Overview

Lucy Terry Prince composed “Bars Fight” in 1746, the earliest known poem by an African American. Preserved orally for decades before being printed, it shows that Black literary voices existed in colonial America long before independence.

Quick Facts

• Birth: c. 1730 (often cited), Africa (details vary)
• Death: 1821 (often cited), Vermont (details vary)
• Identity (Race): Black woman
• Enslavement Status: Enslaved earlier in life; later free
• Occupation / Primary Role: Poet; community member; litigant
• Allegiance / Affiliation: Colonial / Revolutionary-era New England community life
• Military Role / Rank: None
• Education: Unknown
• Religion: Unknown
• Spouse: Abijah Prince
• Children: Reported in local histories; details vary
• Enslaver: Not consistently documented in short biographies
• Did She Enslave Anyone?: No evidence
• Language: English

Poster Bullets

• Wrote “Bars Fight” (1746), the earliest known poem by an African American.
• Her poem survived by oral tradition when print access was limited.
• Known for effective legal arguments in local disputes (reported in histories).

Poster Summary

Lucy Terry Prince shows how Black women shaped early American culture through memory, language, and courtroom strategy.

Why She Matters

She expands the Revolutionary era beyond soldiers to include Black women’s cultural authority and legal self-advocacy.

What Happened After the War

She lived into the early 19th century. Local accounts emphasize her reputation for strong legal reasoning; details vary across sources.

QR – Adult Read More

“Bars Fight” is a literary milestone, but also a form of historical record. Oral transmission kept it alive when publication routes were closed or limited.

Terry Prince’s story is also tied to law. Local accounts describe her arguing effectively in property matters, a Black woman asserting rights in a legal world designed to constrain her.

Her life challenges the idea that Black intellectual history required elite publication. Authority traveled by voice and community recognition.

For Franklin 250 audiences, her story reinforces a key theme: Black voices were present across the colonies, shaping culture while the Revolution reshaped politics.

QR – Kids

Lucy Terry Prince wrote a poem that people remembered and repeated for many years. She also spoke up for herself in court.

Something You May Not Know

• Oral tradition preserved important stories when people could not publish easily.
• Her poem was created decades before independence.
• Local histories remember her as strong and persuasive.

Common Misconceptions

Misconception: Early American literature was only created by white authors. Reality: Lucy Terry Prince’s poem is the earliest known by an African American.

Connection to Franklin / Somerset / NJ

Her story supports Franklin 250 interpretation by showing Black cultural presence across the Revolutionary world that NJ residents also inhabited.

Primary Artifacts & Proof

Poetry Foundation – Lucy Terry Prince: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/lucy-terry-prince

National Women’s History Museum – Lucy Terry Prince: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/lucy-terry-prince