SHELBY COUNTY, KENTUCKY  “Reconstructing the Madison, IN, Underground Railroad Crossing”, 2000  “Rev

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SHELBY COUNTY, KENTUCKY  “Reconstructing the Madison, IN, Underground Railroad Crossing”, 2000  “Rev. Chapman Harris and St. Paul’s Baptist Church,” 2001  “Reconstructing the Underground Railroad in Trimble and Carroll County, KY” 2001  Southeastern IN’s Underground Railroad Routes and Operations, 2001  “Great Escapes, Secret Signals of the UGRR”, 2002  “An Automobile Tour of Boone County’s UGRR Sites,” 2004  Ripley County’s Anti-Slavery Movement, 2004  “Early African-American Congregations of North Central Kentucky” 2005  46 articles for Northern Kentucky Encyclopedia (2009)  Other talks:  World War II in the Ohio River Valley 1941-45  Freedman’s Schools in Kentucky  The Henry Bibb Archaeological Project  Country Stores 1774 1792 1799 1808 1818-1838 1838-1860 1861-1865

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1 Era Friends of Fugitives War The Civil The Underground Railroad The Underground What, when, where, how and why Shelby County

Elihu Barker’s 1795 Map of Kentucky  Shelby County, named for Isaac Shelby, Kentucky’s first governor, was created out of Jefferson County June 28, 1792 as the 12th county in the Commonwealth of Kentucky the same year that the Danville convention passed Kentucky’s first constitution.

 Major land transportation site between Lexington-Frankfort-and Falls of the Ohio

 Shelbyville developed as a commercial center with stagecoach and inns and taverns

 Gently rolling hills, limestone base, well-watered land led to early settlement. Significant survey and land disputes. Shelby County Slaves entered Shelby County with surveyors SURVEYORS * SETTLERS

st  1774 – John Floyd and 1  Early settlers brought slaves from Explorations in Shelby County Virginia, North and South  Daniel Boone in 1775 briefly Carolina, and Maryland into  1776 - The earliest land warrants (Clear Creek) were entered in Shelby County Fincastle County, Virginia in the  Estimates stated by 1790 there area that became Shelby County were 125,000 slaves in Tennessee  1779-1780 – The earliest surveys and Kentucky. were entered in the Virginia  Kentucky’s census enumerated Commissioners Report.  Slaves held the survey stakes and 11,830 slaves in 1790; 41,084 in hewed paths 1800, 165,213 in 1830, 236,167 in  Slaves plowed and planted the first 1860. corn patches to permit land pre-  Some slaves were highly skilled emption warrants blacksmiths, carpenters, mill workers Slaves built the plantation houses, the barns and outbuildings, the roads and fences, the slave quarters, the orchards and cleared land for fields, planted, hoed, stripped tobacco, ran the rope walks for hemp products, virtually all manual labor in the county. 30000

1820 data included Henry Co 25000 and part of Trimble County 5410

20000

15000 Slaves 6355 6617 6634 White 10000

5000

0 1820 1840 1850 1860 20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 Free Black 10000 Slave 8000 White 6000 4000 2000 0 1840 1850 1860 1870 Slave trading, slave auctions Slavery cruel, often vicious, “made good men evil” 1792 - Kentucky 1st Constitution permitted slaves to come into the state and local jurisdictions to regulate slavery 1799 – Kentucky 2nd Constitution legalized Perpetual Chattel Slavery 1798 - Virginia Slave Code adapted in Kentucky permitted active slave trading and importation of slaves through Virginia from the Atlantic slave trade 1833 - Ban on Importation of slaves into Kentucky, $600 fine per slave, but generally ignored 1850 - Ban on Importation of slaves from the Atlantic slave trade lifted in Constitutional Convention dominated by slave holding interests Active Slave Markets ◆ Pierce Griffin, notorious slave trader between Thomas B. Mcgowan’s slave jail at Lexington and Natchez, MS, brought coffels to Simpsonville. ◆ Slave trade two way at towns and plantations ◆ Louisville and Lexington slave markets to Vicksburg, Natchez, New Orleans Paris, KY, slave coffle  Commercially, Lexington slave  Slaves were also bought at dealers including Silas Marshall, Louisville’s Thomas Powell, William Pullman, and Lewis William Kelly, Arterburn Brothers, Robards bought and sold slaves William Talbott, and Matthew for buyers in Kentucky and in the Garrison slave markets. Deep South markets of New Orleans, Louisiana, Vicksburg,  It is estimated that 77,000 slaves Mississippi, Natchez, Mississippi, were sold to the Deep South out and more. of Kentucky between 1830 and  Several slave dealers owned jails 1860, the second biggest cash near Cheapside where they kept crop in the state. their marketable chattel until court day sales. Tim Talbott,  Runaway slaves were almost “Cheapside Slave Auction always sold South immediately Block,” ExploreKYHistory, since slave owners were afraid they would foment unrest among the other slaves. Plantation owners frequently sold off their entire “stock” of slaves when the owner moved north into a Free State. Those moving into Western territories such as Arkansas might take a few slaves with them, separating families, as they sold the rest for cash to buy property in the new region.

