1748 Virginia Slave Revival

Virginia Slave Revival

Samuel Davies of Princeton

The First Great Awakening, a period of intense religious revivalism that swept through the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, saw its initial fervour seemingly diminish after 1740. However, the evangelical spirit persisted, igniting religious awakenings in various regions.

 

One such instance was the 1748 Virginia Slave Revival, a notable event that impacted both white and Black communities in the colony. This article delves into the historical context of this revival, explores the role of Samuel Davies, and examines the impact of this outbreak of divine power on the lives of enslaved people.

The Great Awakening in Virginia

The Great Awakening in Virginia emerged within a socio-religious landscape dominated by the Church of England, which held official status in the colony since 1619 and imposed restrictions on dissenting denominations1. However, the stirrings of religious revivalism, fuelled by preachers like George Whitefield and Gilbert Tennent, began to challenge the established order2.

These preachers, emphasizing personal religious experiences, emotional conversions, and a direct connection with God, offered an alternative to the formal rituals and hierarchical structure of the Anglican Church. Their message resonated with many colonists who felt disenfranchised by the established church and yearned for a more personal and heart-felt religious experience.

In this context, Presbyterianism gained a foothold in Virginia, particularly in Hanover County, where Samuel Davies played a pivotal role2. Davies, a skilled orator and advocate for religious dissent, arrived in Hanover in 1748 and established several licensed meetinghouses3.

He skillfully navigated the legal constraints imposed on dissenters while passionately preaching the message of evangelical Calvinism. His efforts contributed to the growing movement for religious liberty in colonial America, which would eventually lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England after the American Revolution2.

Samuel Davies and the 1748 Virginia Slave Revival

This document was drafted by Tony Cauchi and refined in collaboration with AI research. It has been thoroughly edited to ensure accuracy and readability.

Samuel Davies, born in Delaware in 1723, emerged as a prominent figure in the Great Awakening3. He received his education at Samuel Blair’s classical academy at Fagg’s Manor, Pennsylvania, where he was exposed to “New Light” evangelical Presbyterian thought4. This theological training, with its emphasis on personal piety and social responsibility, profoundly shaped Davies’s approach to ministry and his engagement with enslaved people.

A congregation in Hanover learned about Davies from a traveling New Jersey preacher, and they supported his theological education4. He was ordained in 1745 and, after a brief period as an evangelist, settled in Hanover in 1748 as the first resident Presbyterian minister in the Piedmont region4. In 1748, he married Jane Holt, a member of a prominent Williamsburg family3.

While Davies initially focused on ministering to white settlers, he recognized the importance of evangelizing enslaved people5. He actively sought to bring Christianity to enslaved individuals in the households and plantations of his parishioners5. Davies’s efforts were not without challenges.

Many enslavers were hesitant to expose enslaved people to Christianity, fearing it might inspire ideas of equality and freedom, potentially leading to resistance or rebellion2. However, Davies persisted, driven by his belief in the spiritual equality of all people.

Impact on Enslaved People

The 1748 Virginia Slave Revival had a profound impact on the lives of enslaved people. Despite the reluctance of some enslavers, many enslaved individuals embraced Christianity during this period2. Davies himself estimated that over 1,000 Black people attended the churches he established in Virginia2. The revival fostered a sense of community and spiritual connection among them.

They found solace and hope in the message of Christianity, which offered a promise of salvation and a vision of a better world beyond their earthly struggles2. Religious gatherings provided a space for emotional expression, spiritual support, and the development of a shared identity.

The revival contributed to the growth of literacy among enslaved people. Davies encouraged the distribution of spelling books and religious texts, including “A Call to the Unconverted” by Richard Baxter, “Letters from the Rev. Samuel Davies, and others” by Samuel Davies, Isaac Watts’s “The Psalms and Hymns,” and John Reynolds’s “A Compassionate Address.” 1 Enslaved individuals learned to read and sing hymns, finding strength and inspiration in the words and melodies1.

As one minister noted, “with the outpouring of the Spirit among the blacks, they had little time left to the studying of the English language.” 1 This suggests that the focus on Christian books and hymns may have, to some extent, superseded the learning of English, potentially as a prioritization of their own spiritual development.

The British Bible Society donated books, further supporting the spread of literacy and religious knowledge among enslaved people1. These books, along with the teachings of preachers like Davies, provided enslaved people with new perspectives and interpretations of the world around them. They found within the Christian message of liberation and equality a powerful tool to cope with their own oppression.

The impact of religious awakenings on the lives of enslaved people is further illustrated by the later Nat Turner Slave Revolt of 18316. While this event occurred decades after the 1748 revival, it demonstrates how Christian experience could contribute to both spiritual expression and resistance among enslaved populations.

The Nat Turner Revolt led to a shift in subsistence practices, with enslavers reducing the nutritional quality of food rations provided to enslaved people6. This suggests a heightened sense of control and a fear of potential uprisings among enslavers in the aftermath of the revolt.

Enslaved people found solace and strength in their faith. They would gather at Davies’s house, sometimes late into the night, to sing hymns together2. Davies described these gatherings as a “torrent of sacred harmony” that transported him to heaven2. These shared religious experiences fostered a sense of community and solidarity, providing a space for emotional release and spiritual connection within the harsh realities of their enslaved lives.

