Reverend Leonard Grimes | Abolitionist and Pastor

Leonard Grimes

Reverend Leonard Grimes was an African-American baptist minister in the 1800’s who advocated for the abolition of the practice or institution of slavery. He worked against all aspects of it especially that of capital punishment or other physical abuse. His efforts serve as a powerful example of the difference one person can make if they stand on their principles.

He was a noted African-American abolitionist. The abolitionist movement was the official name of the movement to end slavery. In both Western Europe and the Americas, the movement was historic. Primarily, because it was the catalyst to ending the Atlantic slave trade as well as liberating the enslaved people.

Young Leonard Grimes

Leonard Grimes was born to free black parents on November 9, 1815. He was a “mulatto”, a term used to describe people of mixed race. It is unsure exactly what his exact genetic makeup was however, in that day and age, he would’ve simply been seen as black.

Born decades before the country completely abolished slavery, it must have been a scary time. President Lincoln set forth the abolishment of slavery in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Meanwhile, Virginia did not abolish slavery until April 7, 1864. In essence, Virginia did not recognize the freedom of all blacks until almost 50 years after his birth.

Nevertheless, Leonard Andrew Grimes grew up in Loudoun County, VA as a free boy into a free man. As the mulatto child of free parents, it was his birthright. It spared him from a life of brutally hard labor and abuse that the slaves experienced.

Even still, being free didn’t spare him from witnessing the horrors of slavery. In fact, he was keenly aware of suffering of those around him. Some people in his position would have distanced themselves as much as possible from the condition of the slave. That was not in Leonard’s nature. As a result, he empathized with the freedom seekers.

Frequent trips into the south with his slave owning employer solidified his hatred toward the institution. He was able to see some of the harshest treatment for himself. Because of this, he vowed to dedicate himself to fighting against it.

Washington D.C. and the Underground Railroad

Some time in the 1830’s Grimes moved to Washington, D.C. and began a new career. Grimes became a hackney driver with his own coach. Hackney is simply another word for taxi. The term comes from the Norman French word “hacquenee” which meant that a horse that was available for hire. In short, Leonard Grimes became a taxi driver. He provided transportation for politicians and other professionals. This played a pivotal role in later years.

In addition to operating a successful coach business, Grimes had also started a family. Records show that he married a woman by the name of Octavia. The two had four children; Emma, John, Leonard, and Julia.

Freeing Slaves

Both his image and occupation served as perfect cover for his abolitionist activities. As a family man owning a coach, he secretly served as a conductor for the underground railroad. This underground railroad was an extensive network of people both black and white. Together they offered food, shelter, clothing, and transportation for slaves escaping to freedom.

He operated as a conductor of the underground railroad for years without anyone suspecting him. During this time, he helped move fugitive slaves from Virginia to D.C.. Later, he would assist them in getting further north and further into freedom. Under this guise, he participated in an unknown number of escapes. In essence, he had many home runs before he finally struck out.

Getting Caught

Things changed for Leonard Grimes and his abolitionist work in 1839. After years undetected as an underground railroad conductor, Leonard A. Grimes was caught attempting to rescue a family of slaves from Virginia. As a result, he was stripped of his own civil rights while imprisoned for two years a Richmond jail. Meanwhile his family was left to survive without his presence. Octavia kept things together as she taught at schools for Black children in Washington D.C.. 

Ministry

While imprisoned, Leonard Grimes made a decision that would change the course of his life. He decided the christian faith and dedicated his life to God. After he was released in 1840, he ratified that decision by being baptized in the Baptist faith.

A panel chaired by the president of Columbian College later licensed Grimes to preach. The institution, chartered in 1821, is now known as the George Washington University. Furthermore, it’s currently the largest institution of higher learning in the District of Columbia.

In 1846, Grimes moved his family to Massachusetts. Once there, he became more involved with the religious community in the Massachusetts towns of New Bedford and Boston. Later, in 1848, he gained ordination as the first pastor of the Twelfth Baptist Church. Rev. Grimes would hold that position for the next 27 years. 

