William Henry Brisbane (October 12, 1806 Beaufort County, South Carolina – April 5, 1878 Arena, Wisconsin) was a Baptist minister of the southern United States who, having convinced himself of the immorality of slavery, freed and settled a group of slaves he had inherited, and became an active abolitionist.[1]
William Henry Brisbane
Born
October 12, 1806
Died
April 5, 1878 (aged 71)
Biographyedit
His father, Adam Fowler Brisbane (1783–1830) appears, from Brisbane's own writings, to have suffered from alcoholism. He was adopted by his rich childless uncle William Brisbane (1759–1821) (whom Brisbane later described as "tho' not remarkably pious, yet one of the most excellent men I ever knew, in whom was combined almost every quality worthy of admiration") and aunt Mary Ash Deveaux (?–1845).[2] He married 28 May 1825 at Lawtonville Glorianna Lawton (15 July 1805 – 17 February 1878), who bore him eight recorded children, of whom three survived to adulthood.[2]
Brisbane inherited a large number of slaves, but became convinced that slavery was wrong, and in 1835 brought 33 of them to the north, manumitting them and aiding them to settle in life. Since much of Brisbane's wealth was in slaves this act resulted in a considerable loss of income and equity. At this time many family and friends in his social circle, including rice planters, led lives that were economically dependent on slavery. Freeing his slaves and becoming an outspoken abolitionist resulted in his making enemies with many of those closest to him.
Brisbane came to his abolitionist views because of his inability to refute the claims made by an abolitionist pamphlet he received in the mail.[3] He was especially disturbed by his inability to reconcile the values in the Constitution with those of the slavery institution.[4]
Because of his radical views on slavery for Antebellum South Carolina, he had to move north to Cincinnati. There he became the associate of prominent abolitionists, and a constant worker in their cause. In the decades of anti-slavery agitation before the American Civil War he was an active campaigner for abolition.[3]
William Henry Brisbane, had strong views against infidelity. He published the book, "The Bible defended against the objections of infidelity being an examination of scientific, historical, chronological and other Scripture difficulties."
In 1855 he moved to Wisconsin,[5] was chief clerk of the state senate in 1857, and became pastor of the Baptist church in Madison. He was able to return to South Carolina (temporarily) as an officer of the victorious Yankees in 1864 as a tax commissioner.[5] In June 1874, he took an active part in the reunion of the old abolition guards in Chicago.[5]
He died at his home in Arena, Wisconsin.[5] In 2023, the "Brisbane House" was awarded the 2023 Board of Curators Restoration Award from the Wisconsin Historical Society.[6][7]
Notesedit
^Wallace Alcorn. "William Henry Brisbane 1806-1878". Biographical sketch. Wallace Alcorn Associates, Carol Stream (Wheaton), IL. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ abEduardo Haviland Hillman (1913). "The Brisbanes". South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Society, Charleston. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ abBrisbane, William (1840). Dr. Brisbane's address : Delivered at the Anti-Slavery Convention, assembled in Hamilton, Ohio, July 3rd 1840, to which is added the constitution of the Butler County Anti-Slavery Society. Hamilton, OH: Butler County Anti-Slavery Society. pp. 1–8. OCLC 27480266.
^Brisbane, William (1846). The Constitution of the United States versus slavery. Philadelphia: Office of the American Citizen. OCLC 29646777.
^ abcd"A Good Man Has Fallen!". Wisconsin State Journal. April 6, 1878. p. 1. Retrieved May 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^Journal, Gayle Worland | Wisconsin State (2023-08-12). "Built by an abolitionist, Brisbane House earns Wisconsin Historical Society honor". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
^Pozorski, Kyle (2023-08-26). "Brisbane House continues legacy of former owner". Channel3000.com. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
william, henry, brisbane, october, 1806, beaufort, county, south, carolina, april, 1878, arena, wisconsin, baptist, minister, southern, united, states, having, convinced, himself, immorality, slavery, freed, settled, group, slaves, inherited, became, active, a. William Henry Brisbane October 12 1806 Beaufort County South Carolina April 5 1878 Arena Wisconsin was a Baptist minister of the southern United States who having convinced himself of the immorality of slavery freed and settled a group of slaves he had inherited and became an active abolitionist 1 William Henry BrisbaneBornOctober 12 1806 DiedApril 5 1878 aged 71 Biography editHis father Adam Fowler Brisbane 1783 1830 appears from Brisbane s own writings to have suffered from alcoholism He was adopted by his rich childless uncle William Brisbane 1759 1821 whom Brisbane later described as tho not remarkably pious yet one of the most excellent men I ever knew in whom was combined almost every quality worthy of admiration and aunt Mary Ash Deveaux 1845 2 He married 28 May 1825 at Lawtonville Glorianna Lawton 15 July 1805 17 February 1878 who bore him eight recorded children of whom three survived to adulthood 2 Brisbane inherited a large number of slaves but became convinced that slavery was wrong and in 1835 brought 33 of them to the north manumitting them and aiding them to settle in life Since much of Brisbane s wealth was in slaves this act resulted in a considerable loss of income and equity At this time many family and friends in his social circle including rice planters led lives that were economically dependent on slavery Freeing his slaves and becoming an outspoken abolitionist resulted in his making enemies with many of those closest to him Brisbane came to his abolitionist views because of his inability to refute the claims made by an abolitionist pamphlet he received in the mail 3 He was especially disturbed by his inability to reconcile the values in the Constitution with those of the slavery institution 4 Because of his radical views on slavery for Antebellum South Carolina he had to move north to Cincinnati There he became the associate of prominent abolitionists and a constant worker in their cause In the decades of anti slavery agitation before the American Civil War he was an active campaigner for abolition 3 William Henry Brisbane had strong views against infidelity He published the book The Bible defended against the objections of infidelity being an examination of scientific historical chronological and other Scripture difficulties In 1855 he moved to Wisconsin 5 was chief clerk of the state senate in 1857 and became pastor of the Baptist church in Madison He was able to return to South Carolina temporarily as an officer of the victorious Yankees in 1864 as a tax commissioner 5 In June 1874 he took an active part in the reunion of the old abolition guards in Chicago 5 He died at his home in Arena Wisconsin 5 In 2023 the Brisbane House was awarded the 2023 Board of Curators Restoration Award from the Wisconsin Historical Society 6 7 Notes edit Wallace Alcorn William Henry Brisbane 1806 1878 Biographical sketch Wallace Alcorn Associates Carol Stream Wheaton IL Retrieved 21 February 2015 a b Eduardo Haviland Hillman 1913 The Brisbanes South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Society Charleston a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Brisbane William 1840 Dr Brisbane s address Delivered at the Anti Slavery Convention assembled in Hamilton Ohio July 3rd 1840 to which is added the constitution of the Butler County Anti Slavery Society Hamilton OH Butler County Anti Slavery Society pp 1 8 OCLC 27480266 Brisbane William 1846 The Constitution of the United States versus slavery Philadelphia Office of the American Citizen OCLC 29646777 a b c d A Good Man Has Fallen Wisconsin State Journal April 6 1878 p 1 Retrieved May 21 2018 via Newspapers com nbsp Journal Gayle Worland Wisconsin State 2023 08 12 Built by an abolitionist Brisbane House earns Wisconsin Historical Society honor Wisconsin State Journal Retrieved 2023 11 05 Pozorski Kyle 2023 08 26 Brisbane House continues legacy of former owner Channel3000 com Retrieved 2023 11 05 References editWilson J G Fiske J eds 1900 Brisbane William H Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton Brisbane Family genealogy Archived 2008 08 20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Henry Brisbane amp oldid 1184738729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
