The Underground Rail Road

Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 617.
Body Summary:
Contemporary with Esther Moore, and likewise an intimate personal friend of hers, Abigail Goodwin, of Salem, N. J., was one of the rare, true friends to the Underground Rail Road, whose labors entitle her name to be mentioned in terms of very high praise.

A..W. M. a most worthy lady, in a letter to a friend, refers to her in the following language:

"From my long residence under the same roof, I learned to know well her uncommon self-sacrifice of character, and to be willing and glad, whenever in my power, to honor her memory. But, yet I should not know what further to say about her than to give a very few words of testimony to her life of ceaseless and active benevolence, especially toward the colored people. "Her life outwardly was wholly uneventful; as she lived out her whole life of seventy-three years in the neighborhood of her birth-place."
Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 757-758.
Body Summary:
About the year 1853, Maryland, her native State, had enacted a law forbidding free people of color from the North from coming into the State on pain of being imprisoned and sold into slavery. A free man, who had unwittingly violated this infamous statute, had recently been sold to Georgia, and had escaped thence by secreting himself behind the wheel-house of a boat bound northward; but before he reached the desired haven, he was discovered and remanded to slavery. It was reported that he died soon after from the effects of exposure and suffering. In a letter to a friend referring to this outrage, Mrs. Harper thus wrote: "Upon that grave I pledged myself to the Anti-Slavery cause."
Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 190.
Body Summary:
JOHN HENRY never forgot those with whom he had been a fellow-sufferer in Slavery; he was always fully awake to their wrongs, and longed to be doing something to aid and encourage such as were striving to get their Freedom. He wrote many letters in behalf of others, as well as for himself, the tone of which, was always marked by the most zealous devotion to the slave, a high sense of the value of Freedom, and unshaken confidence that God was on the side of the oppressed, and a strong hope, that the day was not far distant, when the slave power would be "suddenly broken and that without remedy."
Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 190-191.
Body Summary:
In these letters, may be seen, how much liberty was valued, how the taste of Freedom moved the pen of the slave; how the thought of fellow-bondmen, under the heel of the slave-holder, aroused the spirit of indignation and wrath; how importunately appeals were made for help from man and from God; how much joy was felt at the arrival of a fugitive, and the intense sadness experienced over the news of a failure or capture of a slave. Not only are the feelings of John Henry Hill represented in these epistles, but the feelings of very many others amongst the intelligent fugitives all over the country are also represented to the letter. It is more with a view of doing justice to a brave, intelligent class, whom the public are ignorant of, than merely to give special prominence to John and his relatives as individuals, that these letters are given.
Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 746.
Body Summary:
Referred to by John Hunn, [Samuel Burris] was also a brave conductor on the Underground Rail Road leading down into Maryland (via Hunn's place). Mr. Burris was a native of Delaware, but being a free man and possessing more than usual intelligence, and withal an ardent love of liberty, he left "slavedom" and moved with his family to Philadelphia. Here his abhorrence of Slavery was greatly increased, especially after becoming acquainted with the Anti-slavery Office and the Abolition doctrine. Under whose auspices or by what influence he was first induced to visit the South with a view of aiding slaves to escape, the writer does not recollect; nevertheless, from personal knowledge, prior to 1851, he well knew that Burris was an accredited agent on the road above alluded to, and that he had been considered a safe, wise, and useful man in his day and calling. Probably the simple conviction that he would not otherwise be doing as he would be done by actuated him in going down South occasionally to assist some of his suffering friends to get the yokes off their necks, and with him escape to freedom. A number were thus aided by Burris.
Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 719.
Body Summary:
Was born in Philadelphia, in 1806, and was through life a consistent member of the Society of Friends. His parents were persons of great respectability and integrity. The son early showed an ardent desire for improvement, and was distinguished among his young companions for warm affections, amiable disposition, and genial manners, rare purity and refinement of feeling, and a taste for literary pursuits. Preferring as his associates those to whom he looked for instruction and example, and aiming at a high standard, he won a position, both mentally and socially, superior to his early surroundings. With a keen sense of justice and humanity, he could not fail to share in the traditional opposition of his religious society to slavery, and to be quickened to more intense feeling as the evils of the system were more fully revealed in the Anti-slavery agitation which in his early manhood began to stir the nation. A visit to England, in 1834, brought him into connection and friendship with many leading Friends in that country, who were actively engaged in the Anti-slavery movement, and probably had much to do with directing his attention specially to the subject. Once enlisted, he never wavered, but as long as slavery existed by law in our country his influence, both publicly and privately, was exerted against it.
Citation:
William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 735.
Body Summary:
The locality of Columbia, [Pennsylvania,] where Mr. Whipper resided for many years, was, as is well-known, a place of much note as a station on the Underground Rail Road. The firm of Smith and Whipper (lumber merchants), was likewise well-known throughout a wide range of country. Who, indeed, amongst those familiar with the history of public matters connected with the colored people of this country, has not heard of William Whipper? For the last thirty years, as an able business man, it has been very generally admitted, that he hardly had a superior.

