London Ferrill
Encyclopedia
London Ferrill, also spelled Ferrell, (1789–1854) was a former slave who became the second preacher of the First African Baptist Church
in Lexington, Kentucky
, serving from 1823–1854. During his 31 years of service, Ferrill attracted and baptized many new members in the growing region; by 1850 the church had 1,820 members and was the largest of any in the state. He gained support from both black and white leaders of the city. The funeral procession for Ferrill numbered 5,000, the largest in the city after that of the statesman Henry Clay
. This was the first black church west of the Allegheny Mountains
and the third oldest black Baptist congregation in the United States.
, where his enslaved mother was owned by Richard Ferrill, an English immigrant. The unmarried master died soon after the boy's birth and his estate, including slaves, was inherited by his sister Ann (Ferrill) Winston. She named the slave boy London Ferrill after her brother. Some recent researchers believe the naming suggests that Ferrill may have been of mixed race. His white father was likely Richard Ferrill. As noted by Edward Ball
, author of Slaves in the Family (1999), a study of the interracial relationships among his ancestors, mixed-race slaves were frequently given names that distinguished them from the others. London Ferrill is an example of such naming.
Ann Winston died when London Ferrill was eight or nine years old. When her estate was settled, the boy was sold away from his mother to Colonel Samuel Overton. Soon the master apprenticed Ferrill to learn carpentry, a skilled trade. This was often the pattern for children of white masters, to give them an artisan skill to enable them to support themselves as adults.
Ferrill was baptized in 1809 at the age of 20 and had a conversion experience with the Baptist
s. The minister and congregation approved of his preaching and singing, and he began to preach more widely in the community. Ferrill appeared to have been freed while living in Virginia, perhaps by Overton's will.
A few years after Rodah's death in 1833, Ferrill adopted two orphaned children, Eleazer and Elizabeth Jackson, who were brother and sister. He never remarried and traveled often in the region, where he preached at revivals and baptized many new converts.
be covenanted in "fellowship" in 1822, which meant it continued to be independent. In 1823 the Trustees of Lexington appointed Ferrill as the preacher for the First African Baptist Church, to succeed the aging founder, Peter Durrett. It was the oldest black Baptist church west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Ferrill worked well with both blacks and whites in the growing city. In 1824 his church was received into the Elkhorn Association, the local Baptist association. After several years, Ferrill had created considerable goodwill. White leaders initiated a legislative petition to permit him to remain in the state, in response to a threat from rivals competing for control of the church. They had threatened to force Ferrill from the state, using the law that required free blacks from other states to leave Kentucky after 90 days.
In 1833 Ferrill was notable as among the few clergy to stay in Lexington during the cholera
epidemic
, when he cared for the sick, dying and bereaved. Five hundred of the city's total 7,000 population died, including his wife Rodah and nearly one-third of the congregation of Christ Church
Episcopal. Other ministers who stayed were Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith of Christ Church, whose wife also died in the epidemic; and Father Ed McMahon of the Catholic Church.
With the growth of Lexington and the region, Ferrill baptized many new converts, including those in outlying areas. He continued to attract members to his growing congregation. By 1850 the First African Baptist Church had 1820 members, both slave and free, and was the largest congregation, black or white, in the state. He was said to have baptized 5,000 persons during his years of service. He frequently traveled around the area to preach and baptize.
Ferrill died of a heart attack in 1854. His funeral procession numbered nearly 5,000, the largest in the city after that two years before for the statesman Henry Clay
. Because of his high reputation and long service in the city, Ferrill was buried in the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, the only African American so honored.
In 2010 Christ Church Cathedral had a special service with First African Baptist to commemorate Ferrill, at which both choirs sang. Christ Church parishioner Robert Voll, who has worked on the monument and community garden projects (see below), said, "London Ferrill was a force for unity, a force for connecting the black and white communities of Lexington."
First African Baptist Church (Lexington, Kentucky)
First African Baptist Church is a historic church at 264-272 E. Short Street in Lexington, Kentucky. The congregation was founded c. 1790 by Peter Durrett and his wife, slaves who came to Kentucky with their master, Rev...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, serving from 1823–1854. During his 31 years of service, Ferrill attracted and baptized many new members in the growing region; by 1850 the church had 1,820 members and was the largest of any in the state. He gained support from both black and white leaders of the city. The funeral procession for Ferrill numbered 5,000, the largest in the city after that of the statesman Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
. This was the first black church west of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
and the third oldest black Baptist congregation in the United States.
