Grace Bustill Douglass

Grace Bustill Douglass (1782 – March 9, 1842) was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights advocate. Her family was one of the first prominent free black families in the United States. Her family's history is one of the best documented for a black family during this period, dating from 1732 until 1925.

Grace Bustill Douglass was born in Burlington, New Jersey, to the Bustills, a well-known abolitionist family. Her father was Cyrus Bustill, a strong leader in the community and promoter of the abolishment of slavery. Her mother was Elizabeth Morey, who was half Delaware Indian and half English. Douglass was one of eight children; she had three brothers and four sisters. Cyrus Bustill was manumitted before he got married from his Quaker owner, Thomas Prior, in 1769. From Prior, he learned the art of bread-making and eventually he opened his own bakery in New Jersey. His bakery was successful, which allowed him to provide well for his family. Later he moved to Philadelphia, where he opened up another bakery at 56 Arch Street and where he met and married Elizabeth. He was a founder of Philadelphia's Free African Society. In 1797, he opened up a school for African-American children. Growing up in Philadelphia allowed Douglass and her siblings to attend one of the few schools for black children during her time. Douglass was also able to learn a trade, millinery. She opened up a milliner shop on Arch Street next to her father's bakery.

In 1803, at the age of 21, Douglass married Robert Douglass, a wealthy barber from the West Indies. They had six children together. Not much is known of four of her children, but Sarah and Robert Jr. are well documented. Elizabeth was their eldest daughter; she died young after attending a private school for a few years. Elizabeth was forced to leave the school after parents of the white students complained. This led Douglass, along with family friend James Forten, to open up a school of their own. This school, along with private tutors, was where Sarah, Robert, and their other siblings all received their extensive educations. Sarah went on to become a famous abolitionist and teacher like her mother, and Robert was a well-known portrait painter.

Following in her family's footsteps, Douglass also became a devout Quaker. She attended meetings of the Society of Friends at the predominantly white meetinghouse on Arch Street. Although she was a devout Friend, she was never allowed membership into the Society of Friends because she was black. During this time, most Quakers were strong abolitionists, but many still followed segregationist customs. Her meetinghouse followed these customs, separating whites and blacks into separate sections. For this reason, all of Douglass's children, except Sarah, left the Friends and joined their father at the First African Presbyterian Church.

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