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Thomas Dalton (1794–1883) was a free African American raised in Massachusetts who was dedicated to improving the lives of people of color. He was active with his wife Lucy Lew Dalton,
Charlestown, Massachusetts, in the founding or ongoing activities of local educational organizations, including the
Massachusetts General Colored Association
The Massachusetts General Colored Association was organized in Boston in 1826 to combat slavery and racism. The Association was an early supporter of William Lloyd Garrison. Its influence spread locally and was realized within New England when they ...
,
New England Anti-Slavery Society
The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, headquartered in Boston, was organized as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. Its roots were in the New England Anti-Slavery Society, organized by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of ...
,
Boston Mutual Lyceum, and Infant School Association, and campaigned for school integration, which was achieved in 1855.
Lucy and Thomas Dalton strongly believed that integrating schools and improving education for the colored children of Boston was the best avenue "to remove the prejudice which exists against the people of color."
Early life
Thomas Dalton was born on October 17, 1794, in
Gloucester, Massachusetts. His father was Thomas Dalton.
Marriages
After Thomas Dalton moved from Gloucester to Boston and he married Patience Young in 1818. She died in 1832 in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
.
The widower Thomas Dalton married Lucy Lew Francis in 1834. Lucy Lew was born in
Dracut, Massachusetts
Dracut is a town in Middlesex County. At the 2020 census, the town's population was 32,617, making it the second most populous town in Massachusetts with an open town meeting system of governance. The town covers a total area of 21.36 square m ...
(now
Lowell), on May 7, 1790, one of 13 children. Her father,
Barzillai Lew
Barzillai Lew (November 5, 1743 January 18, 1822) was an African-American soldier who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War.
Family history
Barzillai Lew's story began with Primus Lew of Groton, Massachusetts (a former ser ...
(1743–1822), born a free black, was a
Revolutionary War soldier and a musician. Her mother Dinah Bowman (1744–1837), born a slave, was of mixed-race and described as fair-skinned. About 1766, Brazillai bought Dinah’s freedom from the Blood family for 400 pounds (today $28,000.) Lucy Lew and her siblings attended the integrated public Coburn Mission School. Her father sang in the choir at the
Pawtucket Congregational Church
The Pawtucket Congregational Church (now known as The Temple of Restoration Pentecostal Church) is an historic church building at 40 and 56 Walcott Street, at the junction of Broadway and Walcott St., in the Quality Hill neighborhood of Pawtu ...
.
Lucy Lew married her first husband, Samuel Francis, and they lived in the African American community on the north side of Beacon Hill, and were involved in the community's cultural activities.
Residences
In 1823, Dalton worked as a bootblack and lived on Botolph Street,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
. Dalton lived at 29 South Russell Street in Boston from 1848-1853. In 1850 William Dalton, a waiter, was also living at the address.
[Dalton, Thomas ID #142 and Dalton, William ID #1705](_blank)
Black Boston Database. Retrieved April 23, 2013. He was also noted as living there in 1864-1865. At an unspecified time, Dalton lived on Flagg Alley; with Dudley Tidd, he purchased land from the
Thomas Paul estate
aul,_founding_preacher_of_the_[aul,_founding_preacher_of_the_African_Meeting_House,_died_in_1831">African_Meeting_House.html"_;"title="aul,_founding_preacher_of_the_African_Meeting_House">aul,_founding_preacher_of_the_African_Meeting_House,_died_in_1831
_At_the_time_of_his_death_in_1883,_he_was_living_on_Bunker_Hill_Avenue_in_Charlestown.
__Career_
Dalton_worked_at_various_times_as_a_bootblack,_waiter,_tailor,_and_clothing_storeowner.
_His_"prosperous"_clothing_store_was_on_Brattle_Street.
__Community_activism
Dalton_was_one_of_the_successful_African_Americans_living_in_Boston's_West_End_(Charlestown)_prior_to_the_American_Civil_War.html" "title="frican_Meeting_House,_died_in_1831.html" ;"title="African_Meeting_House.html" ;"title="aul, founding preacher of the African Meeting House">aul, founding preacher of the African Meeting House, died in 1831">African_Meeting_House.html" ;"title="aul, founding preacher of the African Meeting House">aul, founding preacher of the African Meeting House, died in 1831 At the time of his death in 1883, he was living on Bunker Hill Avenue in Charlestown.
Career
Dalton worked at various times as a bootblack, waiter, tailor, and clothing storeowner. His "prosperous" clothing store was on Brattle Street.
Community activism
Dalton was one of the successful African Americans living in Boston's West End (Charlestown) prior to the American Civil War">Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
. Dalton was a trustee of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Boston and "leading light" of "Boston's best-known black abolitionists [who] were also dominant figures in the black churches."
African celebration
Dalton was one of the marshals of the 1820 annual "African celebration", so named by newspapers, of the ending of the African slave trade
Slavery has historically been widespread in Africa. Systems of servitude and slavery were common in parts of Africa in ancient times, as they were in much of the rest of the ancient world. When the trans-Saharan slave trade, Indian Ocean ...
by the United States and Great Britain. This was an important annual event that began about 1808, with participation from prominent African-American community leaders.