Frequently the Lexington and Louisville slave markets handled these larger sales. Cheapside Slave Auction

Ward 3 – Lexington  Significant numbers of slaves were traded or purchased , among Shelby County slave owners themselves. Many of the sales of slaves outside the immediate family were recorded in the Shelby County deed books. Sales of slaves were advertised in The Shelby News, the local newspaper of record.

 The Shelby News: November 12, 1851, a female slave about age 40 and her two female children age about 7 and 4, owned by J. Leach Jones, offered for private sale by applying to either James O. Bright near Fox Run Meeting House or to William H. Jones at Chenowith Spring. A potential buyer can examine these Negroes by calling at Jones’ farm located near James D. Bright.  Aunt Patsy Ann Bland, age 107, was interviewed by WPA historians in 1937 -- she was born a slave on the William Kettering plantation in Shelby County, Kentucky. Patsy was sold twice within the county – to Charles Morgan and later to John Boyle. She was the mother of four children before the Civil War. The day freedom was announced, Patsy, her four children and her fourth husband, Mr. Wilson, left Kentucky for Terre Haute, Indiana where she had relatives. In Indiana she had three more children by her fifth husband, Mr. Bland, who had served among the Negro troops in the Civil War. The list of jobs she had to do in Slavery was immense and ranged from plowing and planting fields, to sewing clothes from tow linen. Apparently Patsy was never a house slave. During the 1840s and 1850s many sales of slaves were handled through the Shelby Circuit Court as the estates of slave-owners were placed on the auction block to cover debts against the estate. In the 1850s, for example, Henry Bohannan, the Circuit Court Magistrate, was advertising public sales of Negroes to be held at the steps of the County Courthouse on County Court Day. People could purchase a slave from these sales with a six month window for payment once a bond was set. (From The Shelby News)  In the same period of time, the local medical examiner, Dr. H. B. Winlock was the agent for the Louisiana Insurance Company, whose practice was insuring slaves on behalf of the owner. Insurance covered runaways, death or injury. (From The Shelby News)

 Slaves were considered chattel, property, one step above commodities like grain or sorghum. Inventories for estate valuation included slaves – sometimes by name, often just by description – among featherbeds, spoons, axes, cows and horses. (From Shelby County Will Books) Nationally and in Kentucky KY Anti-Slavery in the 18th Century

◆ 1787-99 Rev. David Rice at Boyle, Fayette, Transylvania College ◆ Concord Presbyterian (Donnell, Henry, McCoy, Hamilton and Rev. John Rankin) ◆ 1792 Danville constitutional convention – two from Mason County joined seven preachers to vote against Article IX ◆ 1799 Kentucky constitution provided legal basis for institutional perpetual slavery. Preachers prohibited from being delegates. Anti-Slavery at a Glance ◆ 1784-1840 Intellectually against slavery churches, preachers, professors Emancipationists, Colonizationalists ◆ 1784-1860 Politically against slavery Whig vs Jacksonian politics Constitutional, Liberty Party, Free Soil ◆ 1790-1838 Direct Action: Friends of Fugitives Passive aid if fugitive comes by ◆ 1831-1860 Abolitionists – National, State Orgs Active, Financial, Organizational, Strategic ◆ 1838-1860 The Underground Railroad - Cells Active, recruit, set up routes, safe houses 1818-1824 First wave of anti-slavery people leave KY for Northwest Territories as farmlands opened in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan Quakers start 89 manumission societies in NC, spreads into KY-TN; emancipate slaves in the will and leave money and property, some Quakers purchased slave families to free them in the Northwest Territories 1823-1850 Slaves permitted separate worship services under control of whites leads to improved communications across plantations and early leadership within the African- American communities Manumissions, Slaves Freed by Deed or by Wills KY Anti-slavery Momentum

◆ 1803 David Barrow, Separate Baptists at Mt. Sterling, kicked out of North District Baptist Association, formed Baptised Licking-Locust Association, Friends of Humanity, with Carter Tarrant.

• August 1807 Emancipating Society - Carter Tarrant, David Barrow, Elders Dodge and Carmen (Nelson Co), Elder John Sutton, Donald Holmes, Jacob Grigg, George Smith, 11 ministers and 19 lay persons. Statewide organization. • c. 1822 Carter Tarrant posted an open public notice of an Abolition Society meeting at Shelbyville. John Finley Crowe then publishing the Society’s newsletter at Shelbyville and may have been the host. 1820-1840 Half the faculty at Centre and Danville Seminary, (Presbyterians) half the faculty or more at Transylvania (Disciples) and Augusta (Methodist) against slavery. By 1850 emphasis had shifted to Colonization in Liberia or non-involvement. Elder George Smith one of earliest anti- Moved to Clay Village in Shelby County in slavery Baptist preachers 1820s. Hosted meeting of local and state Abolition Society in his home at Clay 1807 Carter Tarrant and David Barrow Village in 1820s formed The Baptized Licking-Locust Association, Friends of Humanity, in Ky. Influenced manumission rates in Shelby Representatives from Tick Creek and County at Tick Creek, Bullskin, and Bullskin Baptist churches in Shelby Brashears County 1822 Carter Tarrant then living in George Smith, one of the founders of the Carrollton, posted a notice of Abolition Kentucky Abolition Society in 1808 at Society meeting at Shelbyville where Danville. Smith had a church in John Finley Crowe was editing The Franklin County and hosted the Abolition Intelligencer and Missionary Abolition Society meeting at his home Magazine in 1813

