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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

John Marrant, Abolitionist and Founding Father

John Marrant by Bianca
John Marrant was a powerful abolitionist and founding father who overcame many
challenges to help improve the lives of others.

We know quite a lot about John Marrant's childhood. He had many hardships. Born free
in New York City on June 15, 1755. Marrant's father passed away when Marrant was very
young. After his father died, Marrant and his mother moved to Charleston, North Carolina. His
mother really wanted him to be able to read and write and so Marrant was literate by eleven
years old. Instead of continuing to concentrate on academics, he set his heart on playing the
violin and French Horn. One day, on his way to a concert when he was fourteen years old, he
decided to drop in at a local meeting place where a vast crowd gathered to hear a famous
preacher, George Whitefield. He was planning to play a prank by loudly tooting his horn but
before he had a chance, he heard the preachers words, took them to heart, and became Methodist.
His family disapproved of his new religion, so he headed out into the wilderness.

John Marrant did not have a great life during the American Revolution. Marrant forgave
his family for not excepting his religion and he decided to return back home. On his way home
Marrant was kidnapped by the British Navy. He was forced to play as a musician for them. He
had to perform music for seven years and he was not released until the war was over. This
experience had a great impact on Marrant and shaped his abolitionist thought.
John Marrant had a much better life after the American Revolution was over. He became
a Methodist minister. Marrant became a mason in African-American lodge, 459. He was the
chaplain of the lodge. He delivered a powerful antislavery sermon at the lodge in celebration of
Saint John. His sermon was published along with his autobiography.

 John Marrant died on April 15, 179, a man who was inspired in the Revolution by his experience to become a powerful
abolitionist and founding father.

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