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Lee Henry Dobbins Headstone This headstone marks the burial place of four-year-old Lee Howard Dobbins. He was the foster child of Miriam Dobbins, a fugitive slave who reached Oberlin after fleeing Kentucky with her children and grandchildren. During the journey, Lee Howard contracted consumption, or tuberculosis, and was unable to continue on to Canada with his family. Upon his death, the town held a funeral for him at the First Church of Oberlin on March 26, 1853. The stone measures approximately 12″ x 30″ (30.48 x 76.2 cm).
The gravestone reads: LET SLAVERY PERISH
LEE HOWARD DOBBINS
a fugitive slave orphan
brought here by an
adopted mother in her
flight to liberty
March 17, 1853
left her wasted with
consumption
found a refuge in death
March 26, 1853
Aged 4 yrs.
Before the eighteenth century, very few white men questioned the morality of slavery. The Quakers were among these few. The doctrines of their religion declared an issue such as slavery to be unjust. By 1775, the Quakers founded the first American
anti-slavery group. Through the 1700s, Quakers led a strong-held prohibition against slavery. The Quakers’ fight inspired growing numbers of abolitionists, and by the 1830’s abolitionism was in full force and became a major political issue in the
United States.The Quakers were radical Christians. They believed that all people were equal in the sight of God, and every human being was
capable of receiving the “light” of God’s spirit and wisdom. They also were against violence. Quakers were known for their
simple living and work ethic. Therefore, to the Quakers, slavery was morally wrong.
It was as early as the 1600s that Quakers began their fight against slavery, and thus the beginning of the abolitionist movement.
They debated, made speeches, and preached to many people. By 1696, they made their first official declaration for
abolitionism in Pennsylvania, in which they declared they were not going to encourage the importation of slaves.
George Fox, founder of the Quaker group “Society of Friends”, preached against slavery in the late 16oo’s, but never really
took action against it. Even though Fox, a major Quaker leader, was opposed to slavery, other Quaker leaders owned slaves.
This was because they interpreted the doctrines of their religion to exclude slaves. The institution of slavery became a divided
issue among Quakers in the Society. Benjamin Lay, for example, was against slavery. He thought that it was a “Hellish practice”
and a “filthy sin…the greatest sin in the world, of the very nature of Hell itself, and is the Belly of Hell” (Davis 291), and he
reprimanded all Quaker slave owners. As he stated in 1736, “I NEVER read in History of the Waldenses, our first Reformers
from Popery, that they kept any slaves” (Davis 291). Travelling ministers visited various states, advocating for the abolition of
slavery among Quakers. John Woolman was one of these ministers, and he worked successfully to rid slavery among Quakers.
http://questforfairtrialinconcordnh.blogspot.com/2007/06/quakers-and-anti-slavery-movement.html
The Quakers were radical Christians. They believed that all people were equal in the sight of God, and every human being was
capable of receiving the “light” of God’s spirit and wisdom. They also were against violence. Quakers were known for their
simple living and work ethic. Therefore, to the Quakers, slavery was morally wrong.
It was as early as the 1600s that Quakers began their fight against slavery, and thus the beginning of the abolitionist movement.
They debated, made speeches, and preached to many people. By 1696, they made their first official declaration for
abolitionism in Pennsylvania, in which they declared they were not going to encourage the importation of slaves.
George Fox, founder of the Quaker group “Society of Friends”, preached against slavery in the late 16oo’s, but never really
took action against it. Even though Fox, a major Quaker leader, was opposed to slavery, other Quaker leaders owned slaves.
This was because they interpreted the doctrines of their religion to exclude slaves. The institution of slavery became a divided
issue among Quakers in the Society. Benjamin Lay, for example, was against slavery. He thought that it was a “Hellish practice”
and a “filthy sin…the greatest sin in the world, of the very nature of Hell itself, and is the Belly of Hell” (Davis 291), and he
reprimanded all Quaker slave owners. As he stated in 1736, “I NEVER read in History of the Waldenses, our first Reformers
from Popery, that they kept any slaves” (Davis 291). Travelling ministers visited various states, advocating for the abolition of
slavery among Quakers. John Woolman was one of these ministers, and he worked successfully to rid slavery among Quakers.
http://cghs.dadeschools.net/slavery/anti-slavery_movement/quakers.htm
Remember Native Americans was slaves in the 1600’s and early 1700’s.
John Bolling, direct descendant of Pocahontas, owned a large plantation on Licking Hole Creek. It was heired to his son John “Jack” Bolling John Sr. married Mary Jefferson, sister to Pres. Thomas Jefferson. Just noticed the Cabells lived close to where his Plantation was. Clydene
Jack Adkins;30690 wrote: My wife’s line runs down through Princess Cleopatra down through the Venables and so on to the Richardsons etc etc.
I completely missed this. Cleopatra was Pocahontas’ sister, right? That’s what I seem to recall. Clydene
Col. John William Blair Bolling m. Mary Jefferson. You have posted excellent research on these early VA Families. I’m still reviewing it. Thanks much. Clydene
I am a descendant of Cleopatra & Pocahontas, both. Princess Nicketti is my ancestor, and I am also descended from the Bolling/Fleming line. One of my gr grandmothers was Sarah Ann Fleming, she married Stephen James Bailey.
StariNelson;36462 wrote: I am a descendant of Cleopatra & Pocahontas, both. Princess Nicketti is my ancestor, and I am also descended from the Bolling/Fleming line. One of my gr grandmothers was Sarah Ann Fleming, she married Stephen James Bailey.
Welcome! It’s great to find a new cousin and see you as well. You are very young and I am very old…..ha ha.
Tell me your direct line or where it breaks off.
Here’s mine. My 3rd ggfa, John Jefferson Williams, married Nancy M. Bowles. Her mother was Fanny Bolling and her mother and father were John William Blair Bolling and Mary Jefferson. John WB Bolling is the great grandson of Pocahontas.
Refresh my memory of how the Fleming line goes back to Pocahontas. We are not in the book but I do recall the Fleming name in Pocahontas’ Descendants. I have it in my library. Will have to pull it out again tomorrow. It’s getting to late tonight.
Have you got any documents you’d like to share. Let’s talk……..ha ha.
Clydene
Hi:
I just noticed the death date you have for John WB Bolling. He died in 1800. This I know for sure as I had to prove it to the Bolling Assoc. before they would even listen to me. His wife Mary died 1802. They had the date you have but it is incorrect. The 1800 Chesterfield County Tax List has his estate enumerated. Had he been dead three years, they would have simply listed Mary Jefferson Bolling and not John. And, I have a letter John wrote in the year of 1800 the consent of his daughter to marry in Henry Co., VA. Also, Mary Jefferson Bolling’s Obit was in the Richmond Argus Newspaper. Not being pushy about this but my entire genealogy hinged on the year John died. Clydene
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