History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 118

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 118

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As at that time Chester County included the present Delaware County, this registry embraces the slaves in the entire territory. There were 205 slave-holders who made returns, of whom 140 resided within the present limits of Chester County, and returned 335 out of a total of 495 slaves.

It is not to be supposed that no greater number of slaves than those registered was held in the county. The mem- bers of the Society of Friends had a short time before gen- crally liberated all their slaves, and some other persons not members had followed their example. It also appears that but few of those advanced in years were returned, and doubtless others, intended soon to be emancipated, were omitted from the registry.

It is not known when slavery ceased to exist in Chester County by the death of the last slave, but it must have been many years since, as none were slaves for life who were born after March 1, 1780.

In addition to the registry of those who were slaves for life, a record was also made, from time to time, of the chil- dren of such slaves born after the passage of the act, and

who by its provisions were servants until the age of twenty- eight years. The number of these was 85, of whom 47 were males and 38 females. The last return made was by Rev. Levi Bull, of East Nantmeal (afterwards Warwick), who returned his negro boy, Andrew, born Dec. 23, 1820.

In inventories of the estate of deceased persons, made while slavery was in existence in Chester County, we fre- quently find slaves appraised as chattels, in accordance with their value in the market, and they were also the subjects of bequests in wills.

In 1780, in the townships of Birmingham, East Brad- ford, West Bradford, East Marlborough, Newlin, Penns- bury, and Vincent, there were no slaves, or at least none were returned for registration.

The following table gives the names of the townships as they then existed in the present county of Chester, with the names of those who returned slaves for registry, and the number returned by each :

Birmingham .- No returns.

East Bradford .- No returns.

West Bradford .- No returns.

Coventry .- Thomas Potts returned six, and Rehecea Grace three slaves.

Charlestown .- Benjamin Thomas, one; Patrick Anderson, one;

Llewellyn Davis, one; William Bodley, two; William Moore, Esq., ten ; Alexander MeCalla, one; George MeIlhenny, two; Anthony Pritchard, four; John Humphrey, one; and Elias Brown, one.

East Culn .- William Allison, three; David Gill, one.

West Caln .- Herman Skiles, one; Gilbert Gibbs, two; Elizabeth Wallace, two.

Easttown .- Gen. Anthony Wayne, one.

East Fallowfield .- Caleb Phipps, five ; John Te les, two.

West Falloufield .- Samnel Futhey, three; John Bell, eight; Andrew Gibson, one.

Goshen .- John Bowen, five; Mary Garrett, three; Josiah Haines,, one; Dr. Joseph Moore, three; Hannah Moore, onc.

New Garden .- Andrew MeIntire, one.

Kennet .- Joseph Shippen, Jr., three.

New London .- Alexander Morrison, five; George Campbell, one; John Mackey, one; John Smith, one; John Menongh, one; James Reed, three; William Reed, two ; Mary Kelso, one; Ar- thur MeCIure, two; Alexander Johnston, one; John McDowell, two; Robert Correy, three; David Correy, three; Catharine Kelso, one; William Shearer, three.

London Britain .- John Evans, nine; Evan Evans, six ; John Whit- ting, two; Thomas Lunn, two.

Londonderry .- Thomas Strawbridge, three; Joseph Strawbridge, one; Frances Blair, two; Joseph Hutchinson, one; Montgomery Kennedy, two; Daniel Jones, five; John Finney, one; John F. McClenachan, one; James Boyd, four.

Londongrove .- David Wiley, three; John Ross, one.

West Marlborough .- James Hannnm, two.

Eust Marlborough .- No returns.

Newlin .- No returns.

East Nantmeal .- Thomas Bull, two; Richard Tenplin, one; Hugh Williams, one; William Starrett, three; James Henderson, one; Branson Vanleer, five; John Nice, one.

West Nantmeal .- James Moore, five; James Graham, five; James MeCamant, one; Juseph Darlington, two; Peter Hunter, two; James Hanna, one; Mordecai Piersol, one; Moses Trego, one; James Graham, one.

