Escapes

Timeline

KENTON: Sixteen freedom seekers reach Canada.

“UNDERGROUND – MORE ARRIVALS – Monday morning, shortly after daylight, sixteen “chattels” – three men and five women, and eight children – passed down the avenue and over the ferry, becoming subjects of the British Crown, and renouncing their claim to protection under the “glorious stars and stripes.” Republicanism, as far as they are concerned, they pronounce a decided failure – the greatest humbug of the times. These all came from Covington, Kentucky.”  Detroit Tribune, reprinted in the Provincial Freeman, December 16, 1854

Multiple Group Escapes

Possible Boone County enslaved and crossing points through Boone County. Report of seven separate groups of freedom seekers within a week arriving in Cincinnati, many may have come through Boone County. The first three groups and the fifth escape, from Kentucky, were comprised of 3 males, 3 males, two males and one male, respectively. The sixth escape was two men from Louisiana, who came on foot. The seventh was a woman and three children on a mail boat from Louisville. The Pittsburg Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 3 Feb., 1855

Group Escape

Two unnamed freedom seekers fled from Boone County along with four people from Union County, from slaveholder Harvey Williamson, five from slaveholder Joseph Harris of Bracken County. Crossed at point 1/2 mile below Sedamsville. 19 April, 1855; Anti Slavery Bugle.

BRACKEN: Four slaves escape.

April, four enslaved escape from Bracken (slaveholder-Jos. Harris), 4 from Union Co (slaveholder- Williamson), and 2 from Boone Co (slaveholder unk). Louisville Daily Courier, Louisville, Ky.; 20 April 1855

TRIMBLE: Trio escapes.

Three people, a man, woman and child, escaped from slaveholder John B. Floyd of Trimble County. Louisville Daily Courier, Louisville, Ky; 22 June 1855; p 4

TRIMBLE: Reward ad for “Dick.”

$400 reward offered for freedom seeker “Dick” described as “bright mulatto” with goatee and mustache, 5’10”, well dressed. Slaveholder is A.M. Woolfolk, of Bedford. Daily State Sentinel; Indianapolis, Ind. 23 Aug 1855

MASON: Escape on steamer.

“We learn from the Maysville Eagle that a judgment for some $1500 was obtained against the steamer Bostona in the Lewis Circuit Court last week for having taken off a slave belonging to Mrs. Eshom.” www.nkyviews.com, The Covington Journal, December 22, 1855

Johnson Family Escape

Unknown date–Thomas Johnson; wife and several children escaped first, then Thomas ran, later 3 more children joined them in Malden; The Northside View of Slavery, Benjamin Drew, 1856

MASON: John Price escapes.

Jan 1856- John Price escaped from slaveholder by John G. Bacon of Tuckahoe Ridge (just opposite Rev. Rankin’s home in Ripley); 1858- slavehunter came after him. 200 citizens assisted in his escape. www.nkyviews.com from Roland M. Baumann, “The 1858 Oberlin-Wellington Rescue: A Reappraisal” (Oberlin, Ohio: Oberlin College, 2003)

KENTON: Sidney family escape.

Above escapes may be related to escape of family of Allen Sidney, enslaved man from MS, then TN, worked on riverboat owned by his slaveholder. Assisted by abolitionist Tom Dorm, Sidney helped to free his wife, Sarah (whom he met and married in KY), and their three children. One of the children (“Riller”) was to be sold for debts. Wilber Siebert Collection. Ohio, Hamilton County. Interview with Deacon Sidney Allen, Windsor, Ont. 1894

KENTON: Jane Wayne escape.

Circa 1894 narrative of Jane Wayne of Amherstburg, Ontario: born in Flemingsburg was sold and taken to Covington. Fearing the breakup of her family, she and her three children, with the help of Cincinnati conductor Bob Russell and two unnamed men, escaped enslavement “the year Fremont ran” (referring to 1856 Presidential candidate John C. Fremont) Wilbur Siebert Collection

The Margaret Garner Story

Margaret Garner was an Freedom Seeker whose recapture became a national news story. In January 1856, 17 slaves from Boone and Kenton counties crossed the Ohio River. Included were Robert and Margaret Garner and their children, who were owned by the Gaines family of Richwood Road (now Maplewood Farm). They made their way to the home of a former slave in Cincinnati, where they were apprehended by deputy marshals. Fearing the family would be sent back to slavery, Margaret cut the throat of one of her children and attempted to take the lives of the other three before being subdued. Hoping..Read More

KENTON: Nine slaves escape.

Six enslaved people belonging to Levi Dougherty, (4th street, Cov, btwn Madison and Russell) and three enslaved people belonging to Mr. Gage (probably William H. Gedge), same neighborhood. Left on Sunday, 27 Jan, 1856. Value of enslaved, $8,000. Chicago Tribune, Chicago Ill; 31 Jan 1856

GRANT: Reward ad for five freedom-seekers.

