The 1798 Federal Dwellings Tax showed Abel and Chloe Barbadoes and their family living at the rear of 19 Belknap Street on the north slope of Beacon Hill before the filling process was completed on the south side by 1805.
Barbadoes says, "...nothing was ever uttered more important and beneficial to our color...full of virtue and consolation, perfect in explanation, and it furnished a rule to live by and to die by.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, members of the New England Anti-Slavery Society supported immediate abolition and viewed slavery as immoral and non-Christian.
The Society sponsored lecturers or "agents" who traveled throughout New England and New York, speaking in local churches or halls, and also selling abolitionist tracts or "The Liberator."
This little collection of interesting incidents, made by a colored man, will redeem the character of the race from this misconception, and show how much injustice there may often be in a generally admitted idea."
I remember, when a boy, in January, 1832, looking in at the vestry window of Belknap Street Church, while the Editor of The Liberator and a faithful few organized the first Anti-Slavery Society.
Samuel Snowden was elected a Counsellor; the next year, James G. Barbardoes and Joshua Easton; and subsequently, John T. Hilton was appointed, who, with Charles Lenox Remond, is now Vice President.
The Massachusetts General Colored Association, cordially approving the objects and principles of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, would respectfully communicate their desire to become auxiliary thereto.
They have accordingly chosen one of their members to attend the annual meeting of the Society as their delegate, Mr. Joshua Easton, North Bridgewater, solicit his acceptance in that capacity."
[14] About eighteen years ago, Robert H. Barbadoes was kidnapped in New Orleans, imprisoned, handcuffed and chained, for about five months or longer, and deprived every way of communication his situation to his parents.
At the examination of Smith, he was found to have free papers, signed by the Governor, in consequence of which, he was set at liberty, He then wrote Barbadoes' parents, and likewise arrived in Boston as soon as the letter.
Free papers were immediately obtained, and signed by his father and Mrs. Mary Turel, Mr. ____ Giles, and Thomas Clark, town clerk; and by the Governor of the State, demanding him without delay.
Subscribed and sworn, before me, David L. Child, Justice of the Peace.On his way to the 1833 National Anti-Slavery Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "James G. Barbadoes was compelled (though in feeble state of health) to remain on the deck of a Providence, Rhode Island steamboat all night, without shelter, in the wintery month of December: in consequences of which exposure, he was prostrated with sickness for many weeks, and perhaps never fully recovered from the effects of it to the day of his death.
"[15] Perhaps recalling the service of his Uncle Isaac Barbadoes during the Revolutionary War to his country, it is reported that while on this miserable passage to Philadelphia, James G. Barbadoes warned: "that in the revolutionary struggle for Britain, our fathers were called upon to fight for liberty, and promptly did they obey the summons--gallantly contenting, shoulder to shoulder, with those who then made no distinction as to the color of a man's skin, that they might secure to themselves and their children the rights and privileges of freemen.
"[16] In December 1833, James G. Barbadoes, Massachusetts, was one of sixty-two delegates from eleven States who met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to establish demanding immediate emancipation.
He was charged with having a "deliberate and well-matured design to make the anti-slavery organization subservient to the promotion of personal and sectarian views on the subjects of Women's Rights … Civil Government, the Church, the Ministry, and the Sabbath."
A resolution published in The Liberator concluded: ...of Mr. Garrison we can truly add, that we doubt not that the day will come, when many an emancipated slave will say of him, while weeping over his monument, "This was my best friend and benefactor.
In 1808, the grammar school in the Hall home on the northeast corner of West Cedar and Revere Streets was moved to the first floor of the African Meeting House.
Intelligence has been received that our late worthy colored citizen, Mr. James G. Barbadoes, died at St. Ann's Bay, (Jamaica) on the 22nd of June last, of the 'West Indies fever,' aged 45.
Mr. Barbadoes was among the emigrants who went from this section of the country, last year, to the island of Jamaica, hoping to better his condition; but in common with them, he soon found that he had been duped by the flattering representations that had been held out by persons in the pay of the West India proprietors.