Page:The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race (1919).djvu/20



HE first Banneker known of among Negroes in American history was an African Prince. This son of an African king was captured, brought to this country and sold to Molly Welsh of Mary land. Set free some years after his arrival, Banneker, who was a man of fine bearing and contemplative habits, married his former owner. The African Prince died early leaving his wife four children. One of these, a daughter by the name of Mary, married a native African, who became converted, joined the church and took his wife's sur-name of Banneker. This couple in turn had four children of whom Benjamin was the oldest and only son.

Benjamin Banneker was born Sept. 9th, 1731. The boy had a brilliant mind, was popular at school and a great favorite with his grand-mother who used to give him of her small share of knowledge and have him read much from the Bible.

His study under teachers was not at all extensive but he gained an early love for books and continued to "dive into books", as was said of him, all his life. Benjamin was twenty years old when his father died. The latter had bought one hundred acres of land when Benjamin was six years old, for which he paid 1700 pounds of tobacco. To the son and the widow the father left seventy-two acres of land and the home, dividing the remaining twenty-eight acres among his daughters. Though very studious, Benjamin was an excellent farmer, having a good garden and a fine assortment of fruit trees. He kept two horses, several cows and was very skillful in handling bees. Thus situated, life was very busy for him, but he made all things a school.

When he was twenty years old having no tools but a jack knife and having seen nothing but a sundial and a watch, Benjamin made himself a time piece which struck the hours and which kept the t'me for more than twenty years. When he was fifty-eight years of age, Banneker, who all these years had made the study of Astronomy a passion, transferred his land to Ellicott and Company for an annuity of twelve pounds. He was now free to give his whole time to his favorite study. Night after night he lay upon the ground, wrapped in his great coat, watching the heavens. In the morning he retired to rest, but appeared to acquire but little sleep. He still hoed in the garden and trimmed fruit trees for exercise and played on the flute or the violin for diversion.

He ventured from home but little. The only occasion on which he spent much time from his farm was in the year 1790 and thereabout when he aided in laying off or surveying the Federal Territory for the District of Columbia. He also aided in locating the spot for the capitol, the Presidents' House, Treasury and other public buildings.

On his return from Washington, he published his first Almanac, 1792, a copy of which he sent Thom as Jefferson. The latter forwarded the manuscript to Condercet, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Paris. The publishers advertised it as "an ex traordinary effort o-f genius, calculated by a sable descendant of Africa." From this he became widely known as a writer and thinker and famous people frequently sought him out. He died October 9th. 1806 at the age of seventy-five. Maryland, Baltimore County, Near Ellicott's Lower

Mills, August 19, 1791. To Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State,

Philadelphia. Sir:

I have taken up my pen in order to direct to you. as a present, a copy of an Almanac which I have calculated for the ensuing year.

This calculation, Sir, is the production of my arduous study, in this my advanced stage of life; for having long had unbounded desires to become ac quainted with the secrets of nature, I have had to gratify my curiosity herein, thro' my own assiduous application to astronomical study, in which I need not recount to you the many difficulties and disadvantages I have had to encounter.

And, altho' I had almost declined to make niv calculation for the ensuing year, in consequence of the time which I had allotted therefor being taken up at the Federal Territory, by the request of Mr. Andrew Ellicott; yet finding myself under several engagements to printers of this State, to whom ! had communicated my design, on my return to my place of residence, 1 industriously applied my self thereto, which I hope I have accomplished with correctness and accuracy, a copy of which 1 have taken the liberty to direct to you, and which 1 humbly request you will favorably receive; and, altho' you may have the opportunity of perusing it ,;fter its publication, yet I chose to send it to you in manuscript previous thereto, that thereby you might not only have an earlier inspection, but that you might also view it in my own handwriting.

And, now, Sir, I shall conclude, and subscribe myself with the most profound respect.

Your most obedient, humble ser -ant,

B. BANNEKER.

Mr. Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State. Philadelphia.

N. B Any communication to me nmy be had by a direction to Mr. Elias Ellicott, Baltimore Town.