East Nottingham .- John Power, one; Philip Tanner, two; Lydia Sidwell, one; David Wherry, two; James Wilson, one ; Matthew Henderson, one; John MeBeth, one; Thomas Maffett, three; John Cuthbert, three; Patriek Puwor, eight; Abel Hodgson, three.

West Nottingham .- William Polk, three; David Moore, one; Eliza- beth Smith, ove; heirs of Margaret Smith, one.

Oxford .- Walter Hood, five; Margaret Hayes, one; James McDow-

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THE CHESTER COUNTY COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

ell, five; Job Rueton, ten ; David Hayes, two; William Starrett, one; William Pinkerton, two; Joseph Luckie, one; Patrick Alexander, one.

Pennabury .- No returns.

Pikeland .- Capt. Alexander MoCaraher, two ; Alexander McKin- ley, four ; heire of Samuel Kennedy, three.

Sadabury .- Agnee McPherson, one; Catharine Boyd, one; Mat- thew Boyd, one ; Andrew Boyd, two ; Thomas Davis, one; Rev. William Foster, thrce; Joseph Park, Esq., four.

Tredyffrin .- Sarah Havard, two ; Ann Havard, one; Lewis Gronow, five; John Cloyd, two; Dr. John Davis, one; Riohard Brittain, four ; John Wilson, two; Benj. Davis, one; David Wilson, one; Col. William Dewees, one ; Thomas Walters, two; John Williams, one.

Thornbury .- Thomas Cheyney, Esq., two. Uwchlan .- John Evans, one; Thomas Evans, six. Vincent .- No returns.

East Whiteland .- Peter Mather, one; Richard Richardson, five; David Lloyd, one; Stephen Bowen, one.

West Whiteland .- Estate of John Jacobs, seven ; William Richarde, three; James Dunwoody, one.

Westtown .- James Black, one.

Willistown .- Isaac Griffith, one.

In addition to the foregoing, the following returns were made by persons whose residences are not given in the registration, and have not been ascertained by the writers :

Thomas May, four; John Vanlasey, four; Capt. Thomas Wiley, one; George Boyd, one; Thomas Scott, one; William Stecle, two.

An analysis of the foregoing table shows that the largest number of slaves returned for registration were from the Welsh townships of Charlestown, Tredyffrin, East Nant- meal, and West Nantmeal, and from the Scotch-Irish town- ships of New London, Londonderry, Oxford, and East Nottingham; while from the more central townships, largely inhabited by members of the Society of Friends, but few returns, comparatively, were made.

The township of Charlestown then included what is now Schuylkill ; West Nantmeal, what is now Honeybrook and Wallace; New London, what is now Franklin ; London- derry, what is now Peun; East Nottingham, what is now Elk ; Oxford, what is now Upper and Lower Oxford; and the borough of West Chester was then part of Goshen township.

Of the children of slaves for life, registered as servants until twenty-eight years of age, the following returns were made from the several townships :

Charlestown, two; Coventry, one; East Fallowfield, one; West Fallowfield, four; Goshen, one; East Caln, one ; West Caln, five; New London, nice; Weet Marlborough, one; Londonderry, two; Oxford (Upper and Lower), twenty-thrce; East Nantmeal, four; West Nantmeal, including Honeybrook, fourteen; London Britain, one; East Nottingham, six; Londongrove, two; Sads- hory, two; Tredyffrin, three; and East Whiteland, two.

It will be noticed that Charlestown, Tredyffrin, and Lon- donderry, which each returned a considerable number of slaves for life, returned very few children as servants until twenty-eight, and that the largest number of such children returned was from the Oxfords and West Nantmeal.

" The Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, the Relief of Free Negroes unlawfully held in Bondage, and for Improving the Condition of the African Race," was organized April 14, 1775. After an interval of nearly nine years of inactivity the society was reorgan- ized in 1784, and was incorporated by act of Assembly,

Dec. 8, 1789, with a membership of nearly 300, including many names which will ever live in history.

