Denmark Vesey
1767 - July 2, 1822
Denmark Vesey was born Telemaque in 1767 in St. Thomas. At the age of 14, he was transported from St. Thomas to Cape Francais by way of Captain Joseph Vesey. Joseph Vesey was a slave trader.
Denmark was thought to be of Mande origin, or of Coromantee (an Akan-speaking people) origin. Denmark was sold by Joseph Vesey, but was returned shortly thereafter by the plantation owner because of his epileptic fits. He then worked along side Joseph as his assistant until Joseph Vesey retired in Charleston, South Carolina.
On October 9, 1799, Denmark won $1500 in a city lottery and bought his freedom and began working as a carpenter. Denmark won the lottery and paid for his freedom for $600, but he could not afford the freedom of his wife and children. A practicing Presbyterian, Vesey helped found the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1817.
Vesey was known as a "class leader." He taught small church groups in his home throughout the week from the Old Testament and mainly from the book of Exodus. Vesey and the African church was constantly watched by the White Charlestonians. The church was often raided and members arrested. Vesey's message to the Blacks was that from the book of Exodus and proclaimed themselves as the new Israelites, "the chosen people whose enslavement God would punish by death." The church was shut down for a short while by Whites in 1818 and again in 1820.
In 1815, the White citizens in Charleston got word that the Black Methodists were "pooling money," to buy the freedom of enslaved church members. The Whites made created laws and restriction to inhibit the freedom of Blacks. The Black members were outraged by the construction of a building on the burial ground of a Black grave site and left the White church. Over 4,000 members left the White church and created what is now known as the African Methodist Episcopal church or AME. Denmark Vesey left his diverse church and joined the AME church where he was able to preach his sermons.
After the raiding of the AME church in 1818 and the arrest of 140 Blacks, Denmark enlisted the help of Gullah Jack, a church member, healer and a priest to join and plot the rebellion. Jack was known to control the supernatural world, and gained the respect of many slaves. Jack allowed Vesey to be more persuasive and was the vehicle to more slaves. And thus began the plot of the rebellion.
Denmark Vesey was born Telemaque in 1767 in St. Thomas. At the age of 14, he was transported from St. Thomas to Cape Francais by way of Captain Joseph Vesey. Joseph Vesey was a slave trader.
Denmark was thought to be of Mande origin, or of Coromantee (an Akan-speaking people) origin. Denmark was sold by Joseph Vesey, but was returned shortly thereafter by the plantation owner because of his epileptic fits. He then worked along side Joseph as his assistant until Joseph Vesey retired in Charleston, South Carolina.
On October 9, 1799, Denmark won $1500 in a city lottery and bought his freedom and began working as a carpenter. Denmark won the lottery and paid for his freedom for $600, but he could not afford the freedom of his wife and children. A practicing Presbyterian, Vesey helped found the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1817.
Vesey was known as a "class leader." He taught small church groups in his home throughout the week from the Old Testament and mainly from the book of Exodus. Vesey and the African church was constantly watched by the White Charlestonians. The church was often raided and members arrested. Vesey's message to the Blacks was that from the book of Exodus and proclaimed themselves as the new Israelites, "the chosen people whose enslavement God would punish by death." The church was shut down for a short while by Whites in 1818 and again in 1820.
In 1815, the White citizens in Charleston got word that the Black Methodists were "pooling money," to buy the freedom of enslaved church members. The Whites made created laws and restriction to inhibit the freedom of Blacks. The Black members were outraged by the construction of a building on the burial ground of a Black grave site and left the White church. Over 4,000 members left the White church and created what is now known as the African Methodist Episcopal church or AME. Denmark Vesey left his diverse church and joined the AME church where he was able to preach his sermons.
After the raiding of the AME church in 1818 and the arrest of 140 Blacks, Denmark enlisted the help of Gullah Jack, a church member, healer and a priest to join and plot the rebellion. Jack was known to control the supernatural world, and gained the respect of many slaves. Jack allowed Vesey to be more persuasive and was the vehicle to more slaves. And thus began the plot of the rebellion.