The Selling of Joseph

The Selling of Joseph
source
Name	The Selling of Joseph
Author	Samuel Sewall
Country	Province of Massachusetts Bay
Language	English
Genre	Pamphlet, Abolitionism
Published	1700
Publisher	Bartholomew Green

The Selling of Joseph. Published in 1700 in Boston, this three-page pamphlet by Samuel Sewall is considered the first anti-slavery tract printed in the Thirteen Colonies. It was a direct and forceful religious and legal argument against the institution of chattel slavery, challenging the moral foundations of the practice in Puritan New England. While its immediate impact was limited, the pamphlet stands as a pioneering document in the history of American abolitionism.

Background and authorship

The pamphlet was authored by Samuel Sewall, a prominent merchant, judge, and diarist best known for his role in the Salem witch trials. Sewall served as a judge on the Court of Oyer and Terminer and later publicly confessed his guilt and error in the proceedings. His authorship of *The Selling of Joseph* emerged from his deep engagement with Biblical scripture and his position within the elite of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The immediate catalyst for the pamphlet is believed to be a petition to the Massachusetts General Court by a man named Adam seeking freedom from his enslaved status. Sewall, who himself had once owned an enslaved person, was moved to compose a systematic refutation of slavery's legitimacy, which was printed by the prominent Boston printer Bartholomew Green.

Summary of the pamphlet

Sewall's argument is structured around a close reading of the Book of Genesis, specifically the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. He contends that this Biblical episode was a unique, providential event and not a general sanction for the practice. The pamphlet systematically refutes common justifications for slavery, such as the so-called Curse of Ham, which proponents used to argue for the perpetual enslavement of Africans. Sewall asserts that all humans, including Negroes, are descendants of Adam and therefore entitled to the same natural liberty. He concludes with a practical warning about the dangers of a growing enslaved population in Massachusetts, advocating for its end.

Arguments against slavery

Sewall built his case on several interconnected pillars. The primary argument was theological, insisting that the Bible did not endorse the contemporary Atlantic slave trade. He rejected the Curse of Ham as a misinterpretation and argued that the Israelites were forbidden from enslaving fellow Israelites, establishing a principle against perpetual, hereditary bondage. Furthermore, he made a natural law argument, stating that the right to liberty was inherent and granted by God, drawing parallels to the Magna Carta. Sewall also presented economic and social arguments, suggesting that the colony should rely on indentured servitude from England or Scotland instead, as the presence of enslaved Africans posed a threat to the safety and moral character of the Puritan community.

Historical context and influence

The pamphlet was published during the early growth of slavery in New England, where the institution was less widespread than in the Southern Colonies but still economically significant in ports like Boston and Newport. It was a direct challenge to more permissive views, such as those held by fellow Puritan minister Cotton Mather, who advocated for the Christianization of enslaved people as a justification for their bondage. While Sewall's arguments did not spark a mass movement or immediate legal change in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, the pamphlet entered public discourse. It was cited in later freedom suits and represented an important early use of print culture to contest slavery, predating the work of abolitionists like Anthony Benezet and John Woolman by half a century.

Legacy and significance

*The Selling of Joseph* is historically significant as the first printed anti-slavery publication in what would become the United States. It marks a critical point where Biblical exegesis was mobilized against, rather than in support of, racial slavery. While Sewall did not call for immediate, universal emancipation or fully escape the racial prejudices of his time, his work laid foundational arguments that would be expanded by later generations. The pamphlet is studied today as an origin point in the intellectual history of American abolitionism and as a testament to the complex and often contradictory role of religion in both supporting and challenging the institution of slavery in colonial America. Category:1700 books Category:American pamphlets Category:Abolitionism in the United States Category:History of slavery in Massachusetts Category:1700 in the Province of Massachusetts Bay