The following list of early members, prior to 1820, with dates of election, includes such as were then, or during some portion of their lives, residents of Chester County, and forms a "roll of honor" second to no other in our annals :

1784, John Todd, Israel Whelen, Norris Jones, Abraham Sharpless, Isaac Massey, John Tolbert (Talbot ?), Isaac Lloyd, Charles Dingee; 1785, William Trimble, Jr., Richard Riley ; 1786, Jona- than Pugh, William West, Reece John, Col. Francis Johnston, Philip Price, Jr .; 1787, Dr. John Luther; 1788, Jacch Parke ; 1789, James B. Bonsall, Henry Hale Graham, Samuel Jackson ; 1790, Richard Hill Morris, Thomas Ross, Matthias Holstein, Nathaniel Newlin, Col. Absolom Baird, William Graham, James McIlwain, Robert Smith, Joseph Townsend ; 1791, Joshua Pusey, Jr .; 1792, Emmor Baily, Moses Marshall, Randall Malin, Jr., Joseph Malin ; 1793, John Malin, Charles Dilworth, John. Tal- bot; 1794, Dr. William Martin, Dr. Joseph Pierce, Caspar Wistar, Isaac Taylor, Richard Strode, Cheyoey Jefferis; 1795, William Sharpless, Samuel Painter, Jr., Robert Frazer; 1796, William Gibbons, Emmor Kimher, Enoch Lewis, George Ashbridge, Joseph Hemphill, Isaac Baily, Jr., Richard Barnard, Jr., Isaac Wilson, John Jefferis, Caleb Massey, Jeffrey Smedley, Titus Bennett, Caleb Hoopes, Thomas Taylor, James Lindley, Henry Hoopes, Robert Lamborn, Jr .; 1797, Thomas Vickers; 1799, Thomas Peirce; 1800, Luke Cassin; 1801, Joseph Trimble, Jr., John Meredith; 1802, Thomas Marshall; 1804, Benjamin H. Smith ; 1809, Dr. William Price; 1810, Isaac Smedley ; 1812, William Wayne, Jr .; 1813, William Price, Jr .; 1814, Dr. David J. Davis; 1817, Thomas P. May, Samuel Schaeffer, Stephen Rosseter, Mor- decai Thomas, Thomas Vickers, Thomas Lewis, Joseph Cloud ; 1818, Edward H. Bonsall, Lewis Wernwag, Solomon Temple ; 1819, William Kirk; 1820, Charles Miner, William H. Dilling- ham.

THE CHESTER COUNTY COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

The " American Colonization Society" was organized soon after 1816, and the " Pennsylvania Colonization So- ciety" in the fall of 1826. Of the State society, Eli K. Price was in 1827 one of the managers. Auxiliary (county) societies were at once formed (to the number of nine within a year), one of which was that of this county. In December, 1827, Simeon Siegfried, of West Chester, published an eight-page pamphlet, which contained the " Constitution and Address of the Managers of the Chester County Auxiliary Colonization Society," from which it appears its officers then were :

President, Dr. William Darlington ; Vice-Presidents, Jesse Kersey, Rev. Robert Graham; Secretary, Thos. Williamson; Treas- urer, David Townsend ; Managers, Wm. H. Dillingham, Townsend Haines, Thomas S. Bell, Jonathan Jones, Gen. John W. Cuning- ham, Rev. William Hodgson, Dr. Samuel McClean, George Hart- man, Jr., Rev. Ebenezer Dickey, Rev. Simeon Siegfried, William Everhart, Jonathan Ganse.

"GEN." JAMES JACKSON.

