| Description | (Colgate explained in his letter that he had emigrated to seek religious liberty, but had been disappointed to find no General Baptists, Presbyterians who were 'rank Calvinist', and that 'allmost [sic] every farmer holds negro slaves for life, except the Quakers who hold them till 21 (viz) long enough to breed children to supply their place, then set them free, this accursed slavery I detest worse if possible now than before I left England, hear [sic] is hardly a slave holder I talk to but will not acknowledge it wrong, my F[rien]d Austin [sic] and I make very free on the subject.' He noted that the black population in the area he lived [Maryland] was almost as large as the white, and that some attended Baptist meetings.)
[Robert Colgate's son William founded the Colgate toothpaste company.] |