Phillis Wheatley, Negro servant to Mr. John Wheatley, of Boston

At the age of 14, Phillis Wheatley published her first poem in the Newport, Rhode Island, Mercury. In 1770, the publication of a poem on the death of the evangelical preacher George Whitefield brought her great notoriety and led to the publication of Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in London. The collection of 39 poems reflects her religious and classical New England upbringing and stresses the theme of Christian salvation. Due to her age and their racism, some were skeptical, including Thomas Jefferson, that she was truly the author.

In 1773, John Wheatley gave Phillis her freedom, but she stayed on with the Wheatleys, caring for them in their declining years. She married a free African-American, John Peters, and they had three children, who all died young. Phillis in turn died in poverty at the young age of 31.

Mr. Wheatley described Phillis’ progress:
“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.”