Charles Lenox Remond
Encyclopedia
Charles Lenox Remond was an American orator, abolitionist and military organizer during the American Civil War
. He was the brother of Sarah Parker Remond
, also heavily engaged in the cause.
to John Remond, a native of the island of Curaçao
, a hairdresser, and Nancy Lenox, daughter of a prominent Bostonian, a hairdresser and caterer. The eldest son of eight children, Charles Remond began his activism in opposition to slavery while in his twenties as an orator speaking at public gatherings and conferences in Massachusetts
, Rhode Island
, Maine
, New York
and Pennsylvania
.
, he went with William Lloyd Garrison
to the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London
in 1840. The young Remond had a reputation as an eloquent lecturer and is reported to have been the first black public speaker on abolition.
In 1842 at meetings held by Remond and his sister in New Brighton, Massachusetts, Remond stated "When the world shall learn that "mind makes the man"-- that goodness; moral worth, and integrity of soul, are the true tests of Character, then prejudice against caste and color, will cease to be."
Remond recruited black soldiers in Massachusetts for the Union Army
during the Civil War, particularly for the famed 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry. He was also active in recruiting for the U.S. Colored Troops.
Customs House, and as a street lamp inspector. He later purchased a farm in South Reading (now Wakefield
), Massachusetts.
Charles L. Remond's siblings included Nancy, the eldest, wife of James Shearman, an oyster dealer; Caroline, a salon owner, wife of Joseph Putnam; Cecelia, co-owner of a wig salon, wife of James Babcock; Maritchie Juan, wig salon co-owner; Sarah Parker
, abolition activist; and John, who was married to Ruth Rice.
Remond was married to Amy Matilda (Williams) Cassey (1809-56), the daughter of Rev. Peter Williams, Jr. and the widow of wealthy Philadelphia barber Joseph Cassey, to whom she bore eight children. After Cassey's death in 1848, she married Remond and moved to Salem, Massachusetts where she lived until her death on 15 August 1856. His second wife was Elizabeth Magee, a native of Virginia, whom he married in Newton, Massachusetts
on 5 July 1858, with the famed Abolitionist Rev. Theodore Parker
officiating. Before her death in 1871, she bore Remond four children: Amy Matilda (1859-72), Charles Lenox, Jr. (1860-82), Wendell Phillips (1863-66), and Albert Ernest (1866-1903).
Remond died in Boston in December of 1873.
Charles Remond Douglass, the son of Frederick Douglass, was named for him.
Remond is buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery
, in Salem.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was the brother of Sarah Parker Remond
Sarah Parker Remond
Sarah Parker Remond was an American physician, lecturer, abolitionist, and agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society. She worked giving speeches throughout the United States over the horrors of slavery...
, also heavily engaged in the cause.
Early years
Remond was born free in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
to John Remond, a native of the island of Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, a hairdresser, and Nancy Lenox, daughter of a prominent Bostonian, a hairdresser and caterer. The eldest son of eight children, Charles Remond began his activism in opposition to slavery while in his twenties as an orator speaking at public gatherings and conferences in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Activism
In 1838 the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, chose him as one of its agents. As a delegate from the American Anti-Slavery SocietyAmerican Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was an abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan. Frederick Douglass was a key leader of this society and often spoke at its meetings. William Wells Brown was another freed slave who often spoke at meetings. By 1838, the society had...
, he went with William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent American abolitionist, journalist, and social reformer. He is best known as the editor of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, and as one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society, he promoted "immediate emancipation" of slaves in the United...
to the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1840. The young Remond had a reputation as an eloquent lecturer and is reported to have been the first black public speaker on abolition.
In 1842 at meetings held by Remond and his sister in New Brighton, Massachusetts, Remond stated "When the world shall learn that "mind makes the man"-- that goodness; moral worth, and integrity of soul, are the true tests of Character, then prejudice against caste and color, will cease to be."
Remond recruited black soldiers in Massachusetts for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the Civil War, particularly for the famed 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry. He was also active in recruiting for the U.S. Colored Troops.
Personal life
Remond's family operated a hairdressing business, and catering service in which several members participated. Remond would eventually strike out on his own; after the Civil War ended, he worked as a clerk in the BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Customs House, and as a street lamp inspector. He later purchased a farm in South Reading (now Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
), Massachusetts.
Charles L. Remond's siblings included Nancy, the eldest, wife of James Shearman, an oyster dealer; Caroline, a salon owner, wife of Joseph Putnam; Cecelia, co-owner of a wig salon, wife of James Babcock; Maritchie Juan, wig salon co-owner; Sarah Parker
Sarah Parker Remond
Sarah Parker Remond was an American physician, lecturer, abolitionist, and agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society. She worked giving speeches throughout the United States over the horrors of slavery...
, abolition activist; and John, who was married to Ruth Rice.
Remond was married to Amy Matilda (Williams) Cassey (1809-56), the daughter of Rev. Peter Williams, Jr. and the widow of wealthy Philadelphia barber Joseph Cassey, to whom she bore eight children. After Cassey's death in 1848, she married Remond and moved to Salem, Massachusetts where she lived until her death on 15 August 1856. His second wife was Elizabeth Magee, a native of Virginia, whom he married in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
on 5 July 1858, with the famed Abolitionist Rev. Theodore Parker
Theodore Parker
Theodore Parker was an American Transcendentalist and reforming minister of the Unitarian church...
officiating. Before her death in 1871, she bore Remond four children: Amy Matilda (1859-72), Charles Lenox, Jr. (1860-82), Wendell Phillips (1863-66), and Albert Ernest (1866-1903).
Remond died in Boston in December of 1873.
Charles Remond Douglass, the son of Frederick Douglass, was named for him.
Remond is buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery
Harmony Grove Cemetery
Harmony Grove Cemetery is a cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. It was established in 1840 and is located at 30 Grove Street.The cemetery includes the Gothic revival Blake Memorial Chapel of 1905.-Notable burials:...
, in Salem.