Birth, Enslavement and Early Education
Francis was born 5 December 1809 in Albany, New York. He was said to be "thoroughly African in his complexion." New York was still a slave state at this time. Francis' parents were so poor, such that at the age of four they placed their son in service with a farmer in Greene County, New York. At the age of eight, Francis was indentured to a Mr. Atwood (a farmer) to learn the farming business.
Francis was kindly permitted to attend school with the other children of the neighborhood, during the winter season (which is when most early schools were open, the farm chores being fewer during the winter). Two years later, however, his health becoming poor, Francis was sent to the district school during the entire summer.
Read more about this topic: Francis Burns
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