 . Tick Creek one of earliest Baptist churches in Shelby County located at Cross Keys near Clay Village. In 1810 took the name Bethel. Congregation split in 1840 , anti- missionary was Bethel, missionary became Clay Village Baptist. From Deed Books  1802 M. Mann, freed Charles,  1817 W. McCormack freed Abraham, location Buck Creek area Mulberry area

 1803 J. Blanton freed Truman Isham,  1817 M. Nelson freed Ben, Gists Creek at Tick & Gist Creek area  1818 William Neill freed James Brown  1810 G. Churchill freed Rody at Clear and Sarah Helm Creek area  1819 J. A. Weaver freed Dick  1812 E. Marmon freed Garry in Fox Run  1822 John Smock freed Jefferson, a boy  1812 L. Miles freed Tamar in Bunson Creek area  1822 T. Shanks, executor, freed Jarrell, and James by will  1815 J. Lynch freed Moses and Aron in the Bullskin Creek area  1823 Edward Talbott freed Abraham and James  1816 A Steele freed Ben in Bullskin Creek  1823 Robert McGrath freed Nelson, a boy  1830 Charles Lynch freed Dolly, Mulberry

 1824 John Wright freed Bob and his wife  1830 Ann Allen freed Edmund , Buck Creek

 1825 Ben Cox freed Billy (also known as  1831 Edward Talbott freed Esther, Floyds Fk William)  1832 Rhoda Willis freed George, Long Run  1826 Charity Williamson freed Buk, a person of color  1834 William Patterson, executor, freed Harry by will  1826 John Tevis freed Harriett, of color  1834 J. Allen, executor, freed John Ford by  1826 W. Allice freed Rachael will, Gists Creek area

 1827 Edward Talbott freed Israel Boston  1835 A. Adams freed Charles Cooper, Gists Creek area  1828 Elias O’Bannons freed Betty and others  1835 Joseph Crow freed Charles Edwards in  1838 John Tevis, executor for Joseph Hall, Jeptha area freed Harry by will

 1835 John Tevis freed Rachael Elias, Six Mile  1841 J. R. Beckley indenture for Henry, Clear Creek area  1835 William H. Harrison freed James Hunter  1843 Samuel Harbison freed Betsy and  1836 Meshuck Pierson freed Daniel in Beech Emaline Creek area  1845 William N. Harding freed Nathan in  1837 Samuel Glass freed Daniel, Six Mile Beech Creek area

 1837 Jacob Cardwell freed Edmond in  1845 James Hollingsworth freed Milly in Bullskin area Brashears Creek area

 1837 Ann Logan freed Fanny in Brashears  1850 Ruth Hollingsworth freed William in Creek area Beech Creek area

 1838 William Welsh freed Caty, Bullskin area  1850 N. Hawthorn freed William and Sylvani in Beech Creek and Bullskin areas

 1850 William N. Hope freed Abraham, Bullskin  Elijah Marrs’ father was Andrew Marrs, born a slave c. 1820 in Culpepper County,  Apparently Shannon acted earlier, because Andrew Marrs was a Free Black Virginia. His mother, Frances, also born in by1850 according to William J. Simmons. Culpepper Co, VA, was a slave owned by Jesse Robinson of Connors Station Road,  After the Civil War: Simpsonville. Jesse never owned Andrew Marrs although apparently he lived with  In 1865 Andrew Marrs purchased land in Shelbyville and later sub-divided that land Frances on the Robinson farm. along with his son, Elijah.

 Andrew Marrs was freed by will of  In 1866 Andrew and Frances Marrs Alexander Marrs 04Jun1833. Alexander regularized their long-time slave marriage by petition to the Shelby County court Marrs had come into Shelby County prior and were issued a marriage certificate. to the 1820 census. The Marrs’ will specified that Andrew was to be freed  Elijah bought land that his father, Andrew, when he reached 35 years old, i.e. in had purchased in Shelbyville and he proceeded to sub-divide this land on 1855. The responsibility for this action Henry Clay Street between 10th and 11th was given to executor, Samuel Shannon, Streets. Alexander Marrs’ son in law and a noted Presbyterian evangelist. Published in Shelbyville John Finley Crowe

Born Greene Co TN in 1787 Transylvania 1811-1812 Princeton 1813-1814 Ordained Presbytery of Louisville Published Abolition Intelligencer and Missionary Magazine at Shelbyville, Kentucky 1822-1823 Called to Vernon, Indiana, then in 1824 to Hanover College, Hanover, IN Founder of McCormack Seminary Leader of Old School Colonization Movement

