By Ted Hayes

Westport school, historians mark Paul Cuffe's birthday

Abolitionist, educator, merchant and sailor was born in 1759, and his life touched many

Posted 1/27/22

Not far from where he founded the first racially integrated school in the country, students at Westport Elementary School paused the Friday before last to celebrate the 253rd birthday of Paul Cuffe, …

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By Ted Hayes

Westport school, historians mark Paul Cuffe's birthday

Abolitionist, educator, merchant and sailor was born in 1759, and his life touched many

Posted

Not far from where he founded the first racially integrated school in the country, students at Westport Elementary School paused the Friday before last to celebrate the 253rd birthday of Paul Cuffe, one of Westport's favorite sons.

Cuffe, who was born on Cuttyhunk Island on Jan. 17, 1759 to an emancipated slave father and Wampanoag mother, was an abolitionist, founded the first desegregated school in the United States (near the bottom of Drift Road), served America's cause during the Revolutionary War, and contributed much of the money to build Westport's Friends Meeting House on Main Road.

The recent birthday party was a collaboration between the elementary school and the Westport Historical Society. Presenters hung paintings contemporary to his life, a photo of the Westport Friends Meeting House which Cuffe, a Quaker, helped build, and spoke at length about his contributions to the town and to racial discourse in general in the early United States. Carl Cruz, of the New Bedford Historical Society and a Cuffe descendant, gave a speech on why his ancestor's birthday should be remembered.

When it was all over, students and teachers signed a balloon and placed it on a marker for Cuffe \on the grounds of the Main Road meeting house helped found. It reads:

"Thank you Paul Cuffe for everything you have done for (the) people of Westport, Ma. and around the world" — Your friends at Westport Elementary School.

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