Description
Prince Hall’s life history has been the subject of debate. This image from the Grand Hall Lodge in Dorchester, MA states he was born in 1735, other sources state 1738, and yet others state he was born on September 12, 1748 in Bridgetown, Barbados to Thomas Prince Hall, an Englishmen, and a free Colored woman of French descent. In Barbados, the Hall family was a very well respected family and its members were known as “pious persons of excellent character.”
At the age of twelve, Prince Hall became a leather apprentice under his father, where he made great advancements in the trade. Prince Hall, in addition to working as an apprentice, aspired to visit America. Though discouraged by his parents, young Prince never gave up on coming to America.
In February 1765, he heard that a vessel in port was “bound for America”, and spoke to the captain offering to work his passage. On March 1765, the vessel arrived in Boston, Massachusetts.
Prince Hall was seventeen years old when he arrived in Boston. He lived in Medford and worked for many years, saving money. He was briefly married to Sara Ritchie, a slave who died shortly after their marriage. By age twenty-five he was able to buy real estate and was eligible to vote. Prince joined the Continental Army and was “one of a few Blacks who fought at the battle of Bunker Hill.”
Later on, after several years of study, Prince Hall became a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was known for often using his pulpit to preach about “messages of the abolition of slavery”.
He was also known for his Lodge of Freemasons. As master of the African Masonic Lodge, Prince Hall used his status to formulate and execute movements toward the political advancement and liberation of slaves. He is most notably linked to the drafting of Belinda Royall’s petition addressing the General Court in 1783. In addition, he drafted the 1777 petition for a Gradual Process of Emancipation for slaves and a 1787 petition For A Return to Africa Movement, as well as several others.
After many years of service, Prince Hall died on December 26, 1827. He was buried in a cemetery overlooking the Charlstown naval yard in Boston’s North End.
