Minutes of the African Union Society & African Humane Society

Object number
VOL.1674C
Title
Minutes of the African Union Society & African Humane Society
Creator
Free African Union Society
Date
1793 – 1810
Description
This volume contains the meeting minutes for the first and second African Union Societies and the African Humane Society. This volume covers the years 1793 through 1810 and contains more details about the everyday functions of the Society, such as how to obtain funds from the treasury and what should be done in the event that a member passes away.   

A highlight of this volume is the progression from the first African Union Society to the African Humane Society. The first African Union Society voted to dissolve on December 4, 1794 following the motion of member Prince Amy. This was in response to Dinah Sisson, the widow of Neptune Sisson, who had a high profile dispute with the Society, believing the Society had short changed her of money owed to her deceased husband. The African Union Society reformed on September 10, 1795 with many of the same members. On June 10, 1802, the Society decided to change its name to the African Humane Society. There is no reasoning in the minutes as to what prompted this change.  

A name that occurs frequently in this volume is Phebe Benson. The wife of member Cuffee Benson, Phebe is assisted monetarily by the Society numerous times, usually in the sum of $10. It does not seem like her husband is sick or in any way absent, as he is present at meetings and even redeems money for his wife as can be seen in an entry dated May 23, 1805. The only other woman to receive funds from the Society as noted in this volume, is Mary Cahoone, the wife of member Thomas Cahoone. She was lent $4, a significantly smaller amount than to Mrs. Benson, and it only happens once. These instances stand out as they are unusual. Male members were typically the only ones who requested help from the treasury.  

There are also some entries in this volume that are identical to those found in 1674B. 
Materials
paper
Credit Line
Gift of the United Congregational Church
Documentation Type
Institutional Records
Object Types
minutes (administrative records), volumes (documents by form)
Subjects
African American
Meetings
Organizations
Related People & Organizations
Amy, Prince, fl. 1789 (associated)
Sisson, Dinah (associated)
Sisson, Neptune, 1729-1794 (associated)
Benson, Phebe (Flagg) (associated)
Benson, Cuffe (associated)

Contains

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