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Robert Roberts continued...
Actors and actresses in costume, speaking lines from
first hand sources, brought the mansion alive! In
one scene, an African American man sits at a table,
a candle by his side, writing. He pauses to speak.
"We are told that establishing a colony on
the coast of Africa will prevent the slave trade.
We might as well argue that a watchman in the
city of Boston would prevent thievery in New York.
Such unneccessary expense for a remedy, so far
from the disease, is contrary to common sense,
expecially when we know that the moral disease
- slavery - is in America, not in Africa... May
the spirit of liberty, recently awakened in the
Old World, redouble its thundering voice, until
every tyrant -- like Belshezzar in ancient Babylon
-- is seized with a tremble at the handwriting
upon the wall of his corrupt, doomed palace."
The author of these powerful words printed in the Liberator,
March 12, 1831 is condemning colonization, a pro-slavery
reform of the day that urged free African Americans
to emigrate to Africa. His name is Robert Roberts
and he was a butler to Christopher Gore from 1825-1827.
He would certainly be forgotten if it were not for
his servants' manual published in 1827. This manual
sought to instruct in life skills as well as in high
standards of household management. It received high
praise from Gore. The House Servant's Directory was
one of the first books written by an African American
to be issued by a commerical press. In the book, Roberts
writes his introduction to "my young friends
Joseph and David, as they are now about entering into
gentlemen's service...".
"Remember...that your character is your whole
fortune through life; therefore you must watch
over it incessantly, to keep it from blemish or
stain; ...that if you keep company with those
whose character is not of the best, your character
will be censured as much in a manner as though
you were as bad as themselves."
"Remember always to govern thy tongue and
passions, when thou art angry with any person;
for anger will hurt you more than injury...".
Recent research by Gore staffer Bob Underwood, has
uncovered interesting new details about Roberts' life.
Roberts was born in Charleston, S.C. about 1780 and
died in 1860 leaving an estate valued at $7500, an
impressive amount. Little is known of his early years
and how he came to Boston, although he tells us in
his manual that he served "in some of the first
families of England, France and America."
In Boston, Roberts was a church deacon and active
in the abolition movement. His first wife was from
a prominent African American family in New Hampshire;
his second wife was Sarah Easton, daughter of James
Easton of Bridgewater, a Boston abolitionist. Sarah
and Robert had 12 children. An elder son Benjamin
became a printer. He is remembered for his efforts
to secure equal school rights in Boston.
The film is scheduled to be completed this summer.
It will be an important part of our programming. Christopher
and Rebecca Gore, Robert Roberts and Daniel Webster
will be the stars. It is their stories that make history
come alive at Gore Place!
Susan Robertson, Director
GPS newsletter article...
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