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Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution Paperback – May 15, 2007

by Charles Rappleye (Author)

22 customer reviews

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Sons of Providence paints a vivid portrait of Colonial life as we follow these founding brothers in their rise to the heights of American commerce and power and from revolution to nationhood.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fresh and interesting work.... That the American antislavery movement began so early is a point often lost in the popular mind, and Rappleye revives these early struggles well." -- Jon Meacham, Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Reading Charles Rappleye's Sons of Providence, a biography of Moses and John Brown, gave me the same kind of jolt I felt when I learned that twelve of America's presidents, including Washington and Jefferson, were slave owners. Rappleye's book provides vivid testimony to the painful fact that the Browns and the tiny state they helped form were indeed all too much like America, fractured between the ideal of liberty and the reality of chattel slavery.... Rappleye skillfully details the complex relationship between these brothers, whose differences over slavery tested but never destroyed their friendship." -- David S. Reynolds, The New York Times Book Review

"Rappleye is a diligent researcher...and a fair-minded, unjudgmental chronicler of the Browns' complicated story.... Sons of Providence is more than the story of two privileged and disputatious men, and it should be read with an eye to its larger implications." -- Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World

"Eloquent and riveting.... Rappleye narrates with verve and insight, creating a wonderfully engaging glimpse into a key epoch in Rhode Island -- and American -- history." -- Edward J. Renehan, Jr., The Providence Journal

"Through this profoundly moving story of two brothers -- one a slave trader, the other an abolitionist -- Rappleye brings to vivid life the history of a formative period in our nation's life. It is a terrific story and a splendid work of history." -- Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

"Sons of Providence is a landmark book. One learns things about the American Revolution and the early Republic that amaze." -- Thomas Fleming, author of Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge

"In his inspired choice of the Brown Brothers, Charles Rappleye makes human the division between slave owners and abolitionists that haunted the American Revolution and left consequences that plague us still. Sons of Providence is an epic story of greed, rebellion, and moral courage." -- A. J. Langguth, author of Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution

"Charles Rappleye has unearthed the fascinating story of two founding brothers on opposite sides of America's bitter battle over slavery and the meaning of a nation conceived in liberty. This powerfully told narrative sheds new light on the Revolutionary era and one man's impassioned struggle to end slavery before it was too late." -- Henry Wiencek, author of An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves,and the Creation of America

About the Author

Charles Rappleye is an award-winning investigative journalist and editor. He has written extensively on media, law enforcement, and organized crime. The author of Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution; Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution; and Herbert Hoover in the White House: The Ordeal of the Presidency, he lives in Los Angeles.

Product details

Paperback: 424 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (May 15, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743266889
ISBN-13: 978-0743266888
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 22 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #349 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > United States > American Revolution
- #1208 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Biographical
- #2851 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military

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Remarkable book chronicling the issues, politics and personalities of the Revolutionary period in Rhode Island.

May 21, 2006

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The tiny State of Rhode Island certainly played a significant role during the American Revolution. Few recall that when Roger Williams established Rhode Island in 1644 it was for all practical purposes the first practicing democratic state since the fall of Athens. Rhode Islanders were an exceptionally independent lot. The burning of the two masted British schooner "Gaspee" in June of 1772 by a group of leading citizens of the colony essentially struck the first blow in the nations quest for independence. In "Sons of Providence" author Charles Rappleye recalls the historic events that were unfolding in Rhode Island in those years and focuses on two brothers, John and Moses Brown, who would find themselves on opposite sides of so many of the important questions of their day. It is a compelling story.

Until recently I never realized how important the issue of the slave trade was as the nations march toward independence proceeded. It seems slavery was a highly emotional issue even in the 1770's and 1780's. John and Moses Brown along with brothers James and Nicholas were members of one of the most prominent families in colonial Providence. The Brown family was involved in all manner of commerce and in 1765 they made the decision to enter the slave trade. And so it was that they outfitted a ship they christened "Sally" to make the voyage. In "Sons of Providence" you will discover why the slave trade was such a controversial and dirty business. If you have never read about the conditions that existed on these ships then you are sure to be horrified. It turns out that roughly half the slaves that were picked up on the West Coast of Africa died during the return voyage.

In any event, in the years following the "Sally" debacle John Brown and his brother Moses would pursue entirely different paths. John was first and foremost a businessman and lobbied for laws and policies favorable to the merchant class. For the rest of his life John Brown would continue to oppose any measures that would outlaw slavery and restict commerce in any way. Moses Brown on the other hand would renounce his Baptist heritage (his great grandfather Chad Brown was the first pastor of the First Baptist Church in America)and become a Quaker. Quakers were among the earliest and most vocal opponents of slavery and the simple Quaker lifestyle held much appeal for Moses Brown. Moses Brown would divest himself of much of his fortune and become one of the leading abolitionists of his day.Although John and Moses Brown would continue to collaborate on a number of projects over the next quarter century they would nonetheless find themselves on opposite sides of any number of important issues.

