Biography
Early Life
Betsey Stockton was an American Presbyterian Missionary and Educator.
Through her dedicated service and pioneering spirit, she made significant contributions to both religious activism and education.
She was born into slavery around 1798 in Princeton, New Jersey, to an African American mother named Celia and an enslaver named Robert Stockton. Her mother fled and left Betsey behind.
Betsey was later bestowed as a “gift” to Elizabeth Stockton, the wife of Rev. Ashbel Green, a Presbyterian minister who also served as the President of New Jersey College, known today as Princeton University.
She was raised as a devout Christian because the Stockton family and Reverend Green were Presbyterians.
In 1816, she professed her faith in the religion and was officially baptized as a Presbyterian during a winter revival on the Princeton College Campus.
Betsey Stockton acquired her education through extensive reading in Reverend Green’s library.
Recognizing her intelligence, Reverend Green made the decision to permit her enrollment in a theological seminary.
Missionary Journey to the Sandwich Islands
In 1822, Betsey Stockton secured her manumission papers and was aware of Charles S. Stewart’s missionary plans for the Sandwich Islands.
Motivated by a desire to serve as a missionary, she expressed her interest in joining him and his family.
Stockton’s pioneering achievements spanned continents. From 1822 to 1825, she served as a missionary in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). She became the first single African American woman missionary.
Her contributions extended beyond traditional missionary work. She cared for infants, secured clothing for the needy, and organized a school in Hawaii for the poor and lower class.
Stockton’s missionary endeavors left an indelible mark on the islands’ educational landscape as she organized and taught about 30 adults and their children.
She used the teaching approach invented by Joseph Lancaster and Andrew Bell to improve schools for children from families with low incomes.
Continued Community Impact and Legacy
After her missionary service, Betsey Stockton continued to impact her community.
In 1828, she was employed by the Infant School Society of Philadelphia to teach.
She played a vital role in the establishment of the First Presbyterian Church of Color in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1848.
Her legacy endures as a testament to the transformative power of faith and activism in the face of adversity.
