Amy Hester "Hetty" Reckless (c. 1776–1881) was a person who liberated herself from slavery and became part of the American

abolitionist movement Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was France in 1315, but it was later used in its colonies. T ...

. She campaigned against

slavery Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...

and was part of the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was an organized network of secret routes and safe houses used by freedom seekers to escape to the abolitionist Northern United States and Eastern Canada. Enslaved Africans and African Americans escaped from slavery ...

, operating a Philadelphia

safe house A safe house (also spelled safehouse) is a dwelling place or building whose unassuming appearance makes it an inconspicuous location where one can hide out, take shelter, or conduct clandestine activities. Historical usage It may also refer to ...

. She fought against

prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

and vice, working toward improving education and skills for the black community. Through efforts including operating a

women's shelter A women's shelter, also known as a women's refuge and battered women's shelter, is a place of temporary protection and support for women escaping domestic violence and intimate partner violence of all forms. The term is also frequently used to ...

, supporting Sunday Schools and attending conferences, she became a leader in the abolitionist community. After her former enslaver's death, she returned to

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

and continued working to assist escaping slaves throughout the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

Early life in Salem

Amy Hester "Hetty" Reckless was born into slavery in

Salem, New Jersey Salem is a city in and the county seat of Salem County,New Jersey County Map

, in 1776, the daughter of Dorcas Boadley, who was enslaved by the wealthy Johnson family who lived in

Johnson Hall Johnson Hall State Historic Site was the home of Sir William Johnson (1715–1774) an Irish pioneer who became the influential British Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Province of New York, known for his strong relationship especially ...

. Initially, Reckless was considered the property of Jane Gibson Johnson and when she died became her son's

chattel Chattel may refer to: * Chattel, an alternative name for tangible personal property * A chattel house, a type of West Indian dwelling * A chattel mortgage, a security interest over tangible personal property * Chattel slavery, the most extreme for ...

. When Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson married for the second time, his wife Julianna mistreated Reckless. Fleeing to

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

in 1826 with her daughter, Reckless sought help from the Abolition Society claiming at first that she had been

emancipated Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfran ...

by her previous owner. She recounted that she boarded a stagecoach like any other passenger and rode without question from Salem to Philadelphia, resolved not to return because Johnson's wife had knocked out her front teeth with a broomstick and yanked out tufts of her hair. She also was aggrieved because Johnson's mother had promised her she would receive her freedom, but when the Colonel inherited Reckless, he refused. Colonel Johnson tried to reclaim her as his slave, promising to set her free if she would return and give him her daughter. Reckless refused and did not return to Salem until after Johnson's death in 1850.

Philadelphia and the campaign against slavery

, Reckless lived with Samuel and Eliza Clement, who were related to the Goodwins, the Quaker sisters who were pioneers of the

. Introduced to this circle, in 1833, Reckless became a founding member of the

Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society The Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society (PFASS) was founded in December 1833, a few days after the first meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society (in Philadelphia), and dissolved in March 1870 following the ratification of the 14th and ...

(PFASS), along with Grace Bustill Douglass, Sarah Mapps Douglass, and

Charlotte Forten Grimké Charlotte Louise Bridges Grimké ( Forten; August 17, 1837 – July 23, 1914) was an African-American abolitionism in the United States, anti-slavery activist, poet, and educator. She grew up in a prominent abolitionist family in Philadelphia. S ...

with her daughters. Reckless's past situated her to advocate for abolition within this PFASS. Her cherished possessions included a photograph of the members of the PFASS and a flag with anti-slavery inscriptions. The PFASS was a

racially integrated Racial integration, or simply integration, includes desegregation (the process of ending systematic racial segregation), leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of Race (classification of human beings), race, and t ...

organization, but Reckless also worked with the predominantly-black

Female Vigilant Association The Vigilant Association of Philadelphia was an abolitionist organization founded in August 1837 in Philadelphia to "create a fund to aid colored persons in distress". The initial impetus came from Robert Purvis, who had served on a previous ' ...

, which formed in 1838. This group was an auxiliary of the male

Vigilant Association of Philadelphia The Vigilant Association of Philadelphia was an abolitionist organization founded in August 1837 in Philadelphia to "create a fund to aid colored persons in distress". The initial impetus came from Robert Purvis, who had served on a previous ' ...

, to which Reckless was appointed a full member in 1843. Of the fifteen committee members appointed to replace the previous board, Reckless served with the male appointees. Reckless liaised between these organizations. September 1841 minutes of the PFASS show that Reckless reported that the Vigilance Committee had saved 35 enslaved people in a single month and recorded her request for additional funds of support. Four years later, she again requestedfunds to assist fugitive slaves. Reckless also operated a safe house for the

on Rodman Street in Philadelphia. Her activities included supporting the establishment of

Sabbath school Sabbath school is a function of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Seventh Day Baptist, Church of God (Seventh-Day), and some other sabbatarian denominations, usually comprising a song service and Bible study lesson on the Sabbath. It is usual ...

s in the black community. Reckless felt it was important for the benevolent societies to support organizations which the African American community had created for themselves, but improve them with educational offerings. In 1838, Reckless attended the

Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women The first Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women was held in New York City on May 9–12, 1837, to discuss the American abolition movement.Yellin, Jean Fagan, and John C. Horne. ''The Abolitionist Sisterhood: Women's Political Culture in Antebel ...

, held in Philadelphia from 15 to 18 May. Reckless also participated in the "Convention of the Colored People" held in Philadelphia in 1840.

Lucretia Mott Lucretia Mott (née Coffin; January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was an American Quakers, Quaker, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. She had formed the idea of reforming the position ...

attended this gathering, noting that African American women delegates participated as equals in the meeting.

Moral Reform Retreat

Reckless was not only concerned with freeing women from slavery, but from

sexual exploitation Sexual slavery and sexual exploitation is an attachment of any ownership rights, right over one or more people with the intent of Coercion, coercing or otherwise forcing them to engage in Human sexual activity, sexual activities. This includ ...

as well. In 1845, she and Hetty Burr co-founded the Moral Reform Retreat to shelter women "victims of vice". It was the only shelter for African American women in Philadelphia. The first two years the shelter was open, they housed over 200 women for periods of up to six months, providing shelter and education. The organization served the additional purpose of providing employment for the women who ran the shelter. Reckless introduced Sarah Mapps Douglass, who was from a more privileged class, to women's vulnerabilities to prostitution because of their

illiteracy Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...

and lack of skills. Douglass was moved to invest funds in establishing the shelter and helped Reckless and Burr teach the women skills to broaden their economic alternatives.

Return to Salem and death in Philadelphia

After 1850, Reckless returned to Salem and continued her anti-slavery work, living on Market Street, near the old Johnson manor house. These activities continued through the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, when in a letter from 1862 from Abigail Goodwin to

William Still William Still (October 7, 1819 – July 14, 1902) was an African-American abolitionist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a conductor of the Underground Railroad and was responsible for aiding and assisting at least 649 slaves to freedom ...

, Goodwin reported that "Amy Reckless" collected $17 (~$ in ) (more than any other contributor) and was collecting clothing for fugitives. By 1880, Reckless had returned to Philadelphia and was living with two of her daughters. She died at home on January 28, 1881. Her home was located at 1015 Rodman Street which is now in the Washington Square West district of central Philadelphia. She was aged almost 105 and left a daughter who was in her seventies. Her mind was quite sharp until the end and she was fond of recounting that she had seen

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

Early life in Salem

Philadelphia and the campaign against slavery

Moral Reform Retreat

Return to Salem and death in Philadelphia

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

Further reading