonial America. The first is believed to be the Pennsylvania Quakers in 1688 (even so, Pennsylvania legalized slavery in …show more content…

This is against what God would want for us and the overall cost of slavery. As previously mentioned, how can a liberty loving people deny this same right to someone else? As we are all "the sons of Adam, are coheirs, and have equal right unto liberty, and all other outward comforts of life...." Sewall further uses religion to refute claims that slavery is allowed / acceptable in the Bible. "Originally and naturally, there is no such thing as slavery. Joseph was rightfully no more a slave to his brethren than they were to him; and they had no more authority to sell him than they had to slay him." How can we "that which God has joined together men do boldly rent asunder--men from their wives, parents from their children." Also, "what temptations masters are under to connive at the fornication of their slaves, lest they should be obliged to find them

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Samuel Sewall throughout his life, kept up his own journal providing insight on his Puritan beliefs. Another outlet also written by him, is The Selling of Joseph, A Memorial. In both pieces, Samuel Sewall contradicts his views on society and religion in more ways than just slavery. In The Selling of Joseph, A Memorial, Sewall attacks the foundation of the Bible by using the Bible itself.

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