Program

NYS Historic

Subject

House, People

Location

11 Elm St, Chatham, NY 12037, USA

Lat/Long

42.324238, -73.54578

Grant Recipient

Austerlitz Historial Society

C. (Charles) Edwards Lester (1815-1890) was an author and abolitionist, early associated with leaders in the movement against slavery, including Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison. He was also a pastor, having attended Auburn Theological Seminary from 1835 to 1836. In an 1838 farewell address given at the close of his brief time spent as pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Spencertown in Columbia County, New York, he stated:

Some have objected to me, because I have, on one occasion, advocated the cause of God’s suffering and oppressed poor, who are clothed with a dark skin in this world … I only pity a man, who lives under the shadow of free institutions, and pretends to be illumined with the full light of the nineteenth century, and has become so recreant to noble principle, as to oppose a minister of Jesus Christ for reiterating in man’s ear what Jehovah has commanded – Break every yoke; let the oppressed go free.

Mr. Lester was a prolific author and translator, having published at least 26 works during his career, including histories, biographies, and works international in scope. One of his most notable, The Glory and Shame of England, was first published in 1841, shortly after his attendance at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Society Convention in London. The book was seen as highly contentious at the time of its publication, being critical of England and its empire building, domestic labor practices, and putting into light the social inequity in England at the time. In the book’s introduction, he states:

I do not expect much good-will from the British Government, or most of the British aristocracy, for writing this book. I am working for the emancipation of whole nations, and the elevation of all men. England has always been working for the overthrow of rival nationalities, and the political subjection of men. England fights for the few – I for the many. She for Aristocracy – I for Democracy. She for the present – I for the future. No wonder we should not agree any too well. In justice to myself, however, it should be always held in mind, that, in speaking of England, I mean the Government and the ruling classes of the British empire – not the British people, for whom I entertain all the sympathies which spring unbidden from the common fountains of kindred, language, laws and religion.

In 1842, he was appointed United States Consul to Genoa, serving in this position until 1847. Mr. Lester traveled frequently throughout his life. In 1855, he was once again in Spencertown, New York, having purchased a home where he lived with his wife Ellen and two children. He lived here until 1860.

Sadly, the May 3, 1888 edition of the New York Evening World reported that he had at that point in time “been reduced to poverty” as two publishers of his works had failed, resulting in great financial losses. He died shortly after on January 29, 1890.