Phills Wheatley

America's First Black Woman Poet
1753 - 1784

Compiled by Tony Subia . 2003

Slave traders kidnapped Phillis Wheatley at age 7 from the Senegal-Gambia region of Africa’s west coast. Unable to be sold in the West Indies or America’s southern colonies, Phillis was eventually purchased in 1761 by the prominent Boston family of John and Susannah Wheatley who nurtured her as a family member.

Phillis Wheatley had remarkable intelligence and demonstrated creative brilliance. Tutored by her new family, Phillis quickly learned English and eventually Greek and Latin although she never attended formal school.

Motivated by great poets of her time and encouraged by the Christian compassion of the Wheatley family, Phillis began writing poems as her personal expressions. Her first poem, “On Messrs. Hussey and Coffin” was published by a Rhode Island newspaper in 1767. That first poem demonstrated her literary maturity and Christian spirituality. Other poetic works by Phillis individually appeared in other publications.

In 1773, the Wheatley family took Phillis to London in hopes of improving her frail asthmatic condition. Through the endearing tenacity of John Wheatley, a London publisher – Arch Bell, Aldgate published a volume of poems by Phillis Wheatley. The collection was titled “Poems On Various Subjects, Religious and Moral”.

Within five years of returning to Boston, both John and Susannah Wheatley passed away leaving Phillis alone struggling to support herself as a seamstress. Phillis eventually met and married a freed slave, John Peters and mothered three children.

Burdened by a racist society of those times and extreme poverty, John Peters left Phillis and their children with a Negro boarding house where poor conditions led to the children's death. Despite tragedy and her own declining health, Phillis continued writing poetry under the name of Phillis Peters.

Sadly, Phillis died in 1784 at 31 years of age without ever achieving a published second volume of her poetry. The poetry manuscripts disappeared with John Peters and have never been found. Somewhere out there are the treasured expressions that undoubtedly chronicle the love of her children and her husband. And especially the compassion of John and Susannah Wheatley, who nurtured, protected and gave meaningful life to Phillis Wheatley.

“Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral”
By Phillis Wheatley 1753 – 1784

Copy of a letter sent by John Wheatley to the London Publisher in 1772           PHILLIS was brought from Africa to America, in the Year 1761, between seven and eight Years of Age. Without any Assistance from School Education, and by only what she was taught in the Family, she, in sixteen Months Time from her Arrival, attained the English language, to which she was an utter Stranger before, to such a degree, as to read any, the most difficult Parts of the Sacred Writings, to the great Astonishment of all who heard her.           As to her WRITING, her own Curiosity led her to it; and this she learnt in so short a Time, that in the Year 1765, she wrote a Letter to the Rev. Mr. OCCOM, the Indian Minister, while in England.           She has a great inclination to learn the Latin Tongue, and has made some progress in it. This Relation is given by her Master who bought her, and with whom she now lives. JOHN WHEATLEY. Boston, Nov. 14, 1772 To the PUBLICK.

John and Susannah Wheatley – Great Americans.
Phillis Wheatley – Treasured African American Child.