Prince Hall Freemason
Dalton joined the Prince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of North American Freemasonry for African Americans founded by Prince Hall on September 29, 1784. There are two main branches of Prince Hall Freemasonry: the independent State Prince Hall Grand Lodges, most of ...
Lodge in 1825 to build a network who could improve the lives of African Americans. He was selected Grand Master of the lodge from 1831–1832 and again from 1863-1872. Dalton was recognized as an "eloquent senior warden" of the organization.
He and abolitionist David Walker oversaw the publication of
John T. Hilton's ''An Address, Delivered Before the African Grand Lodge of Boston, No. 459, June 24th, 1828, by John T. Hilton: On the Annual Festival, of St. John the Baptist'' (Boston, 1828).
Massachusetts General Colored Association
The Massachusetts General Colored Association was organized in Boston in 1826 to combat slavery and racism. The Association was an early supporter of William Lloyd Garrison. Its influence spread locally and was realized within New England when they ...
Several members of the Prince Hall Lodge met in 1826 and established the
Massachusetts General Colored Association
The Massachusetts General Colored Association was organized in Boston in 1826 to combat slavery and racism. The Association was an early supporter of William Lloyd Garrison. Its influence spread locally and was realized within New England when they ...
"to promote the welfare of the race by working for the destruction of slavery." The elected officers were Thomas Dalton, President; William G. Nell, Vice President; and James G. Barbadoes, Secretary.
Other association members included
Walker Lewis
Kwaku Walker Lewis (August 3, 1798 – October 26, 1856), was an early African-American abolitionist, Freemason, and Mormon elder from Massachusetts. He was an active member of the Underground Railroad and the anti-slavery movement.
Family and ...
and
David Walker (abolitionist), who became the organization's spokesman and wrote the 1829 ''Appeal'' to colored and white people.
In it he said: "Remember Americans, we must be as free as you are. Will you wait until we shall under God obtain our liberty by the crushing arm of power?"
New England Anti-Slavery Society
The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, headquartered in Boston, was organized as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. Its roots were in the New England Anti-Slavery Society, organized by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of ...
In January 1833, Dalton as president led a successful petition for the Massachusetts General Colored Association
to join the
New England Anti-Slavery Society
The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, headquartered in Boston, was organized as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. Its roots were in the New England Anti-Slavery Society, organized by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of ...
founded by
William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison (December , 1805 – May 24, 1879) was a prominent American Christian, abolitionist, journalist, suffragist, and social reformer. He is best known for his widely read antislavery newspaper '' The Liberator'', which he foun ...
, editor of ''
The Liberator''. Together they organized Anti-Slavery conventions and speaking programs throughout New England.
In 1844, the
Massachusetts General Colored Association
The Massachusetts General Colored Association was organized in Boston in 1826 to combat slavery and racism. The Association was an early supporter of William Lloyd Garrison. Its influence spread locally and was realized within New England when they ...
published ''Light and Truth'' by
Robert Benjamin Lewis
Robert Benjamin Lewis (1802 - February 1858) was an African and Native American author, best known for writing ''Light and Truth.'' He also was an entrepreneur, successfully marketing hair oil and other commodities, and also held three United ...
, the first history of the colored race written by an African American. Joining the
New England Anti-Slavery Society
The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, headquartered in Boston, was organized as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. Its roots were in the New England Anti-Slavery Society, organized by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of ...
provided greater participation by Boston's African-American community.
Background
Boston's African-American community has worked for educational opportunities since shortly after the American Revolutionary War; in 1787
Prince Hall
Prince Hall (1807) was an American abolitionist and leader in the free black community in Boston. He founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and lobbied for education rights for African American children. He was also active in the back-to-Africa movem ...
petitioned the legislature for equal access to public schools. His and other people's efforts to gain access to schools were denied. Parents on Beacon Hill organized to hold classes for a school at the home of Hall's son,
Primus Hall Primus Hall (February 29, 1756 – March 22, 1842) was born a slave. He was the son of Prince Hall, an abolitionist, Revolutionary War soldier and founder of the Prince Hall Freemasonry.
In 1798 he established a school for African American childre ...
, starting in 1798. Ten years later the school was moved to the African Meeting House. Parents gained partial support from the city in 1812 for the school, but continued to press for a regular public school. In the 1820s the city government provided 2 primary schools for black children.
The
Abiel Smith School
Abiel Smith School, founded in 1835, is a school located at 46 Joy Street in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, adjacent to the African Meeting House. It is named for Abiel Smith, a white philanthropist who left money (an estimated $4,000) in h ...
was built in 1834 following the bequest of $4,000 by Abiel Smith, a white
philanthropist interested in supporting black education. The primary and grammar school was the first building built as a public school for African Americans in the country.
