{"id":189,"date":"2016-06-21T22:14:35","date_gmt":"2016-06-21T22:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/?p=189"},"modified":"2016-08-04T00:29:46","modified_gmt":"2016-08-04T00:29:46","slug":"abolition-acre-tour-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/abolition-acre-tour-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Abolition Acre tour guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is now an opportunity for Boston history too long ignored to be told. \u00a0“The Beacon Hill Scholars are a diverse group of individuals who seek to research, preserve, and interpret the history associated with the free African Community that once thrived on Beacon Hill in the early 19th Century. \u00a0Part of the reason why that story has been ignored is rooted in the racist assumptions which too frequently labeled that north slope community “nigger hill”. \u00a0It was perceived as a portion of the city where most of the residents were servants for white folks on the south slope. \u00a0With this “mind-set” approach to the north slope, it is no surprise that it has received little serious historic attention. \u00a0Now comes a time for a generation of Beacon Hill Scholars to reclaim that north slope history. \u00a0With the advent of Abolition Acre<\/span><\/em>, there is an opportunity to reclaim some<\/span> of the historic truth of that north slope community. \u00a0The theme of Abolition Acre, while it does not focus on the north slope brings a new “moment” to tell how it shaped Boston and national history:<\/p>\n

Abolition Acre<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Prison Lane – \u00a0Here we celebrate the way the north slope community led Boston in a just defiance of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law and actions which led up to it.<\/strong> \u00a0Note: \u00a0Webster\u2019s May 7, 1850 speech \u2013 Pres. \u00a0Fillmore signed it \u2013 2000 fled Boston 12th Bapt on Southac St. \u00a0probably half the congregation fled to Canada. \u00a0Note: \u00a0Charles Sumner refused to call it a \u201cLaw\u201d \u2013 the Fugitive Slave Act).<\/p>\n

A HUGE \u201cmoment\u201d in our History<\/strong>: \u00a0Before the Fugitive Slave Act \u2013 in 1842 \u2013 George Latimer<\/strong> who with wife had fled his master in Norfolk — Oct 20 he was arrested with intent to return him to his master, James B. \u00a0Gray — he was held in prison \u2013 Henry Tracy leads community attempt to rescue him \u2013 other efforts failed \u2013 Blacks, led by Grimes, finally raise funds to purchase his freedom — $400, \u00bc or original request \u2013 towns across Mass hold meetings \u2013 64,526 names on petition , 156 lbs., led to Personal Liberty Law, forbade use of Mass. \u00a0facilities as prisons for fugitives.<\/span> \u00a0In Norfolk, Gray: \u00a0\u201cThe Const. \u00a0and the Rights of Southern States trampled in the Dust of the City of Boston – G defrauded of his property in a mockery of justice.<\/p>\n

Shadrach Minkins<\/strong> — from Norfolk \u2013 in Boston only nine months before arrest, Feb. \u00a015, 1851—Oct 14, 6000 in Faneuil Hall mtg \u2013 League of Freedom — Vigilance Comm, with Timothy Gilbert, as Pres. \u00a0\u2013 Shadrach arrested at Cornhill Coffee House, where he works, and is noticed by a friend of his owner. \u00a0Comm. \u00a0Curtiss issues warrant \u2013 3 hours in custody \u2013 100-150 blacks in courtroom, 50 whites \u2013 group of about fifty blacks take him from the courthouse \u2013wild ride Thru Bowdoin Sq. \u00a0\u2013 sheltered by Elizabeth Riley, Southac Pl — finally to ambridge \u2013 then Concord, led by Hayden and John J.Smith \u2013 Leominster\/Fitchburg, using houses of the UGR, then by rail to Canada\u2014Shadrach free for first time in his life.<\/span> \u00a0(Webster named this rescue as \u201c TREASON\u201d ! \u00a0\u2013President Fillmore directed that \u201cprosecutions be commenced against all persons who shall have made themselves abettors in this flagitious offense\u201d. \u00a0(Minkins was first to be seized in Boston under the ACT)<\/p>\n

