The Free African Society, some of the saviors during the Epidemic
The Free African Society was a group of free black men and women, more often than not, freed slaves, who went around caring for the sick. Originally, the society was founded by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, both previous slaves who had bought their own freedom. Allen as a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Jones as a Episcopal priest, they relied heavily on their religious beliefs.
At first, the society were around exclusively to help sick, widowed, or out-of-work blacks in Philadelphia, but in the epidemic, began to help people of all races. Men and women would walk the streets, giving the bread they made to the poor and fever victims families, and would often make house calls to the sick and give them special remedies. Many times, the Free African Society were attacked by the press, most notably Mathew Carey, creating lies of stealing from the dead and tampering with burials for money. Allen and Jones created a pamphlet, A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Black People During the Late Awful Calamity in Philadelphia in 1793, directly stating these accusations were entirely false.
Many saw these people saviors, and among many were given much respect for helping others in need.
At first, the society were around exclusively to help sick, widowed, or out-of-work blacks in Philadelphia, but in the epidemic, began to help people of all races. Men and women would walk the streets, giving the bread they made to the poor and fever victims families, and would often make house calls to the sick and give them special remedies. Many times, the Free African Society were attacked by the press, most notably Mathew Carey, creating lies of stealing from the dead and tampering with burials for money. Allen and Jones created a pamphlet, A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Black People During the Late Awful Calamity in Philadelphia in 1793, directly stating these accusations were entirely false.
Many saw these people saviors, and among many were given much respect for helping others in need.