Boston Mutual Lyceum
In the spring of 1833, the year before they were married, Thomas Dalton and Lucy Lew Francis were among a small group of women and men who formed the Boston Mutual Lyceum on West Central Street to sponsor educational lectures for the colored citizens of the Boston area. Thomas was treasurer and Lucy was one of the managers.
Infant School Association
Thomas Dalton, Charles V. Caples and George Washington founded the "Infant School Association", which was approved on February 20, 1836 by the governor of Massachusetts. The organization's purpose was "receiving and educating children of color preparatory to their entering higher schools," setting up a kind of kindergarten. The act is chapter 9 of the 1836 state statutes.
School integration
Parents complained because school conditions and teacher quality was not maintained by the Boston School Committee. Children of color were excluded from Boston's high school and Latin school. The efforts to create a separate but equal school system in Boston failed.
[White, Arthur T. "The Black Leadership Class and Education in Antebellum Boston." ''The Journal of Negro Education,'' 1973: 9.]
In the mid-1840s, through successful lawsuits, the towns of Nantucket and Salem were forced to integrate their schools. Dalton led seventy other fellow citizens in a renewed effort to gain access for their children into the white public schools of Boston. Together with
William Cooper Nell
William Cooper Nell (December 16, 1816 – May 25, 1874) was an African-American abolitionist, journalist, publisher, author, and civil servant of Boston, Massachusetts, who worked for the integration of schools and public facilities in the s ...
, and attorney
Robert Morris, they sent petitions imploring the Boston School Committee: "It is very hard to retain self-respect if we see ourselves set apart and avoided as a degraded race by others. Do not say to our children that however well-behaved their very presence is in a public school, is contamination to your children."
They said that black schools were not providing the same level of education as the multiple forms of white schools, including "primary, grammar, Latin and high schools."
Regarding attempts at school integration, Arthur T. White wrote:
...black separatists sought to control the Boston "African" school mastership. This attempt undermined a movement by black and white abolitionists to integrate Boston's schools. From the black community, integrationists John T. Hilton, a barber, and Thomas Dalton, a tailor, with as many as eighty-eight others had petitioned the school committee three times between 1844 and 1846. They earnestly requested that 'exclusive schools be abolished' and that their children be allowed to attend schools in their respective districts. Consistently refused, blacks boycotted in the late 1840s, lowering African school attendance by 65%. In the state legislature, they lobbied a bill outlawing race as a criterion for school admission. By 1848, blacks had engaged Robert Morris, one of the first black lawyers in America, to file suit in the court of common pleas against the city to test the constitutionality of school segregation. Repeated petitions and demands to integrate Boston's schools were resisted by the Boston School Committee for eleven years. Finally in 1855, the Massachusetts legislature reversed the Boston School Committee's policy by outlawing race as a criterion for admission to a public school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Final years
Lucy Lew Dalton died of old age in Charlestown on April 12, 1865. At the time of her death, she and Dalton were living at 29 South Russell Street.
Thomas Dalton died on August 30, 1883, then living at 384 Bunker Hill Street. He left an estate of $50,000
to his three nieces (Catherine L. Dalton Henson, Mary E. Freeman Freeman, and Harriet P. Freeman Johnson.)
[Massachusetts Probate Records. Thomas Dalton.]
See also
*
List of African-American abolitionists
See also :African-American abolitionists
A
* William G. Allen (c. 1820 – 1 May 1888)
* Osborne Perry Anderson B
* Henry Walton Bibb
* Mary E. Bibb
* James Bradley
* Henry Box Brown
* William Wells Brown C
* John Anthony Copeland Jr.
* Elle ...
*
List of museums focused on African Americans
This is a list of museums in the United States whose primary focus is on African American culture and history. Such museums are commonly known as African American museums. According to scholar Raymond Doswell, an African American museum is "an ...
- Gerard Lew
*
Barbadoes, James George
*
Lew, Barzillai
*
Lew, Harry
*
Massachusetts General Colored Association
The Massachusetts General Colored Association was organized in Boston in 1826 to combat slavery and racism. The Association was an early supporter of William Lloyd Garrison. Its influence spread locally and was realized within New England when they ...
Notes
References
Further reading
* Franklin A. Dorman, ''Twenty Families of Color in Massachusetts: 1742-1998.'' New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1998. . Note: Genealogy books are not considered reliable sources, but NEHGS works meet high standards. This book includes information about Lucy Lew and Thomas Dalton, including biographical information and possible family connections, that are helpful to research.
External links
;Thomas Dalton and related information
Thomas Dalton search records, ''The Liberator'' newspaper ''Documenting the American South'', University of North Carolina
;Related information
Boston African American National Historic Site, Massachusetts.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalton, Thomas
19th century in Boston
Charlestown, Boston
Beacon Hill, Boston
1794 births
1883 deaths
People from Gloucester, Massachusetts
African-American history in Boston
African-American abolitionists
American Prince Hall Freemasons
Abolitionists from Boston
Shoeshiners