Thomas Sims<\/strong> — 17 yrs old stowaway escaped from Savannah \u2013 April 4, 1851<\/strong> arrested \u2013 cell on upper floor of courthouse \u2013 plan of community to place mattresses for him to jump onto \u2013 bars on his windows \u2013 9 days in prison \u2013 angry community led by Rev. \u00a0Grimes \u2013 at one point heavy chains around whole bldg.<\/span> \u00a0\u2013 The Court does not find reason to discharge him, remanded to custody of Marshal — April 11, a few minutes before five o\u2019clock in the morning he is marched to boat for return to slavery by a guard of 15 men, and then by a \u201cslave-guard\u201d of men who had been drilled for an hour and a half before the final move to the steamboat\u201d, Hornet\u2013100 blacks in protest \u2013 escaped again during Civil War. \u00a0(From the Boston Courier \u2013 notice that Mr. \u00a0Keyes has presented a petition to the Senate on behalf of Sims. \u00a0Petition calls for the General Court to pass a law which will ascertain the right to a trial by jury, and that the petitioner \u201cmay not be surrendered , exiled, or delivered to bondage , until proved to be a slave by \u2018due course of law\u2019.\u201d)<\/p>\n

Anthony Burns<\/strong> 19 yrs. \u00a0old escaped \u2013 got to Boston –May 25, 1854 \u2013 arrested –as many as 5000 at Faneuil Hall \u2013 wide spectrum of opinions — Whittier, Watkins, Emerson, Theodore Parker, Gridley Howe, Stowe , Higginson, Garrison, Longfellow — imprisoned in Courthouse – 4 story granite<\/span> \u2013night attack suggested but only 20 willing to do it —at least one attack, when crowd stormed the courthouse with shots fired<\/span> –May 29 trial, with 7-8,000 people outside —- June 2 procession to Long Wharf and ship to Virginia \u2013 militiamen sing, \u201cCarry Me to Back to Old Virginny.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Abolition Acre<\/span><\/strong> moves to the junction of old Franklin Lane with City Hall Plaza \u2013 here we speak of how several leaders of the north slope community conducted their business in the area close to where Walker worked, naming at least eight other residents of the north slope who shared with the larger \u201cmerchant community\u201d<\/span> in proximity to Brattle, Cornhill Streets, etc. \u00a0(Black merchants in area: \u00a0John Eli, John Page, Geo Holmes, Coffin Pitts, Barbadoes, Brimsley)<\/em><\/p>\n

Abolition Acre features three abolitionists, two black, one white:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maria W.Stewart<\/strong> \u2013 She boldly redefined the black woman\u2019s domestic situation Franklin Hall, 16 Franklin St<\/p>\n

—\u201c How long shall the daughters of Africa be compelled bury their minds and talents beneath a load of iron pots and kettles?<\/strong>\u201d —she spoke for a time when they would build a High School that the higher branches of knowledge might be enjoyed by us.<\/p>\n

David Walker<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cAppeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in particular, and very expressly to those of The United States of America\u201d — \u201cwe (coloured people of these :United States) are the most degraded, wretched, abject set of beings that ever lived since the world began.\u201d Takes on Jefferson\u2019s view of the \u201cunfortunate\u201d difference of color as \u201cperhaps of faculty, is a powerful obstacle to the emancipation of these people\u201d<\/span> Walker: \u00a0\u201cunless we try to refute Mr. \u00a0Jefferson\u2019s arguments respecting us, we will only establish them.\u201d WE ARE NOT BRUTES \u2013 WE ARE MEN.<\/p>\n

William Lloyd Garrison<\/strong>, white editor of Liberator<\/em>, hugely supported by the black community. \u00a0He became a clear leader in the Abolition movement.<\/p>\n

Abolition Acre next leads folk down toward where Cornhill was an extension of Washington Street.<\/p>\n

There we recall in October, 1835 \u201ca moment\u201d in 1835, featuring women of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, the near-lynching of Garrison, and the \u201cconversion\u201d of several community leaders to the Abolition effort. \u00a0What happened to Garrison on that day is the focus of most \u201chistory. \u00a0Abolition Acre provides an opportunity to \u201clift\u201d the remarkable story of the Female Anti-Slavery Society on that day. \u00a0Cautioned by the Mayor and city leaders to cancel their meeting because they were under threat from an angry crowd, the women were determined to hold their anti-slavery meeting. \u00a0They walked through the crowd six blocks down Washington St. \u00a0and held their meeting at the home of a member on West Street. \u00a0We will invite folk to join in an annual October gathering which will celebrate the \u201cWomens\u2019 March of Courage.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is now an opportunity for Boston history too long ignored to be told. \u00a0“The Beacon Hill Scholars are a diverse group of individuals who seek to research, preserve, and interpret the history associated with the free African Community that once thrived on Beacon Hill in the early 19th Century. \u00a0Part of the reason why … Continue reading Abolition Acre tour guide<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abolitionacre.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}