Although an unassuming man, deeply engrossed with business - Anti-slavery papers, conventions, and public movements having for their aim the elevation of the colored man, have always commanded Mr. Whipper's interest and patronage. In the more important conventions which have been held amongst the colored people for the last thirty years, perhaps no other colored man has been so often called on to draft resolutions and prepare addresses, as the modest and earnest William Whipper. He has worked effectively in a quiet way, although not as a public speaker. He is self-made, and well read on the subject of the reforms of the day. Having been highly successful in his business, he is now at the age of seventy, in possession of a handsome fortune; the reward of long years of assiduous labor. He is also cashier of the Freedman's Bank, in Philadelphia. For the last few years he has resided at New Brunswick, New Jersey, although his property and business confine him mainly to his native State, Pennsylvania.

Barclay Coppoc (Ohio State Historical and Archeological Society)

Comments
The book source for this description has a fine photo of Barclay on page 458.
Reference
The Ohio State Historical and Archaeological Society, Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications (Columbus: Fred J. Herr, 1921), 30: 460.
Along with his older brother, Edwin, Barclay was deeply interested in John Brown and his plans, much impressed with the two visits of the old warrior in Springdale, and finally joined the party at Harper's Ferry. While Edwin was commissioned lieutenant, Barclay remained a private. The latter was afflicted with asthma and apparently not sufficiently vigorous to stand up under long continued and arduous physical exertion.

Harpers Ferry, Virginia (Hayward)

Comments
Note that the formatting (i.e. bold title & centered) for this description is different because it comes from the "Mineral Springs, And Other Fasionable Resorts" section of Hayward
Gazetteer/Almanac
John Hayward, Gazetteer of the United States of America… (Philadelphia: James L. Gihon, 1854), 648.

