Lucy Terry Prince — The Author of America’s Oldest Known African American Poem 

Poet • Storyteller • Advocate for Her Family

Lucy Terry Prince was more than the author of Bars Fight. She was a storyteller, a wife and mother, and a determined advocate for her family. In Vermont, she challenged discrimination, sought protection for her family when they faced harassment, and defended their rights to their home and property. The 1854 newspaper account preserves a later remembrance of Lucy’s wit, eloquence, and ability to speak on behalf of her family, while the historical marker connects her story to the Vermont community where she and Abijah Prince built their lives. Together, these images invite us to look beyond the surviving poem and discover the woman behind the words—a woman whose voice continued to be remembered more than a century after her birth.

Overview:

Lucy Terry Prince (ca. 1730 - 1821) was born in Africa and kidnapped as an infant before being sold into slavery in Rhode Island. At about five years old, she was brought to Deerfield, Massachusetts, where she became enslaved in the household of Captain Ebenezer Wells. Around age sixteen, Terry responded to a deadly 1746 attack known as the Bars Fight by creating a ballad poem describing the event. Although the poem was shared orally for about a century before being written down, it became the earliest known work of literature by an African American. In 1756, Abijah Prince, a successful free Black man, purchased her freedom and later married her. After moving to Vermont, Lucy Terry Prince became known as a storyteller, speaker, educator, and activist who worked to protect her family from racist harassment and vandalism.  She challenged discrimination throughout her life. 

Quick Facts:

• Born around 1730 in Africa

• Kidnapped as an infant and sold into slavery in Rhode Island

• Enslaved in Deerfield, Massachusetts, beginning around age five

• Created the poem Bars Fight around age sixteen after a 1746 fight between Native Americans and two white families in a section of town known as The Bars

• Author of the earliest known work of literature by an African American

• Gained freedom in 1756 when Abijah Prince purchased her freedom

• Married Abijah Prince, a prosperous free Black man (in some sources his name is spelled (Obijah)

• Raised and educated six children

• Fought discrimination and defended her family’s rights in Vermont

• Died in Sunderland, Vermont, in 1821

Primary Source Spotlight:

These surviving records document important moments in Lucy Terry Prince’s early life. Together, they trace her baptism, her admission into the fellowship of the Deerfield church, and her marriage to Abijah Prince. Preserved in historical records from the eighteenth century, these entries provide direct documentary evidence connecting Lucy to the community in which she lived, worshipped, and began her family life. 

Why This Story Matters:

Lucy Terry Prince matters because she challenged ideas about race, education, and who could contribute to American culture. Educationally, she taught her children and became known for her intelligence and storytelling skills despite being denied formal opportunities available to many white Americans. Economically, she helped build a stable life with her family while protecting their property and livelihood. Politically and socially, Terry spoke out against discrimination and defended her family’s rights in a society that often treated Black people unfairly. Her poetry and public speaking also show that African Americans shaped American culture long before the Revolutionary War. Her story reminds us that Black women influenced literature, education, and activism even when their contributions were often ignored or overlooked. 

Legacy:

Lucy Terry Prince's legacy extends far beyond a single poem. She became known throughout her community as an accomplished speaker, storyteller, and defender of her family’s rights. Her life challenges the idea that early American literature and political activism were shaped only by wealthy white men. Terry’s story also highlights how Black women used education, public speaking, family networks, and community leadership to create opportunities despite slavery and discrimination. Today, historians remember her not only as a poet but also as an educator, activist, and one of the earliest Black voices preserved in American history. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Lucy Terry Prince’s poem survived for many years through oral storytelling before being written down. What important stories from communities today might be lost if they are never recorded?

2. Lucy Terry Prince is considered one of the earliest African American writers, yet many students never learn about her. How does deciding whose stories are taught shape what we think American history and literature look like?

3. Terry spent much of her life defending her family from discrimination and protecting their rights. What different forms can leadership take besides holding political office or serving in the military?

Reflection Prompt:

1. Lucy Terry Prince experienced enslavement, freedom, motherhood, racism, and public recognition during her lifetime. How might living through all of these experiences have shaped the way she used storytelling, education, and public speaking to protect her family and community? 

Sources & Further Reading:

1. “Lucy Terry Prince (c. 1732–1821).” BlackPast.org

2. “Bearing Witness and the Endurance of Voice.” New Hampshire Humanities. nhhumanities.org

3. “Church Fellowship Record Entry for Lucy Terry.” Church Record / Manuscript. August 19, 1744. First Church of Deerfield Records. African Americans in Rural New England Database, Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. 

Page Navigation:

<Previous    To Revolutionary War Index   Next Profile>