Betsey Stockton – A Slave Who Dreamed of Greatness
Betsey Stockton was born into a slave family around 1798. Her parents were the property of Elizabeth (Stockton) Green, the daughter of a wealthy landowner in Princeton, New Jersey.
Betsey was characterized as a restless child growing up, but she underwent a remarkable change following her conversion during a revival that hit Princeton in 1816. She was accepted for membership in the First Presbyterian Church and was baptized.
After Betsey was emancipated in 1817, she continued to work in the Green home as a paid servant. She was allowed to use the family’s extensive library and was personally mentored by Ashbel Green, who later became the president of Princeton University.