A sketch of the life of this remarkable colored man, who is now living in West Chester at the venerable age of one hundred and three years, was prepared and published by Caleb S. Cope in 1880, from which we condense the following points. He was born the slave of Betsy Jacobs, near Baltimore, Md., about the year 1778. His mistress married Benjamin Fowler, who was so cruel to his slaves that he was murdered by them, for which crime three of them were hung. His second master, Benjamin Walters, was as much of a tyrant as the first, and his inhuman usage

,54

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was such as to cause Jackson to resolve to run away. He passed through Baltimore, the next night slept in a fodder barn, and the third day was arrested by a man on the road as a runaway, but managed to escape from him, and at night

"GEN." JAMES JACKSON.

arrived at Port Deposit bridge, the gates of which were shut and locked. The Susquehanna rolled between him and free- dom. Goaded on by desperation, he scaled the gates, and after a hard struggle safely landed on the opposite side. For several days following he wandered, bewildered, traveling through Delaware, nearly to Frenchtown. He reached Newark the 31st of December, and the next day started for New Garden township, Chester Co. Reaching there safely, he hired to Thomas Gawthrop, and worked at wood- cutting on the Toughkenamon hills. He says he was a man of about thirty-five years of age when he ran away, which would place it about the year 1813. One of the first places he worked was at Jacob Lindley's, near where Avon- dale is now located, prior to 1814. Among others, he worked for Benjamin Swayne, south of the Street road ; for Dr. Michener, of New Garden ; cut ship-timber in " Dungeon Bottom" for Joseph Painter; worked a short time for Jesse Matlack ; carried the hod for William Hutz on some of the Bolmar school buildings; was similarly em- ployed on the school-house on Barnard Street, Benjamin Price's schools, and the residence of the Everhart family. About 1828 he carried hod on Ogden's row of houses on New Street, and many others, after which he became one of the principal wood-sawyers of the borough. In 1837 he commenced to work for Ezra Haines, where is now Bash's store, and served his successors, George B. Town- send and E. M. Hoopes, from 1858 until 1877, when he retired from active life, and since has been one of the private gentlemen of the borough, his step-daughter, Margaret A. White, living with and faithfully caring for him. He married, March 28, 1833, Frances Green, who was bought from slavery when she was seven years old, afterwards enticed South and sold into slavery, from which she was rescued by Thaddeus Stevens and others ; she then moved to West Chester, where she became acquainted with the

" General," was married, and where she died, Feb. 26, 1868. She was quite a noted fortune-teller. For fear of being discovered and returned to slavery, Jackson's lips were closely sealed ; his most intimate friends could rarely, if ever, get him to mention his earlier history, until after he had availed himself of his franchise by casting his vote as a citizen of the United States, when he began to realize that he was " truly free."

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD .*

When the convention to frame the Constitution of the United States met in Philadelphia in May, 1787, many were opposed to the clause sanctioning negro slavery. They felt it incompatible with the principles of a free government they were about to establish to hold any class of people in bondage more degrading, more oppressive, more tyrannical than that from which they had just eman- cipated themselves through the trials and hardships and sufferings endured through a seven years' war. They yielded, however, to the adoption of that clause, with the hope that ere long the wisdom, humanity, and justice of the people would entirely and forever obliterate the obnoxious system of slavery from a soil they fought to make free.

But little antagonism, however, was manifested towards this institution by its opponents until some cases of kid- napping occurred in Columbia, Pa., in 1804, which incited the people of that town, who were chiefly Friends or their descendants, to throw around the colored people the arm of protection, and even to assist those who were escaping from slavery to a section of country where they might be free. This gave origin to what was afterwards known as the " Underground Railroad."

The active and determined position to which the oppo- nents of slavery were now aroused, and the large number of colored people who had settled there, made it a point where the fugitive reasonably expected aid, and his expec- tations were not disappointed.

William Wright, of that place, an unreserved and invet- erate hater of slavery, was one of the earliest, boldest, and most active agents on this new road. He assisted all who came to him, and whenever he heard of a fugitive being captured, he lost no opportunity by his broad, deep strat- egy, in court or out of it, to effect the captive's escape.