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Against Slavery in Principle Science Hill School, Julia Tevis  John Tevis owned several slaves who  Julia Tevis claimed to have aided the worked on his lands north of house slaves during the Civil War. Shelbyville. His entire family were slave owners.  Julia Tevis allowed Elijah Marrs to marry Julia Gray at the Tevis home in  John Tevis as minister at the Shelbyville and as a wedding present Methodist Church handled at least she gave books to Elijah to help him two manumissions in parishioner’s get started teaching former slaves. wills and one of his own  Both Julia and John were patrician,  John Tevis took a mild anti-slavery well-educated but sympathetic to the plank to the Methodist Conference in plight of slaves and former slaves. 1844 seeking to prevent the split between Methodist South and the  Neither Julia nor John were known to national church. After the split, Tevis have participated in the Underground joined the Methodists in Shelbyville Railroad in Shelby County. moving into the Southern wing. Denominations: Positions on Slavery Baptists Methodists  1790-1808 – Baptist preachers provided anti-  Methodists had provided energy and slavery leadership; however by 1808 the leadership for the anti-slavery movements, Baptist associations had determined that especially in the North where they joined Slavery was a political issue not to be Quakers and others in eliminating Slavery in brought within the church itself. Individual state constitutions. However, as Methodism Baptist preachers and lay people continued spread rapidly in the South, the national church activity within Abolition and Anti-Slavery backed off its former strong stance that Slavery socities for some years, but by 1838 most was Evil. Baptists ignored Slavery as a moral issue.  Methodists were foremost in baptizing and  Most Baptist churches baptized slaves but teaching slaves how to read the Bible. only a few promoted teaching the slaves to read the Bible. Baptists were among the  The denomination split several times on the earliest to provide separate slave church Slavery issue. The first major rupture was in services. 1836 when the Methodist Protestants broke away on the basis of Slavery and power of the  1845 – Southern Baptists broke with the bishops. M.P. provided much leadership for national organizations over the issue of Home Anti-Slavery movements along the northern Missions and Slavery a rupture that continues side of the Ohio River. to the present day.  In 1844 the major split of M.E. South from the  By contrast, northern Free Will and Separate national church affected Kentucky particularly. Baptists provided continuing leadership for Less than 25% of Kentucky’s Methodist anti-slavery political actions and direct aid to churches stayed with the national church. fugitive slaves. Presbyterians  Presbyterian clergy and elders provided much  Presbyterians were far fewer in numbers in of the leadership for the 1849 Emancipation Kentucky, however, they held a great percentage Convention which effectively supported of Kentucky’s political and educational Colonization. leadership. Rev. David Rice was an early and outspoken foe of Slavery and tried to keep the  The church split into its southern wing in 1861 institution out of the 1792 constitution. and continued as a separate denomination until 1968. The split was because the national church  Danville with Centre College and the Presbyterian Seminary there was a major center insisted that loyalty to the Union was essential. of Anti-Slavery intellectual and organizational activity.  After the Civil War, the Presbyterians in Shelbyville split, the Northern Assembly  John Finley Crowe, a young Presbyterian building a new gothic church about two blocks minister, edited the Abolition Intelligencer, the from the Presbyterian South church at 7th and newpaper of the Kentucky Abolition Society. Main Streets. The two churches were reconciled in the 20th century.  James Birney published an Anti-Slavery newspaper in Kentucky until it was burned out.  Scots Presbyterians, Seceders, and Free  The Kentucky Synod had the strongest Anti- Presbyterians provided major leadership for Slavery planks until the 1850s favoring emancipation of slaves, education of slaves and the Anti-Slavery political and direct action Free Blacks, and provided much of the movements in the counties north of the Ohio leadership for the Colonization movement. River. From the Low Dutch at Rykers Ridge to the Seceders in Marble Hill and Saluda much of the earliest aid to fugitive slaves and safe routes leading to the Quakers in mid-state.  Universalists, settling along the Ohio Episcopal and Lutheran River towns from Cincinnati to Louisville, were outspokenly anti-  The Lutherans had very little presence slavery and provided UGRR in the South. In St. Louis some German leadership at Madison and Aurora, Lutherans aided fugitive slaves. Indiana. After passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, some of their  Episcopal Church split in 1861 clergy stated they had to obey the because of the seceding of the law of the land; however most Confederate States, not because of the activists continued their UGRR Slavery issue and they reconciled activity and Union troop recruitment. almost immediately after the Civil War.

 Free Will and Separate Baptists  Chiefly residing in cities, the provided much of the UGRR Episcopal church baptized slaves and leadership and Anti-Slavery political Free Blacks. A strong anti-slavery leadership throughout the bishop, B. B. Smith, built four schools to Antebellum period especially during educate former slaves during the the 1840s and 1850s. 1870s at Frankfort, Louisville, Paducah, and Owensboro. Before the Underground Railroad

Droughts a common summer occurrence, often channel less than 12 feet wide; iced over in 1856 from January to March 15; shanty boats, ferryboats, pirogues, keelboats, rafts much more numerous than steamboats.

