Where was Prince Hall, the founder of the first lodge of African American Masons in North America, born?
Prince Hall was an African American born in 1738. Known as an abolitionist, he provided leadership to the free black community in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry. It received its charter in 1784. The Masonic fraternity was attractive to some free blacks like Prince Hall because freemasonry was founded upon ideals of liberty, equality and peace.
In 1903 William H. Grimshaw in his book, "The Official History of Freemasonry Among the Colored People in North America", is credited with having been the first to assert that Prince Hall was born in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1748.
More Info:
www.medfordhistorical.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
15 Comments
Tim Bentley
Let me just pick someplace since supposedly no one knows other than the guy who guessed
Charles Borg
Prince Hall was born between 1735 and 1738.[3][4][a] His place of birth and parents are also unclear.[5][b] Prince Hall mentioned in his writings that New England was his homeland.
gusroy
Birthplace is controversial. Some think that he was born in MA; others feel it was Barbados. Poor question
Char
Char, he's black they didn't get birth records.. Actually my Dad white born 1927 had to give his info to get SS and then he got a Birth certificate as he was born at home.
Char
Joe Lucas, he was black that's not hard to figure out why
Char
earlepg, because it's real
Char
It's what George Washington and many others of our founding fathers were and what they believed in Freedom, equality and Peace..Sad they keep trying to make it all about religion which it wasn't ever about..Just religious freedom for all not one ruling religion..
earlepg
This is perplexing. When several comments say that something is indefinite and the article itself, upon which the author ususlly relies, agrees, why was the question and its related answer accepted for publication in the first place and why does it continue to exist in the second place?
Joe Lucas
Birth place unknown
recordpete
Bad question. It was only rumored that he was born in Barbados. It has not been factually proven where he was born.
Marian Spitzig
As I hunted, his birth place, date, and year are very much disputed. Even your reference agrees with this.
Susan McInnis Paradis
his birthplace is listed as "unclear"
Kevin Coleman
INCOLCUSIVE!!!!!
No sources agree. should never have been printed!
Sharron Caputo
According to many sources, no one is truly sure where he was born, though he asserted he was born in England.
foxphilam
H S Hotchkiss, You can be pedantic but you're right this time. I got it right on a double chance. Looking at Wikipedia states his birthplace is unknown. The reference for the answer also specifically states that there are claims he was born in Barbados but it's not conclusive.