The great number now arriving there made it necessary to establish other and reliable agencies along some direct line to Canada, whither the fugitives generally desired to go. This course seemed to naturally shape itself by way of some earnest-hearted Abolitionists in York, Lancaster, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Berks Counties, to Phoenixville, Norristown, Quakertown, Reading, Phila- delphia, and other places. The chief agents were Daniel Gibbons, Thomas Whitson, Lindley Coates, Dr. Eshleman, James Moore, Caleb C. Hood, and Jeremiah Moore, of Lancaster County ; James Fulton, Gideon Peirce, Thomas Bonsall, Thomas Vickers, John Vickers, Esther Lewis and daughters, Dr. Edwin Fussell, William Fussell, Norris Maris, Emmor Kimber, Elijah F. Pennypacker, and Lewis Peart, of Chester County ; Rev. Samuel Aaron, Isaac Roberts, John Roberts, Dr. William Corson, Dr. Jacob L.

* By Robert C. Smedley, M.D., of West Chester.

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THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

Paxson, Daniel Ross (colored), and others, of Norristown. This was called the northern route through Chester County, but that which subsequently became the most traveled was through the middle and southern part of the county. Being contiguous to the boundary line of the slave States, a rapid transit of passengers had to be made, which was not unfrequently attended with exciting incidents of close pursuits and of narrow escapes. Many who came on this route crossed the Susquehanna at points in the vicinity of Havre de Grace, and were forwarded by Joseph Smith, Oliver Furniss, and others, in Lancaster County ; while a still greater number came from Wilmington, through the hands of Thomas Garrett, Benjamin, William, and Thomas Webb, and Thomas Flint. Others came direct from the more Southern slave States, traveling only by night, and guided solely by the north star, their universal guide, until they reached some abolition friends along the line who fed them, secreted them by day, and either took them at night to the next station, or gave them notes with names of agents, and directions how to find them. And the intuitive gift or instinctive power they were possessed of, at once discerning their friends from others, was a marvel to all. Every slave that came from the South knew. the north star, and that by following it they would reach a land of freedom. Trusting to this beacon-light before them as a celestial pilot, thousands successfully made their escape. The slave-holders, knowing this, freely expressed their hatred for that star, and declared, if they could, they would tear it from its place in the heavens.

So great was the travel upon this southern route that it was necessary, for safety, to have several branches. Some of these interlaced with the northern ronte, particularly at the Peirces' and Fultons', in Ercildoun; Esther Lewis', in Vincent; John Vickers', near Lionville; and Elijah F. Pennypacker's, near Phoenixville. At this place quite a number crossed the river into Montgomery County, and were sent in different directions, many to Norristown.

One route from Havre de Grace was by way of Thomas, Eli, and Charles Hambleton's, in Penn township, to Ercil- doun, thence to John Vickers' and Esther Lewis'. Those who were sick or worn out were taken to the latter place, and carefully nursed until able to proceed farther.

After leaving Wilmington the main route came by way of Allen and Maria Agnew, Isaac and Dinah Mendenhall, Dr. Bartholomew Fussell, in Kennet; John and Hannah Cox, Simon and Sarah D. Barnard, East Marlborough ; William and Mary Barnard, Eusebeus and Sarah Marsh Barnard, Pocopson ; Isaac and Thamsine Meredith, Mor- decai and Esther Hayes, Newlin ; James Fulton, Jr., and Gideon Peirce, Ercildoun ; Zebulon Thomas and daughters, Downingtown ; Micajah and William Speakman, Uwchlan ; John Vickers and Charles Moore, Lionville; Esther Lewis and daughters Marian, Elizabeth, and Graceanna, William Fussell, Dr. Edwin Fussell, and Norris Maris, West Vin- cent; Emmor Kimber, Kimberton ; and Elijah F. Penny- packer, Phoenixville.