From Kenton County Public Library Collection Posted in the Kentucky Gazette The Earliest Runaways

◆ 1788 Fayette Co – Ben plus ◆ 1791 Fayette – Tom, Peter several unnamed – total Franklin – Harry and posted 11 Bartlett Mercer – Phil ◆ 1789 Fayette Co – Sam Jackson, George Cooke, Peter ◆ 1792 Fayette – Tom Bell Woodford Co – Billy Boyle – Frank Scott – Daniel Ross Clark – Sam Woodford, unnamed ◆ 1790 Fayette – Ben also Mason Co. ◆ 1793 Fayette - George Lincoln- Elizabeth Holland Runaway Slaves Before 1830

◆ 1788 Postings for Fugitive Slaves ◆ 1800 at Louisville, 1818 at Madison ◆ Rewards Increased $20 to $200 by 1830 ◆ Hide with Native Americans ◆ Manumissions – North Carolina, Kentucky ◆ Settled at Clarksburg, Graysville, Richland, East Salem, Northern Indiana, Michigan, Ohio Resistance to Slavery

◼ Pilfering food ◼ Work slowdowns ◼ Stealing ◼ Killing livestock ◼ Poisoning slave owner ◼ Killing slave owner ◼ Running Away

From National Geographic Collection The Underground Railroad Why Slaves Ran Away

◆ Most common reason: beatings, whippings ◆ Heard that freedom lay just across the Ohio ◆ Family about to be separated ◆ About to be sold South ◆ Cruel overseer ◆ Master selling out, going West ◆ Desired education for self and children ◆ Met an agent of the American Anti- Slavery Society or a local U.G.R.R. worker

From Autobiography of Henry Bibb  10Jun1795 - The first posted  23Aug1799 – Ben Bridges, runaway slave from Shelby runaway slave from Will County – by William Morrow at Morton located near Mr. head of Clear Creek. Suspected Hughes’ south of Shelbyville that slave would try to make his way to Mrs. Holmes in Lexington.  06Jul1801 – Dick, a runaway slave, owned by John Pope  17Dec1796 – posted unnamed in Shelby County runaway slave by Robert Glass, 3 miles from Shelbyville  12Jul1803 – unnamed runaway slave posted by  26Aug1797 – posted unnamed Stephen Smith of Shelby runaway by Richard M. Booker, County 8 miles from the courthouse  The Kentucky Gazette, Lexington, KY • William & his father Fink escaped from James Young of Shelby Co • William age 21 5'8" or 5'10", yellow and his father. • Expect them to make for Canada

18May1820 Indiana Republican

Typically the ads contained the name of the slave- owner, his or her plantation or location, some description and expectation where the fugitive might travel. Often a reward was posted and the name of the slave/s.

1812-1838  Fugitive slaves crossed the Ohio River on their Scots Presbyterians own, if lucky, found a friendly farm who Free Will Baptists would give them food and tell them where the next safe place was Methodist Protestants further north. Free Black agricultural communities hid them Universalists Madison, Indiana The Underground Railroad Lancaster Baptists Seceder and Scots Rykers Ridge Presbyterians Low Dutch Baptists and Presbyterians

Free Blacks Beginnings of Organized Aid to Fugitives 1838-1850  INDIANA  September 12, 1838 at Milton, Wayne County  Convenors: Rev. M.H. Wilder, Rev. J. Clark, James McCoy  Committees: James Morrow & James Anderson of Jefferson and Peter Cherry of Cass Co; M.H. Wilder of Franklin, Thomas Hicklin of Jennings, S. Mitchell of Wayne; James Boyle, Pusey Graves, Dr. E. Fussel, John C. McCoy of Decatur. Shelby County’s Link to Clifty Falls

John Buchanan Todd at Clifty Falls, James Todd north of Simpsonville near the Henry County line. James Muhlerin Todd Doaks Pct., 1882

Born near Nashville TN 17Jul1795 and married Mary Porter in 1823 by Dr. D. D. Todd of Henry County Son of James M. Todd born July 1747 in County Antrim, Ireland Brother of John Buchanan Todd at Clifty Falls Safe route began in 1839 and continued through 1850s  James Muhlerin Todd would take  On the Indiana side of the river, fugitive north in his wagon. John Buchanan Todd would beat Based on what others were an all clear signal on a copper doing, he could have hidden the pot. The sound rang out across fugitive among his produce or he the river. The fugitive would then could have simply had the be ferried across the river by fugitive drive as if he were his boat. slave.  John B. Todd’s activities became  When James M. Todd got to the known and the notorious slave Ohio River’s edge in Cooper’s catcher, Right (also Wright) Ray, Bottom across the river from his or the sheriff were frequent brother’s farm at Clifty Falls, he visitors. That is why the unusual would give a signal with a chimney design was constructed lantern. in John B.’s house to permit the fugitive to escape out the back into the woods. • 1832 Rev. Henry Adams, Free Black, to Louisville’s African Baptist Church, congregation grows to 900, sets up school to educate children and adults

• A.M.E. churches founded at Louisville, Harrodsburg, Nicholasville, radically active in opposing slavery. Quinn Chapel called the Abolition Church, Bishop William Paul Quinn.

