Betsey Stockton

Betsey Stockton

(c. 1798-1865)

Betsey Stockton was born into slavery about 1798 in New Jersey. She came to be owned by Rev. Ashbel Green, the president of Princeton University. Betsey became literate and educated, and was freed to become a missionary to Hawaiʻi. She came with the second missionary company in 1823 and was stationed at Lahaina, Maui. She made a career for herself as an educator in Hawaiʻi, Canada, Philadelphia, and Princeton. Her work focused on educating young children as well as marginalized communities such as the poor and free people of color. The church and school she founded are still active in Princeton today. She is buried in Cooperstown, NY with the family of Rev. Charles Stewart.