Profile: Jenny Slew

Overview:

Jenny Slew was a free woman of African and European ancestry who lived in colonial Massachusetts during the years before the American Revolution. Historians believe she was born around 1719. Around age 42 or 43, Slew was unlawfully forced into slavery despite having been born free. In 1766, she brought a lawsuit against John Whipple Jr. of Ipswich, claiming that he had wrongly held her in slavery and taken away her freedom. Court records show that Slew’s case raised important questions about race, liberty, and legal rights in colonial America. With the help of attorney Benjamin Kent, she challenged the idea that Black people could automatically be treated as property. Her case became one of the earliest known legal victories by a Black woman seeking justice in Massachusetts. Although historians know only pieces of her life story, the records that remain show that Jenny Slew courageously used the legal system to reclaim her freedom years before the American Revolution began. 

Quick Facts:

• Born free around 1719

• Woman of African and European ancestry

• Lived in colonial Massachusetts

• Was unlawfully enslaved as an adult despite being born free

• Brought a freedom lawsuit against John Whipple Jr. in 1766

• Represented by attorney Benjamin Kent

• Her case was heard before the Essex Superior Court in Salem

• Successfully reclaimed her freedom through the Massachusetts court system

• The court ordered Whipple to pay her for damages and court cost

• Became one of the earliest known Black women to challenge unlawful enslavement in court

• Much of her personal life remains unknown to historians

Why This Story Matters:

Jenny Slew matters because she fought to reclaim freedoms that had been taken from her. Born free, she was unlawfully forced into slavery in her forties and chose to challenge that injustice in court. At a time when many Black people had few legal protections, Slew used the legal system to fight back. Her case forced judges and lawyers to think about race, fairness, and who deserved liberty. Her victory was especially powerful because she did not just regain her freedom—the court also required John Whipple to pay damages and court costs, recognizing that harm had been done to her. Slew's story reminds us that Black women were not simply waiting for freedom. They actively resisted injustice and helped shape early American ideas about rights, equality, and justice. 

Legacy:

Jenny Slew's story is an important example of courage and determination. By taking her case to court, she challenged the idea that Black people could be unlawfully deprived of their freedom without resistance. Her victory showed that unfair systems could be questioned and fought. Although historians know only a small amount about her life, her actions helped create an example for others seeking justice through the courts. Today, historians remember Jenny Slew as an early freedom seeker whose story helps us better understand the experiences of Black women in colonial America.

The surviving records from Slew v. Whipple give historians a rare look at her fight to reclaim freedoms that had been taken from her. In court, Slew argued that she had been wrongly deprived of her liberty and asked the legal system to recognize her rights. These records remain important because they preserve the story of a Black woman who challenged unlawful enslavement in colonial Massachusetts. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Jenny Slew was born free but later forced into slavery. How does knowing this impact the way you think about freedom and rights in colonial America?

2. Jenny Slew used the courts to challenge slavery before the American Revolution began. What does her story suggest about who has the power to create change in society? 

3. Jenny Slew risked going to court against someone who claimed ownership over her. What risks do people face when challenging unfair systems, and why might some still choose to do it? 

4. If freedom could be taken away from someone who was born free, what does Jenny Slew’s story teach us about rights and who gets protected by the law? 

Reflection Prompt:

1. Jenny Slew’s story survived because of court records. What important parts of a person’s life might never appear in legal documents, and why does that matter?

Sources & Further Reading:

1. “Slew v. Whipple.” Legal Papers and Court Notes. Adams Papers Digital Edition, Massachusetts Historical Society.

2. "Self-Emancipation for Women." National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.  NPS.gov

3. Slew v. Whipple. Court Document (Initial Writ). Massachusetts Superior Court of Judicature, November 1766. Suffolk File #131426. North Shore Slavery Initiative. 

4. Jenny Slew. Modern Artistic Interpretation. Jillian Bemis, date unknown. Courtesy of Jillian Bemis and First Church Ipswich. Featured in “Freedom for Jenny Slew.” Historic Ipswich. 

5. Jenny Slew Receiving Compensation from John Whipple. Mural. Alan Pearsall, date unknown. Courtesy of Alan Pearsall and the Ipswich Riverwalk Project. Featured in “Freedom for Jenny Slew.” Historic Ipswich. 

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