Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

First Protest against Slavery

By Bill Coughlin, September 3, 2011

1. First Protest against Slavery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Here in 1688, at the home of Tunes Kunders, an eloquent protest was written by a group of German Quakers. Signed by Pastorius and three others, it preceded by 92 years Pennsylvania’s passage of the nation’s first abolition law.

Erected 1983 by Pennsylvania Historical and museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and the Quakerism ⛪ series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1688.

Location. 40° 1.802′ N, 75° 9.899′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. Marker is at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and E Wister Street, on the right when traveling north on Germantown Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5109 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 19144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Owen Wister (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Grumblethorpe (approx. ¼ mile away); Christopher Sower

Marker on Germantown Avenue image. Click for full size.

By Bill Coughlin, September 3, 2011

2. Marker on Germantown Avenue

In the 17th century, the Germantown Society of Friends held their first meetings in a house located on this site. Here Francis Daniel Pastorius, a leader of the Germantown settlement, wrote the protest against slavery. This was the first step that led to the eventual abolition of slavery.

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Lutheran Publication Society (approx. ¼ mile away); Christopher Saur (approx. ¼ mile away); Louisa May Alcott (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Germantown White House (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named The Germantown White House (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . .
1. Information about the Thones Kunders House Site. Historic Germantown website. (Submitted on September 3, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery (Wikipedia). "The 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery was the first protest against African-American slavery made by a religious body in the English colonies. It was drafted by Francis Daniel Pastorius and signed by him and three other Quakers living in Germantown, Pennsylvania (now part of Philadelphia) on behalf of the Germantown Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends...." (Submitted on December 4, 2019.)

By Bill Coughlin, September 3, 2011

3. First Protest against Slavery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 762 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.