June 8, 1776

This article describes an alms service at a church in Basseterre, on the Caribbean  island of “St. Christophers” or St. Kitts. The service was attended by “gentlemen of this island and Nevis,” the nearby island best known as the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton. The minister “preached a most excellent sermon, wherein he so pathetically described the distresses of the poor, as to draw tears from the major part of his very numerous auditors.” The funds raised through ticket sales and an alms collection benefited the poor “in the present melancholy situation of this devoted country.”  The small islands of St. Kitts and Nevis were dominated by sugar plantations worked by enslaved laborers. The wealthy benefactors of this event were most likely the people who profited from these plantations.

The Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser
Printed by James Humphreys, Jr.

BASSETERRE (St. Christophers) May 15.

On Monday last divine service was performed at the Parish Church, accompanied by several pieces of divine music, by the gentlemen of this island and Nevis, for the benefit of the poor in our several parishes in the present melancholy situation of this devoted country. On this occasion the Rev. Dr. Hutchinson preached a most excellent sermon, wherein he so pathetically described the distresses of the poor, as to draw tears from the major part of his very numerous auditors. The collection in the church, and the sale of tickets, produced a considerable sum, which is to be immediately applied to the benevolent purposes for which it was collected.