•1838-1846 Free Blacks at Madison, recruit slaves in place on plantations and Free Blacks in Kentucky cities; momentum temporarily halted by 100- person posse targeting UGRR.

From Burton Library, Detroit Public Library From Passive to Active Aid

 Before 1835 “On your Own…”

 Friends of fugitives begin to organize

 William Phelps and George Whitefield from Wheeling, WVA spend three years organizing in Kentucky from Madison in the 1840s

 Free Blacks take active role in setting up routes and safe houses – Influx from Virginia into the Ohio River valley. George De Baptiste, Elijah Anderson, and other Free Blacks came into Kentucky as far as Frankfort and established contacts with Free Blacks and slaves in place using the separated black congregations as ways to get information into Shelby County. De Baptiste said they used secret masonic societies as well.

 Methodist Protestants, Free Will Baptists, Universalists, Seceder Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Quakers establish safe houses, routes Slave Congregations in Shelby, Spencer, Henry and Trimble Counties

◼ 1799 Christiansburg Baptist ◼ 1801 Drennon’s Colored Meeting House ◼ 1801 East Floyds Fork at Smithfield and Abbottsford (now Sulphur) ◼ 1803 Corn Creek Baptist Hinesville A.M.E. (top) Clay ◼ 1811 Plum Creek Baptist at Waterford Street Baptists (bottom) ◼ 1813 Cane Run Baptist at Port Royal ◼ 1816 First Presbyterian at Shelbyville ◼ 1818 Six-Mile Baptist north of Shelbyville ◼ 1818 Hopewell Baptist at Lacie ◼ 1819 Clay Street Baptist in Shelbyville More Early Congregations

◼ 1825 Little Mount’s black burying grounds ◼ 1828 First Presbyterian at Lawrenceburg ◼ 1830 Colored Baptists at Simpsonville (Elijah Marrs) ◼ 1830 Methodist teacher at Bedford (Henry Bibb) Finchville (top), Shiloh Baptist (bottom) ◼ 1839 St. Peter A.M.E. at Harrodsburg ◼ 1839 Zion Hill Methodist at Bethlehem ◼ 1840 Colored Baptist Church, Second Baptist, Campbellsburg A.M.E charters specified aid to fugitive slaves, particularly Bishop William Quinn who evangelized across the midWest.

A.M.E. leadership chiefly Free Blacks. Often instituted secret society called Prince Hall masonic lodge. George De Baptiste, UGRR leader at Madison,  Bethel congregation dates back IN, and Detroit, MI, stated before its charter in 1867 in the large Methodist population. that they used the secret societies to transmit  Bethel’s original brick building information to the southern faced onto Bradshaw. The new Free Blacks and slaves in building on Henry Clay used the old brick, also the wall contains place on plantations. the old brick.

Safe Routes, Hundreds of Runaways 1850-1860 The major corridors through Kentucky to Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio

Cincinnati Ripley OH Louisville Big Madison Sandy Wabash Route

Evansville Illinois

Base Map from Blaine Hudson’s Fugitive Slaves and the Underground Railroad in the Kentucky Borderland, 2002 In the 1850s Who was Running the Underground Railroad?

◼ Very few abolitionists in Kentucky after 1840 – John G. Fee and his colleagues mostly in Madison and Bracken ◼ Emancipationists became Colonizationists; ship Free Blacks to Liberia; firm believers in private property, i.e. slave holders should be paid compensation for loss of any slaves…Not in favor of the Underground Railroad ◼ Kentucky Unionists against secession, not against the South and not in favor of slave “stealing” ◼ Free Blacks and white abolitionists in Cincinnati, Aurora, Madison, Ripley, Evansville very active period, very dangerous ◼ Free Blacks in Louisville, Lexington, Covington and smaller towns provided leadership and safe houses ◼ Slaves in place on plantations and preachers The Eagle Hollow Crossing One of the most important crossings of the Underground Railroad during the 1850s. Managed by Rev. Chapman Harris and his sons and sympathetic neighbors in Eagle Hollow. All clear signal, Harris beat on an iron bar wedged high in a Sycamore tree near the river’s edge. The sound rang across to the Kentucky side, creating the legend a blacksmith ran the Underground Railroad. Kentucky slave owners placed a spy, Caleb McQuithy up Eagle Hollow, but the oldest Harris boy beat him so badle he never returned. Shelby County former slaves Patsy and James Allen