Harpers Ferry, VA

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Location
Date Title
New York Times, “Great Floods in the Potomac and Shenandoah,” April 20, 1852
New York Times, “Fatal Railroad Accident,” March 10, 1854
Frances Watkins Harper to William Still, September 12, 1856
New York Times, “The Slave Troubles,” December 30, 1856
“Old Brown and his Friends,” Richmond (VA) Dispatch, November 10, 1859.
Lowell (MA) Citizen & News, “Riot at Harper’s Ferry,” October 18, 1859
New York Times, "News of the Day," October 18, 1859
Entry by Edmund Ruffin, October 19, 1859
Charles H. Ray to Abraham Lincoln, October 20, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, “Negro Insurrection!," October 20, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, “So Perish All The Enemies of Our Country!,” October 20, 1859
New York Times, “Latest Dispatches,” October 21, 1859
New Orleans (LA) Picayune, "The Harper's Ferry Outbreak," October 22, 1859
New York Herald, “The Slave Population in the Vicinity of the Outbreak,” October 23, 1859
Richmond (VA) Dispatch, "Northern Impertinences with Regard to the Late Affair at Harpers Ferry," October 24, 1859
Richmond (VA) Dispatch, “The Madness of Brown,” October 25, 1859
New Orleans (LA) Picayune, "The Harper's Ferry Affair," October 25, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Dissolution of the Union," October 25, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "Governor Wise on the Harper's Ferry Insurrection," October 27, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "Sketch of Captain John Brown," October 27, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "The Slave Insurrection at Harper's Ferry," October 27, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "The Provisional Government of the Insurrectionists," October 27, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "Additional Particulars of the Insurrection," October 27, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "Bleeding Kansas," October 27, 1859
Philadelphia (PA) Christian Observer, "A Regular Abolition Conspiracy," October 27, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "Good Out of Evil," October 27, 1859
New York Herald, “Political Excitement on the Rise,” October 30, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "Political Effect," October 31, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "A Game that Will Not Win," October 31, 1859
New York Herald, "Runaway Slaves in Canada," November 1, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "The Harpers Ferry Insurgent at Carlisle," November 1, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "They Have Overdone It!," November 2, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "Tenderly Sensitive," November 3, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "A Good Sign," November 3, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "Trial of Brown, the Insurgent," November 3, 1859
Charleston (SC) Mercury, “Mr. Douglas’ New Book,” November 4, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Old Brown's Speech," November 4, 1859
New York Times, "The Brown Invasion Transplanted From Kansas," November 5, 1859
Philadelphia (PA) Christian Observer, "Character of John Brown," November 10, 1859
Boston (MA) Liberator, "Bad News for the Abolitionists," November 11, 1859
Eliza Margaretta Chew Mason to Lydia Maria Child, November 11, 1859
William E. Frazer to Abraham Lincoln, November 12, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer,"Old Brown," November 14, 1859
Savannah (GA) News, “Incendiarism in the South,” November 17, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "The Plea Will Not Avail Them," November 17, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "A Recoil of the Gun," November 18, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "The Virginia Panic," November 19, 1859
New York Herald, “Intense Alarm and Excitement in Virginia,” November 20, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "The Devil Not As Black As He Is Painted," November 24, 1859
Entry by Thomas Jonathan Jackson, December 2, 1859
Hartford (CT) Courant, “Untitled,” December 5, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "How a Brave Man Dies," December 6, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Virginia Wants the Nation to Foot Her Bills," December 8, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "Gov. Seward and Harpers Ferry," December 8, 1859
Hartford (CT) Courant, "Untitled,” December 14, 1859
Lowell (MA) Citizen & News, “Frederick Douglass,” December 21, 1859
New York Herald, “Seward Nominated for the Presidency by the Abolitionists,” December 25, 1859
San Francisco (CA) Evening Bulletin, “The New Crusade against the Union,” December 29, 1859
Boston (MA) Liberator, "John Brown is Dead!," December 31, 1859
New York Herald, "The Underground Railroad and Its Victims," January 5, 1860
New York Herald, “The Runaway Slaves,” January 5, 1860
Atchison (KS) Freedom’s Champion, “Paying the Piper,” January 28, 1860
Charlestown (VA) Free Press, “Harper’s Ferry Outrage,” February 9, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The Harper’s Ferry Inquisition,” February 15, 1860
New York Times, “Manufacturing Martyrs,” February 16, 1860
New York Herald, “The Senate and Messrs Hyatt and Howe,” February 25, 1860
New York Times, "Gov. Seward and John Brown," August 18, 1860
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, "Not Going to Dissolve the Union," August 21, 1860
Charleston (SC) Mercury, "Harper's Ferry Anniversary Celebration," October 22, 1860
Chicago (IL) Tribune, "Montgomery," December 1, 1860
Charlestown (VA) Free Press, “John Brown Anniversary,” December 13, 1860
Winfield Scott to Abraham Lincoln, April 15, 1861
David D. Field to Abraham Lincoln, April 23, 1861
Virginia Governor John Letcher’s Proclamation, April 24, 1861
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "A New Difficulty," April 29, 1861
New York Times, “The Barbarians at Harper’s Ferry,” June 16, 1861
Abraham Lincoln, Message to the Congress in Special Session, July 4, 1861
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “Military Printers Having Their Joke,” July 15, 1861
San Francisco (CA) Evening Bulletin, “The Critical Time of the Union Cause,” August 9, 1861
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, “Beautiful Weapon,” February 3, 1862
Abraham Lincoln to George Brinton McClellan, October 13, 1862
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Hippocrene Guide to The Underground Railroad

Citation:
Charles L. Blockson, Hippocrene  Guide to The Underground Railroad (New York: Hippocrene Books, 1994), 185.
Body Summary:
Hayden was himself a slave who had escaped from Kentucky in 1816 and settled in Boston. He made his large, four-story home on Beacon Hill a station stop. When William and Ellen Craft made their daring escape in 1848 from Macon, Georgia, they were forwarded to Hayden’s home. Upon recovering the Crafts, Hayden placed himself by two kegs of gunpowder and stood with a candle, grimly determined to blow up his home, the Crafts and himself, rather than surrender his guests if slave hunters came to his door.

In 1851, Hayden led by a group of Boston African-Americans in liberating, by force, a fugitive slave named Frrederick Jenkins (known also as Shadrach) from federal officers. Hayden operated his station with his wife Harriet, and assisted his friend Harriet Tubman when she passed through Boston. He was elected to serve in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1873. After his death in 1889, a scholarship fund at Harvard University was established by his widow.

Robert W. Baylor, detail

Scanned by
John Osborne
Scan date
Image type
photograph
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No
Permission to use?
Public
Original caption
Colonel Robert Baylor
Source citation
George Baylor, Bull Run to Bull Run: Four Years in the Army of Northern Virginia (Richmond: B.F. Johnson,1900), frontispiece.
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