"Samuel Eli Cornish"{1795-November 6,1858}

Was an American Presbyterian minister,abolitionist,and journalist.He was a leader in New York City's small free African American community,where he organized the first congregation of African American Presbyterians in New York.In 1827 he became one of two editors of the newy founded Freedom's Journal the first African American newspaper in the United States.In 1833 he
was a founding member of the interracial American Anti-Slavery Society.He was born in Sussex County,Delaware,to free parents of mixed race.As a young man,in 1815 he moved to Philadelphia Pennsylvania,which had a large community of free African Americans.After moving to New York City in 1821,Samuel organized the first congregation of African American Presbyterians in the city.When Samuel was ordained in 1822,his parish was officially established as the New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church,making it the first African American Presbyterian Church in New York City.He later ministered at the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia,and Emmanuel Church in New York City.Samuel held high-ranking positions within the American Bible Society and the American Missionary Association,founded in 1846.He was one of the four founding African American members;there were a total of 12 founders.In March 1827 he became one of two editors of Freedom Journal,the first African American newspaper in the United States.The other editor was John Russwurm.It was intended to serve the 300,000 free African Americans in the country and especially New York's community,as well as to offset the racist commentary of local papers in the city.Samuel left the paper in September 1827,returning two years later.During this time,John had advocated colonization in Africa for free American blacks,and lost many readers.He emigrated to Liberia in 1829.Samuel returned to the paper and tried to revive it,changing the name to The Rights of All,but the paper folded in less than a year.Samuel later was editor for Colored American from 1837-1839.In 1833 Samuel was one of the founding members of the American Anti-Slavery Society,whose membership and leaders were interracial.He was active with them until 1840.That year,he left to join the newly formed American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society,largely because of disputes with William Lloyd Garrison over religion in the Abolitionist movement.Samuel used his position as a journalist and editor to inform the public on the issues involving abolitionism.He marrid Jane Livingston in 1824 in New York City,where h lived most of his life.They had four children.
Samuel died in Brooklyn,New York.