◼ 12Apr1821 Patsy (also Patsey) born in Shelby County between Spencer County line and Shelbyville described as 5’2” stout with mole on left side of chin pure blooded Negro (from the Negro Registers) ◼ Brother James Allen, both Patsy and James freed at some point between 1821 and 1841 ◼ 1841 Patsy marries Chapman Harris in Madison by Rev. E. D. Owens, Baptist Church, Chapman, a Free Black from Virginia, described as 6’ large eyes, thick lips, scar on forehead and back of right hand (from the Negro Registers) ◼ Raises 8 children in cabin up Eagle Hollow; Chapman Harris runs UGRR crossings with 20 Free Blacks and slaves in place on plantations in Kentucky ◼ 1850 James Allen with $500 is living with John Carr, head of UGRR operations at Rykers Ridge above Eagle Hollow Shelby County former slaves The Allens later on…. 1860 Chapman Harris pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church (Second Baptist) 1867 Chapman and Patsy at Rising Sun, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church 1870 Patsy inherits James Allen’s farm; Chapman, sons in law living there 1880 Patsy Allen Harris living in Madison, Chapman with his unmarried daughters 1888 Gertrude Harris, organist at Hanover, teaches at Sparta, Gallatin Co. KY 1889 Chapman, Patsy, Gertrude (top) the Harris family at and Anna Maria all buried on Spring Hill, (left) Shiloh Spring Hill, Madison Baptist Rising Sun, (above) St. Paul’s Baptist Madison Slave Catchers, Pinkerton, Rewards Counteractions by Slave Owners ◼ First of the slave-catchers appear along the Ohio River 1818-1840 ◼ 1820s – Most river counties institute patroller system ◼ Newspaper ads for runaway slaves at an increasing rate, rewards move from $20 to $200 by 1830s; northern newspapers refuse to carry the ads. ◼ Aggressive use of detectives, slave catchers and pressing charges in criminal and civil courts ◼ Late 1840s a spy system set up by slave owners meeting in Covington, sent up to Michigan, followed by posses Enticements to recapture runways

From Blaine Hudson’s Kentucky Borderlands (Left, runaway slave ads from 1826, $20- $30 rewards, (top) ad from 1852 rewards rose to $300 plus $100 each for the white men aiding them. The average yeoman’s wages were less than $200 a year. Shelby County Cases Tried in Louisville Stephen Latabie a Free Black accused of harboring a slave of Mr. Hornsby of Shelby County…not guilty.

William Jeter a Free Black accused of harboring a slave owned by Col. George Young of Shelby County, guilty and sent to Frankfort Penitentiary for three years. KY on the eve of the Civil War

Paid, Professional Agents ◼ 1844 – Lloyd Garrison and the Tappan brothers – the American Anti-Slavery Association and the American Anti-Slavery League ◼ 1850s – John Hanson’s agents come into Henderson and Owensboro setting up very active Underground Railroad using fishermen as ferry operators Political Actions in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan ◼ 1850 Fugitive Slave Act infuriates many in Indiana and Ohio, anti- slavery politics improves steadily through the decade – Liberty Party, Free Soil Party, Peoples fusion Party, Abraham Lincoln Republican Party Abolitionist on Kentucky Soil ◼ 1850s John G. Fee at Bracken, Madison, Lewis, Rockcastle counties ◼ 1858 Berea College formed with John G. Fee, J. A. R. Rogers, John Hanson as primary agents Important Definitions

◼ Antebellum Kentucky was a borderland culture industrious mid-west – railroads, manufacturing, commerce Southern slave-owning plantation life permeated cities and rural frontier self-reliant woodsmen, pockets in Green River and Appalachia Over 250,000 slaves, over 10,000 Free Blacks ◼ All anti-slavery people in Kentucky were Unionists; some Unionists were anti-slavery. ◼ Most Kentucky Unionists were not anti-slavery, objected to the Emancipation Proclamation and despised the formation of United States Colored Troops ◼ Some families in Kentucky split Union and Confederate, but the myth was built on just a few prominent families. ◼ Kentucky’s Confederate Monuments do not reflect the number of CSA troops from that city or county; for example Lawrenceburg has a large CSA obelisk but Anderson County sent far more Union troops than Confederate. Oldham County celebrates its Confederate Cemetery but the county sent 60% of its soldiers and officers into the Union troops.  01January1863 – Emancipation Proclamation

 Spring 1863 –With the announcement of the formation of the U.S. Negro Troops, slaves in Shelby County poured into the recruitment centers at Louisville and Camp Nelson.

 Elijah Marrs, born and raised as a slave on Connors Station Road, Simpsonville, tells of how 27slaves from that area marched to Louisville to join the U.S. Negro Troops and his subsequent experience.