 

Area of Impact Description of Impact
Religious Beliefs Many enslaved people converted to Christianity during the revival, finding solace and hope in its message2.
Community The revival fostered a sense of community and spiritual connection among enslaved people, providing opportunities for emotional expression and support2.
Literacy The revival contributed to the growth of literacy among enslaved people, as they learned to read and engage with religious texts and hymns1.
Resistance While subtle, enslaved people may have used Christianity and religious gatherings as forms of resistance and to create a sense of agency within their constrained circumstances1.

Samuel Blair’s Indirect Influence

Although Samuel Blair did not directly participate in the 1748 Virginia Slave Revival, his profound influence on Samuel Davies shaped the latter’s approach to ministry and his engagement with enslaved people, particularly in the context of the Great Awakening. As Davies’s teacher and mentor, Blair instilled in him the principles of “New Light” evangelical Presbyterianism, which emphasized personal religious experience and a fervent commitment to spreading the Gospel4.

Blair’s academy at Fagg’s Manor provided a rigorous intellectual and theological foundation for Davies3. It was here that Davies developed his skills as a preacher and honed his ability to connect with diverse audiences, including enslaved people. Blair’s emphasis on personal piety and social responsibility likely influenced Davies’s commitment to evangelizing enslaved individuals and advocating for their spiritual well-being.

Primary Sources

While much of the information about the 1748 Virginia Slave Revival comes from secondary sources and scholarly analyses, primary sources offer valuable insights into the lived experiences of those who participated in or witnessed this event. These sources include letters, diaries, sermons, and legal documents that provide firsthand accounts and perspectives on the revival and its impact.

For example, the account book of John M. Fant, a labor contractor in Fauquier County, Virginia, from 1847-1848, sheds light on the use of enslaved labor in the construction of the Rappahannock Canal7. This record provides a glimpse into the economic realities of slavery and the ways in which enslaved people were exploited for their labor in various industries.

Another primary source, the record book of Charles Willson Farmer from 1762-1887, documents the births and deaths of enslaved people on a plantation near Jetersville in Amelia County7. This record offers a poignant reminder of the human toll of slavery and the ways in which enslaved people’s lives were meticulously documented and controlled.

Furthermore, the “Slavery and Abolition” collection in the American History database contains a vast array of primary sources related to slavery in America, including broadsides advertising runaway slaves, slave sale catalogues, and personal correspondence8. These documents provide a window into the daily lives of enslaved people, their struggles for freedom, and the complex social and economic dynamics of slavery.

Conclusion

The 1748 Virginia Slave Revival stands as a significant event in the religious history of the colony. It marked a period of spiritual awakening that transcended racial boundaries and brought new dimensions of love, joy and inner freedom to the lives of enslaved people.

Samuel Davies, influenced by his mentor Samuel Blair, played a crucial role in this revival, promoting religious dissent, fostering literacy, and spreading the message of Christianity among both white and Black communities. While the revival did not directly challenge the institution of slavery, it provided enslaved people with a source of hope, community, and spiritual empowerment in the face of oppression.

This revival also highlights the complex relationship between religion and slavery in colonial America. While some enslavers used Christianity to justify their control over enslaved people, others, like Davies, saw it as a means of offering spiritual solace and promoting human dignity.

The evangelical message of equality, while potentially subversive in the context of slavery, could also be used to reinforce the existing social order. Enslaved people, however, may have found within this message a source of inspiration for resistance and a vision of a more just and equitable future.

The 1748 Virginia Slave Revival had a lasting impact on religious and racial dynamics in Virginia. It contributed to the growth of dissenting denominations, the spread of literacy among enslaved people, and the development of a distinct African American religious culture. This revival serves as a reminder of the diverse ways in which Christianity shaped the lives of enslaved people and contributed to the evolving dynamics of race and faith in colonial society. It also foreshadowed the growing tension between the ideals of religious freedom and equality and the brutal realities of slavery, a tension that would eventually erupt in the Civil War.

Works cited

  1. 1748 Revival Among Virginia’s Enslaved – BEAUTIFUL FEET, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://romans1015.com/1748-virginia/
  2. Great Awakening in Virginia, The, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/great-awakening-in-virginia-the/
  3. Samuel Davies (1723–1761) – Encyclopedia Virginia, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/davies-samuel-1723-1761/
  4. Samuel Davies – Princeton & Slavery Project, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://slavery.princeton.edu/stories/samuel-davies
  5. Slave Literacy – Historic Polegreen Church, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://www.historicpolegreenchurch.org/slave_literacy.php
  6. The Effects of the Nat Turner Slave Revolt on the Health and Welfare of 19th-Century Slaves in Southeastern Virginia – The Aquila Digital Community, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&context=masters_theses
  7. Guide to African American Manuscripts In the Collection of the Virginia Historical Society, accessed on December 14, 2024, https://virginiahistory.org/sites/default/files/uploads/AAG.pdf
  8. Slavery and Abolition – American History 1493-1945 – Adam Matthew Digital, accessed on December 14, 2024, http://www.americanhistory.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/SlaveryandAbolition