Hubbard, Jeremiah

13 Feb. 1777–23 Nov. 1849

Jeremiah Hubbard was an educator, Quaker leader, and political activist. He was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., and was the son of Joseph and Ann Crews Hubbard. He was the grandson of Hardiman Crews and his wife, who was an American Indian woman. Her name is unknown. 

Soon after the Revolutionary War, Joseph Hubbard moved his family to Person County. He likely settled on the upper waters of Richland Creek, just south of the present town of Roxboro. Little is known of Jeremiah or his family during his childhood. Later in his life, Jeremiah elaborated that his mother was a source of care, discipline, and guidance in his childhood. No reference has been found to his ever having attended school, although at the height of his career he was referred to as one of the most eminent teachers and most learned persons among the North Carolina Quakers.

In 1802, Hubbard married Margaret Butler in Dinwiddie County, Va. Between the time of their marriage and 1810, they moved from Person County to Hillsborough in Orange County, and in 1815 they moved to the Deep River community near Jamestown. On 15 May 1820, Margaret Hubbard died. On 9 Oct. 1821, he married Martha Charles of Charles City County, Va.

Hubbard is remembered primarily as a leader in education, despite the fact that he had little if any formal training. He is known to have taught in two schools in Guilford County, and he also likely taught while living in Person and Orange counties. While residing in the Deep River community, he became generally recognized as an outstanding leader of the Quakers in North Carolina. As presiding clerk of the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends for sixteen years, he routinely campaigned for the establishment of a Quaker-supported boarding school to train teachers, other Quaker leaders, and members of the general public. In this effort, he was joined by Nathan Hunt, who became known as the principal founder of the New Garden Boarding School (later Guilford College). The work of these two leaders was made more difficult by the economic depression of 1837. However, the response to their strong and extended appeal was sufficient to enable the Society of Friends to acquire a tract of land, erect a building, and launch the school upon its long history.

In February 1837, only a few months before the opening of New Garden Boarding School, Hubbard and his family moved to Indiana. There, Jeremiah continued his dual roles as a teacher and a minister of the Society of Friends. He was often remarked as an excellent speaker, well informed, and energetic.

It is not known whether Hubbard ever sought political office, but he did take a firm stand on political issues of his time. He opposed slavery and joined the Manumission Society to work for gradual emancipation. Hubbard also worked to help American Indian people during times of land confiscations. When Chief Ross and a few others from the Cherokee Nation went to Washington, D.C., to appeal to President Andrew Jackson, they stopped at New Garden to ask Hubbard to go with them. They were aware of his American Indian genealogy, and knew that he was a friend of the president. One Sunday morning after worship, the Cherokee delegates conferred with some of the prominent Quakers present in front of the New Garden Meeting House. As a result of this conference, Hubbard agreed to accompany them to Washington. It is said that they obtained Jackson's support for a treaty that would prevent the sale of alcoholic beverages to the Cherokees.

Hubbard died in Richmond, Ind., on 23 Nov. 1849.