In his extraordinary book "John Adams" author David McCullough gets much of his source material from the voluminous letters between John and Abigail Adams. Likewise, much of the material for "Sons of Providence" appears to be culled from letters between John and Moses Brown. As such this book provides tremendous insight into the thought processes of those on both sides of so many of the important issues of that era. "Sons of Providence" is exceptionally well-written and meticulously researched. This is a must read for history buffs and a great choice for general readers as well. Highly recommended!

40 people found this helpful

interesting, easy to Read and understanding and more over 'Wow' A lot of stuff at the root of the countries History.

March 5, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great Story. As written by this investigative reporter the text/book is not dry. The Author tells a story. These two brothers, the Browns were at the root of what is much of America's History. Anti War v. Military Contractor, Commerce Baron v. Social Activist. Federal Law v. States rights. This is not just a Slavery v. abolition story. Rhode Island was the biggest Slave trafficker and the first to make the trade illegal. I am a history 'freak' and I have learned a lot from this book. It is NOT the first book I have read on the Triangle trade but it is the most informative in how the trade effected the country at and after the revolution.
"If you think your interested stop thinking order it and read it."

I enjoyed it for many reasons

December 26, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I enjoyed it for many reasons. I grew up in Providence and the book made many names I was familiar with come alive. It provided a sense of who people were, how and why they acted the way they did. It brought historical figures to life. The reader gets a sense of complex individuals with ambivalences and contradictions and also a sense of life in 18th century Rhode Island. It also gave a sense of history rarely taught in school until very recently - the presence of slavery in New England and the role of New Englander traders in the slave trade.

The book was well researched and well written.

2 people found this helpful

Great information about the slave trade

May 26, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Provides excellent descriptions of the slave trade as it involved New England merchants. Fascinating interplay among the Brown brothers. I'm afraid that I compare everything to David McCullough. I found that getting through this took some determination. The information is worth it.

2 people found this helpful

The connection between the slave trade and higher education

September 29, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I wanted to find out more about the connection between slavery and the founding of the Ivy League schools, one in particular. I got some of the answers from this book.

Northern Slave Traders vs. Abolitionists

March 24, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Moses and John Brown were brothers and partners in one of the most successful trading companies in pre-revolutionary America. After their first investment in the "triangle slave trade" (slaves from Africa to the Carribean, sugar and molasses from the Carribean to New England, distilled spirits from New England to Africa), the partnership broke apart. Eventually, Moses converted and became a Quaker, and one of the leading pre-revolutionary abolitionists; while John became one of the leading spokesmen defending the New England based slave trade.

Using this family split, Rappleye tells the story of the American Revolution through the lens of the slave trade. This was NOT a north-south issue, as most history books portray it. Rather, it was a split with slave traders of New England (who held political power in many of the northern colonies), who wanted unlimited right to trade in anything they wanted. Joining the northern traders were the landed gentry of the deep southern states who needed more slaves. The mid-Atlantic states had few traders, and the landed interests wanted the higher prices for their existing slaves, needed no more slaves, and thus had an economic interest in barring the import of additional slaves. Finally, there were the abolitionist--mostly religious--who wanted to abolish slavery altogether.

In Rhode Island and many other states, the pro-slavery forces initially won out (Moses was completely marginalized politically on the slavery issue for most of the period leading up to the revolution, and for several years after), and bills to bar the slave trade were first resoundingly defeated, and then once passed, not enforced. As the economic base (and I suspect the voting franchise--an issue Rappleye doesn't discuss) expanded, the traders lost ground, and abolition became the trend in the northern states, eventually leading to the abolition (at least on paper) of the slave trade nationally.

Rappleye has given us a fascinating perspective on the American Revolution--a perspective not usually covered. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Most recent customer reviews

I never knew this part of Rhode's Island history. Very fascinating.

Published 3 months ago

Great Book. Have reads it before, but I had to have a copy of my own.

Published 4 months ago

It's a slice of history that is never taught in ...

It's a slice of history that is never taught in school
We really know so little about our own Revolution
and book shows the conflicts even in the same
family about...Read more

Published 10 months ago

Peter Warren Kenny

Well worth reading.

The author's extensive research provides both context and detail for a fascinating discussion of neglected corner of American history.

Published 1 year ago

Trump's Original

Reading this tome in the Spring of 2016, I was struck again and again by the reality that while some of our forefathers may have had moments of honor, as Moses Brown did, far...Read more

Published 1 year ago

i am still reading this. i am enjoying this book immensely.

Published on March 8, 2016

A "fresh" view of the American Revolution.

I picked up this book when I moved to Rhode Island and wanted to learn more about the state. Wow, what a surprise.Read more

Published on November 29, 2015

Myron M. Miller

Sons of Providence

Excellent book; excellent service!

Published on November 13, 2015

An excellent read and very engaging book

This book is very well written and provides an excellent, detailed description of the important cultural events affecting this family.Read more

Published on December 2, 2014

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