Many people today would be surprised to learn that the first anti-slavery society formed in the United States was formed in East Tennessee, but it is true. [Charles] Osborn established anti-slavery societies in most of the places he visited, and the first was in Jefferson County, TN. In 1815 Osborn and a small group of Quakers founded the Tennessee Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves. Over the next year sixteen chapters were created in East Tennessee, boasting hundreds of members. These chapters were united under the renamed Manumission Society of Tennessee. Elihu Embree was also an early leader of this group. This society was the first in America dedicated to the abolition of slavery, truly a visionary group.
To read the transcript of the Podcast Appalachia episode from which the above excerpt was taken: Click Here.
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