Katherine (Katy) Ferguson (1772–1854) was an African American educator who founded the first Sunday School in New York City. It also has been named the first documented Sunday School in America.
Katherine’s mother, Hannah Williams, was a slave on a Virginia plantation. Hannah married a man named Tom in 1771 and was soon pregnant. The two separately escaped the plantation but never saw each other again.
Hannah gave birth to Katherine in 1772 and was soon sold as a slave to the Bruce family in New York City. Mrs. Bruce changed Katherine’s name to “Katy,” saying “Katherine” was “too proper a name for a Negro.”
Mr. Bruce sold Hannah in 1779 when Katy was 7. Katy stayed with the Bruce family, taking over her mother’s chores. She worshipped with the family at the Scottish Presbyterian Church where John Mason was pastor. In 1786, Katy talked with her pastor and trusted Jesus as her Savior. He then baptized her.
Freedom
At around age 17, Katy was able to gain her freedom. She then started her own business as a baker of wedding and party cakes.
Katy married John Ferguson in 1789. They had two daughters who died young. Her husband died around the same time.
Katy’s mother had taught her what she knew from the Bible. Katy continued to learn from her church pastor. Even though she never knew how to read and write, Katy knew many stories from the Bible and memorized numerous verses.
Bible study and prayer
In her neighborhood, she saw many needy children. In 1793 she took 48 children, both Black and white, into her home each Sunday to teach them Bible lessons and practical skills. Her pastor, John Mason, offered her space in the church basement on Murray Street. He also provided teachers to assist her.
In addition to directing a Sunday School, she also held prayer meetings for children and adults twice a week for four decades.
In her memory, the Katy Ferguson Home for unwed mothers was established in New York City in 1920. In 2023 a petition was made to name 95th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue in her name because her Sunday School was located there.
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