Another branch passed by way of Chandler Darlington's, : Kennet; Benjamin Price, East Bradford; the Darlington sisters and Abram D. Shadd (colored), West Chester. Dividing here, one portion united with the middle route at

John Vickers', the other went to Nathan Evans, in Willis- town, a sterling old Friend, who stood inflexible and almost alone in the cause in this neighborhood. Nearly all fugi- tives who came to his place were harbored, fed, and taken by himself in a wagon at night to Philadelphia, a distance of eighteen miles. Occasionally, wheo large parties came at close intervals, he would take a load to Elijah F. Penny- packer's. At one time he took fifteen, who were forwarded by Elijah to Phoenixville, thence to Canada. In 1837 feeling himself unable to make so many long journeys at night, on account of his age, he called on James Lewis, in Marple township, Delaware Co., to ask if he would make his place a station and forward all whom he might send there. The proposition was acceded to, and James T, Dannaker. living with James Lewis, was made conductor. Nathan had eight passengers with him, and Dannaker accompanied him to Philadelphia, to be initiated into the way of delivering them without detection.

Davis Garrett, of Willistown, frequently aided Nathan Evans in conveying fugitives.

The great central station, where the Chester County and other routes converged, was at the anti-slavery office in Philadelphia, managed by J. Miller MeKim, assisted by William Still, a former slave, and others.

When fugitives came in large numbers and close to- gether, many were sent off the direct route to well-known Abolitionists, in order to elude pursuit if slave-hunters should be on their track. Among these on the northern ronte were Dr. Augustus W. Cain, Joshua Brinton, Joseph Moore, Joseph Fulton, J. Williams Thorne, and James Williams, Sadsbury (the latter known as " Abolition Jim," in contradistinction to one near by of the same name, but of opposite principles); William Trimble, West White- land; and Louis Peart, near Valley Forge.

. Along the southern route were Amos and'Mahlon Pres- ton, and Benjamin and Hannah Kent, Penn township.

To successfully convey passengers over the great trunk- lines and branches of this road, from its beginning to its terminus, to prevent capture, to escape arrests and the mulet- ary punishments attached to slave-holding laws, required men of firmness, courage, sagacity, coolness, and intrepid- ity in time of danger, predominant philanthropy impelling them to do unto the liberty-seeking slave as they would be done by under similar circumstances, and having firm reli- ance in Him who enjoined to " undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free." And it is a notable fact that nearly all who thus assisted the fugitive to freedom were members of the Society of Friends, although the majority of that society, while averse to slavery, took no part in the labors, and, with few exceptions, refused the use of their meeting-houses for anti-slavery lectures.

In the early part of this concerted arrangement slaves were hunted and tracked as far as Columbia. Here their pursuers lost all indication of their traces. The most scrutinizing inquiries, the most vigorous search failed to educe any knowledge of their whereabouts. They seemed to have reached an abyss beyond which they could not see, the depths of which they could not fathom ; and in their bewilderment and discomfiture they declared " there must be an underground railroad somewhere." This gave rise

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to the term by which this secret passage from bondage to freedom was known ever afterwards.

Daniel Gibbons gave the slaves papers containing the names of agents along the road, with directions how to find them. Sometimes these papers contained the simple mes- sage, " These are our friends," signed with full name or only initials. Thomas Garrett frequently wrote, " I send thee" iwo, three, or four, or whatever number it might be, "bags of black wool." John Vickers, who was a potter, in sending them to Norris Maris, often wrote, " Thy friend Pot." These and similar plans of directing them were universally adopted when they were not taken by agents from one station to another. Norris Maris' son George, now principal of the West Chester State Normal School, but then a lad, often drew a map of the road for them as far as Elijah F. Pennypacker's. Elijah kept a two- horse wagon, and took some to friends in Montgomery County, but the greater number he took to Daniel Ross, in Norristown. Some he seut to William Still, in Phila- delphia.

Many of these negroes were poorly clad, or attired in their usual coarse apparel. These required change of cloth- ing to avoid detection, or to protect them from inclement weather. For this purpose clothes and money were fur- nished by the agents and their friends. These whole-souled, philanthropic Abolitionists gave without stint; they thought of no compensation ; their daily and only reward was the gratitude of these poor beings and the consciousness of being instruments in God's hands for their liberation from slavery.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 118

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162