 After the Civil War, Elijah helped former U.S. Negro Troop veterans put in claims for benefits.  Simpsonville  Gex Landing Skirmish

 Oct 1864  Aug 1864  Company E, 5th USCC 80 men  Company C of the 117th USCT were driving 1,000 cattle from were recruiting slaves in Carroll, Camp Nelson to Louisville - 41 Grant, and Gallatin counties for men in the rear guard were the USCC. ambushed by Confederate irregulars led by Dick Taylor near  18 men had bedded down Simpsonville, KY in Shelby overnight near Ghent in Carroll County. County, surprise night attack by CSA irregulars led by of Col.  Next day locals found 15 dead, 20 George Jesse of New Castle, wounded, later report stated that Henry Co. formerly with John 19 had been massacred trying to Hunt Morgan’s Cavalry. surrender.  2 killed, 1 wounded, 15 captured, 7 released, 8 returned to slavery.  Shelby County developed a high percentage of slaves from 1820-1860, growing from 36% in 1840 and reaching a high of 41% by 1860. Even after the Civil War, Shelby County had 34% black population.

 Shelby County participated in openly buying and selling of slaves throughout the Antebellum Period. Shelby County slave-owners used both the Cheapside slave market at Lexington and the Garrison and Arterburn slave markets at Louisville.

 Shelby County slave-owners sent runaway slave ads to newspapers and instituted a patroller system through its constables.  Shelby County had some early Anti-Slavery leaders but by 1845 efforts had diminished as anti-slavery people fled north into open Free Territories.

 In 1822-1823 Shelbyville published one of only two Abolition newspapers in the United States, edited by John Finley Crowe.

 Some early preachers such as Elder George Smith promoted manumissions, fewer than 100 freed by deed, perhaps another 50 freed by will within the family.  Shelby County had one operational  There were runaway slaves from Shelby UGRR route as the Todd brothers – County as cited in various runaway slave James M. in Shelby County and John ads in Lexington and Louisville, B. at Clifty Falls, Indiana, developed newspapers as well as towns along the Ohio River. the system. Probably fewer than 20

fugitives took advantage of this  Free blacks and slaves in place on route. plantations did aid fugitives coming through and from Shelby County;  Patsy and James Allen, born as slaves however names and places have been lost in Shelby County, were instrumental in records. Proximity to the large Free in the success of the Madison, Black communities at Louisville included Indiana, UGRR operations, especially families that were related to Shelby County slaves. during the 1850s. Patsy Allen Harris

faced down the slave-catchers and  How do we know there was aid to her husband and sons ferried fugitives here? Because at least 180 fugitives across the Ohio River into fugitives crossed at Madison, Indiana, Eagle Hollow. before 1850, and another 50-100 crossed at Eagle Hollow after 1850. Ways to Explore the Underground Railroad 1838 Henry Bibb (lower right) and Gatewood Plantation House (upper right)

1856 Richard Daly and Fearn Plantation House (bottom)

1845 Adam Crosswhite from Giltner’s Plantation to Marshall, Michigan Research

Education

Archaeology

First National Trail Tracing the Life of an American Slave Members of Historical Societies: Oldham County Historical Society

High School Students: Summer Archaeology Camp – Bedford and Civil War Forts

Over 1,000 artifacts  Since 1995 a Books substantial amount of new knowledge has been developed by KET Movies historians, filmmakers, and dedicated museums Cincinnati and actual sites Freedom Center The Underground Railroad More Sources….

 *The Life and Adventure of Henry Bibb, first published in 1849, recent edition, University of Wisconsin Press, 2001.  *Fugitive Slaves and the Underground Railroad in the Kentucky Borderland by J. Blaine Hudson, McFarland & Company, 2002  The anti-slavery movement in Kentucky, prior to 1850, Asa Earl Martin, PhD thesis, Cornell University,1917, reprinted University of California, 1964.  *Racial Violence in Kentucky 1865-1940 by George C. Wright, Louisiana State University Press  *Bound for Glory, Fergus M. Bordewich, Amisted, Harper Collins, 2005

 Modern Medea, Steven Weisenburger, Hill& Wang  Beyond the River, Ann Hagedorn, Simon & Shuster, 2002  Front Line of Freedom by Keith P. Griffler, University Press of KY, 2004  The Underground Railroad in Floyd County, Indiana, Pam Peters, McFarland & Company, 2001  American Slavery 1619-1877, Peter Kolchin, Hill & Wang  Delia Webster and the Underground Railroad, Randolph Runyon, University Press of Kentucky, 1996  * The best of the best And yet more sources The Role of Religion  The Evangelical War Against Slavery and Caste, Victor B. Howard, Susquehanna University Press  Slave Religion, The “Invisible Institution” in the Antebellum South, Albert J. Raboteau, Oxford University Press  The Kentucky Abolitionists in the Midst of Slavery, Richard Sears. The Edward Mellen Press Overview to Kentucky Slavery and Resistance  A History of Blacks in Kentucky Vol. 1 , Marion B. Lucas, Kentucky Historical Society  A History of Blacks in Kentucky Vol. 2, George C. Wright, Kentucky Historical Society 19th Century Reprints  The Underground Railroad, From Slavery to Freedom, Wilbur H. Siebert, The Macmillan Company, 1898  History of the Underground Railroad, Col. William M. Cockrum, J.M. Cochran Printing Co, 1915  The Underground Railroad, William Still, Philadelphia, new 2005 edition Diane Perrine Coon, February 2015