The Fugitive Slave Act

The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850. The “Compromise” was made up of five laws dealing with slavery and territorial expansion. In part, it was due to California requesting to enter the Union as a free state. A benefit of the compromise was that it ended the slave trade in Washington D.C.. However, in contrast, it set forth the highly strict Fugitive Slave Act.

The Reverend Leonard Grimes was in staunch opposition to that part of the compromise. This act dictated the return of fugitive slaves to their masters. It didn’t matter where the slave was apprehended be it a free state or otherwise. In addition, the act made the finding, returning, and trying of escaped slaves a responsibility of the federal government. Grimes’ opposition to the act was echoed by the members of his church. As a result, the church earned the moniker of “The Fugitives Church.”

President of the American Baptist Missionary Convention

He continued to spread his message of opposition far and wide as a member and then President of the American Baptist Missionary Society Convention. During his tenure as president, he advocated for the organization as a whole to oppose slavery as a collective. He was supported by other abolitionists at the baptist conventions such as; Theodore Doughty Miller, William Spellman, and Sampson White. Because of his efforts, and their support, the organization elected to refrain from fellowshipping with ministries “slave-holding ministries” or those that supported slave ownership.

Anthony Burns

An escaped slave by the name of Anthony Burns entered into Leonard Grimes’ life in 1854. He was an escapee from Virginia. After coming to Boston as a fugitive, Burns joined the Twelfth Baptist Church where Grimes was the pastor.

Eventually, his former master found out where Burns was living. As such, he ordered his immediate arrest. Burns was arrested and held in jail awaiting trial and return to his master in Virginia.

Reverend Grimes led a valiant effort to free the enslaved Burns from jail. Even still, the trial took place. The judge, in accordance with the Fugitive Slave Act, ruled that Burns should be returned to his master as he was, legally, still his master’s property. 

Fortunately, Grimes and other supporters were not depending on the mercy of the court. They had been working on a backup plan. Fortunately, they had raised substantial funds while Burns was undergoing the legal process. They had enough money to purchase Burns’ freedom.

The case drew a lot of attention. The general public made their thoughts known. Ultimately, the Burns case was the last time that an escaped slave was prosecuted under the Fugitive Slave Act in Massachusetts. 

Advancing Colored People

Following his years of intense focus on the abolition of slavery, Leonard Grimes sought other ways in which help blacks move forward. His goal was to see black Americans take on both the benefits of and the fight for freedom.

Colored Conventions

Leonard Grimes was an important figure in the Colored Conventions Movement. These conventions brought the best minds of the black population together. In addition to national church organizations, attendees included businessmen, politicians, writers, publishers, editors, and black abolitionists. They were said to provide “an organizational structure through which black men could maintain a distinct black leadership and pursue black abolitionist goals.” Grimes was a delegate to the conventions in 1853 (Rochester, NY), 1855 (Philadelphia, PA), and 1859 (Boston, MA). 

The minutes from these conventions tell the real story. They show that Pre-Civil War African Americans sought justice beyond the mere emancipation of their enslaved fellow blacks. They also got together to discuss the following;

• labor
• health care
• temperance
• emigration
• voting rights
• the right to a trial by jury
• educational equality.

It’s also interesting to note that these Colored Conventions existed BEFORE the founding of any formal anti-slavery movement in the United States.

The 54th Regiment

Grimes played a major role in the manning of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. It was one of the first African-American regiments to serve in the American Civil War. forming in 1863.

Many members of his church wanted to fight against the Confederacy. Because of this, along with his personal beliefs, he supported African-American enlistment into the Union Army. At this time, there was no integration in the U.S. Army. Many White Americans in leadership were against blacks serving in the military at all.

With this, Grimes lobbied for the establishment of an African-American regiment. He put forth a win-win scenario. Blacks would be allowed to fight. Meanwhile, Whites would not be forced to integrate the military units. Their efforts were successful. Once success was achieved, Grimes began recruited men for service in the infantry. 

Leonard Grimes Death

Not long after a meeting of the Home Mission Society in 1873, Leonard Grimes became sick. Shortly thereafter he passed away. The cause of his death was listed as apoplexy. Apoplexy is the rupture of an internal organ. Typically, it referred to a stroke. The term is no longer used.

He died at his home in East Somerville, Massachusetts near Boston.