Early life and education
London was born into slavery in 1789 in Hanover County, VirginiaHanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
, where his enslaved mother was owned by Richard Ferrill, an English immigrant. The unmarried master died soon after the boy's birth and his estate, including slaves, was inherited by his sister Ann (Ferrill) Winston. She named the slave boy London Ferrill after her brother. Some recent researchers believe the naming suggests that Ferrill may have been of mixed race. His white father was likely Richard Ferrill. As noted by Edward Ball
Edward Ball
Edward Gresham Ball was an American businessman. He was powerful figure in business and politics in Florida for decades, despite the fact that he never held public office and did not own the assets he controlled. He worked for and with his brother-in-law, Alfred I. du Pont for nine years before...
, author of Slaves in the Family (1999), a study of the interracial relationships among his ancestors, mixed-race slaves were frequently given names that distinguished them from the others. London Ferrill is an example of such naming.
Ann Winston died when London Ferrill was eight or nine years old. When her estate was settled, the boy was sold away from his mother to Colonel Samuel Overton. Soon the master apprenticed Ferrill to learn carpentry, a skilled trade. This was often the pattern for children of white masters, to give them an artisan skill to enable them to support themselves as adults.
Ferrill was baptized in 1809 at the age of 20 and had a conversion experience with the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
s. The minister and congregation approved of his preaching and singing, and he began to preach more widely in the community. Ferrill appeared to have been freed while living in Virginia, perhaps by Overton's will.
Marriage and family
As a young man, Ferrill married a free black woman named Rodah. After Overton's death, when Ferrill had gained freedom, he and his wife migrated to Kentucky, where they were believed to settle in Lexington about 1812.A few years after Rodah's death in 1833, Ferrill adopted two orphaned children, Eleazer and Elizabeth Jackson, who were brother and sister. He never remarried and traveled often in the region, where he preached at revivals and baptized many new converts.
Career
Ferrill started preaching in Lexington, and in 1822 he was ordained by the First Baptist Church, a white congregation. Its leaders helped the First African Baptist ChurchFirst African Baptist Church (Lexington, Kentucky)
First African Baptist Church is a historic church at 264-272 E. Short Street in Lexington, Kentucky. The congregation was founded c. 1790 by Peter Durrett and his wife, slaves who came to Kentucky with their master, Rev...
be covenanted in "fellowship" in 1822, which meant it continued to be independent. In 1823 the Trustees of Lexington appointed Ferrill as the preacher for the First African Baptist Church, to succeed the aging founder, Peter Durrett. It was the oldest black Baptist church west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Ferrill worked well with both blacks and whites in the growing city. In 1824 his church was received into the Elkhorn Association, the local Baptist association. After several years, Ferrill had created considerable goodwill. White leaders initiated a legislative petition to permit him to remain in the state, in response to a threat from rivals competing for control of the church. They had threatened to force Ferrill from the state, using the law that required free blacks from other states to leave Kentucky after 90 days.
In 1833 Ferrill was notable as among the few clergy to stay in Lexington during the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
, when he cared for the sick, dying and bereaved. Five hundred of the city's total 7,000 population died, including his wife Rodah and nearly one-third of the congregation of Christ Church
Christ Church Cathedral (Lexington, Kentucky)
Christ Church Cathedral is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington and is located at 166 Market Street, Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1796, Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest Episcopal church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Rev...
Episcopal. Other ministers who stayed were Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith of Christ Church, whose wife also died in the epidemic; and Father Ed McMahon of the Catholic Church.
With the growth of Lexington and the region, Ferrill baptized many new converts, including those in outlying areas. He continued to attract members to his growing congregation. By 1850 the First African Baptist Church had 1820 members, both slave and free, and was the largest congregation, black or white, in the state. He was said to have baptized 5,000 persons during his years of service. He frequently traveled around the area to preach and baptize.
Ferrill died of a heart attack in 1854. His funeral procession numbered nearly 5,000, the largest in the city after that two years before for the statesman Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
. Because of his high reputation and long service in the city, Ferrill was buried in the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, the only African American so honored.
In 2010 Christ Church Cathedral had a special service with First African Baptist to commemorate Ferrill, at which both choirs sang. Christ Church parishioner Robert Voll, who has worked on the monument and community garden projects (see below), said, "London Ferrill was a force for unity, a force for connecting the black and white communities of Lexington."
Legacy and honors
- 1854, Ferrill was the only black to be buried in the Old Episcopal Burying Ground.
- 2008, Christ Church Cathedral dedicated its community garden in Ferrill's honor.
- 2010, Christ Church CathedralChrist Church Cathedral (Lexington, Kentucky)Christ Church Cathedral is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington and is located at 166 Market Street, Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1796, Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest Episcopal church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Rev...
(Episcopal) helped gain approval for a city monument installed in Ferrill's honor at the Old Episcopal Burying Ground. The state has also memorialized the site with a highway marker. Christ Church held a joint service with First African Baptist to commemorate Ferrill.