The Life of the Reverend Nathaniel Henry Boston (1854–1917) Through Sierra Leone History

A biography of the life of the Reverend Nathaniel Henry Boston. His direct ancestors had been captured during the transatlantic slave trade and later liberated at Freetown, the capital of the former British Colony of Sierra Leone. A lengthy introduction explores how his ancestors ended up there. Both Nathaniel and his father Henry were employed in Sierra Leone during the Nineteenth century by the Church Missionary Society with headquarters in England. As such, they were required to send annual reports of their work to their employers in England. Through researching their correspondence with the CMS, including letters in their own handwriting, the author relates a fascinating account of their lives from documents kept at the CMS archives and old colonial newspapers from the Sierra Leone Archives and the British Library.

The book also tells the history of Sierra Leone during this time. First is given a biography of Henry Boston. The book then goes on to describe Nathaniel’s childhood, his missionary Journey, his graduation, marriage, his challenges and his death in 1917. It also tells the country’s history in detail between these dates. Finally, it describes the legacy of Nathaniel and his children. Nathaniel is the author’s great grandfather.