Five enslaved people escaped from Grant county, $1000 reward offered. Covington Journal, Covington Ky; 16 Feb 1856

KENTON: 10 freedom seekers reach Canada.

Ten freedom seekers who were with Margaret Garner’s family initially, made it to Amherstburg, Ontario after a harrowing journey, crossing the frozen lake at Sandusky by sleigh. Provincial Freeman, Feb. 23, 1856

Six Freedom Seekers

Six enslaved escape from slaveholder Wilborn. Three men, two women and 1 child. 26 Feb 1856 The Squatter. Sovereign, Kansas, Cincinnati Gazette cited

Two Freedom Seekers Chased

Two enslaved people escape from A. J. Reynolds, who chased them to Covington, then lost them. 24 July 1856 Louisville Daily Courier, Louisville, Ky.

HARRISON: Mass escape.

Fourteen enslaved people escaped from Kenton County, and twelve from Maysville, Western Reserve Chronicle, Warren, OH. 12 Nov 1856

HARRISON: Three freedom seekers and conductor captured.

December: 3 enslaved people; UGRR conductor Thomas Fitzpatrick (Cov/Lex Railroad brakeman); all captured; slaveholders Ashbroke and Garnet; The Liberator, Boston, MA; 12 Dec 1856, p. 3

KENTON: Nine slaves escape.

Nine enslaved people from “near Covington” escaped. No slaveholder name, but he was to move away to Chicago, and needed to sell them to pay for debts. Louisville Daily Courier, Louisville, Ky; 16 Dec 1856

Rucker & Chambers Escape

Several Enslaved African Americans escaped from a farm owned by Paschal Rucker and Alfred Chambers, located in Burlington, Kentucky.

KENTON: Six slaves escape across frozen river.

Six enslaved escape Mr. Ransom of Covington, who was considered a “good” slaveholder. They crossed the river when it was frozen. Barre Gazette, 13 Feb 1857

KENTON: Two freedom seekers captured.

Angela and Irwin Broadus, to be sold by slaveholder Col. Withers, escaped June 10, 1857 to Cincinati. Hidden in a room No.18, Taft’s Building on Vine above 4th. Room was occupied by W. A. Conolly, editor of the Cincinnati Daily Commercial. Marshalls arrived, one marshal stabbed, Irwin shot, both captured 17th June, 1857. Connoly slipped away.

Freedom Seeker Captured

One freedom seeker, belonging to William Sanford, is captured at Lochry Creek; Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Cincinnati, OH, 30 June 1857

CARROLL: Three slaves attempt escape.

“Runaway Slave Caught! KENTON. An unnamed freedom seeker (slaveholder William Sandford) was one of three men who had attempted escape from Carroll County. This man had been caught at Lochry Creek in Dearborn County, Indiana. One man, referred to as “Berry’s boy” had been shot and killed at Vevay Indiana during the chase. Another man was sold by slaveholder, William Sandford, after being caught.” Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Cincinnati, Oh, June 30, 1857

Fight and Escape

Perry McNeeley caught a runaway between 11pm and midnight. The man had some food supplies. The two men fought, and the man slipped away. Presumably in the town of Petersburg. The Diary of Lewis A. Loder, 1857-1904, boone County Public Library

Freedom Seeker Caught

F. M. Bess caught a man from Henry County at the Lochry Ferry, on Indiana side of river, & received a $400–out of state reward. This may be the man enslaved to Sanford earlier (6/30/1857). Sanford is in Boone and Kenton counties, may have known his way through the area. Diary of Lewis A. Loder 1857-1904, BCPL

MASON: Seventeen slaves escape.

Seventeen enslaved people from Washington, KY escaped & were pursued. One man recaptured. 17 Oct 1857, Edgecomb Gazette, Edgecomb, NC

Boat Explosion

Before 1857- Eight men perish in an explosion of the “Noah P. Sprague” boat on the Detroit River, among them, William Sanford, Unk Tolliver (Talliaferro), Unk Stephenson, all listed as “colored,” and from Malden, C.W. (possibly part of Cass County migrant group). Detroit Free Press, 15 Nov 1857

Martin and Wife Caught

Chamber’s man Martin and his wife (both enslaved) ran to Lawrenceburg and were caught trying to “hop a train”. The Diary of Lewis A. Loder 1857-1904, Boone County Public Library

KENTON: Walker family escape.

Edward Walker, his brother, sister-in-law and their baby escaped to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Neson family (Hayden, then Thomas, Haden’s son). Other of his family members had earlier escaped. Source: nkaa.uky.edu and The Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky; 12 Aug 1894; p 8

KENTON: Two freedom seekers return, are caught.

Two enslaved from Dover, escaped 5th March, 1858 to Canada. Slaveholder Robert M. Ingram. They returned to Cincinnati to help more (family/friends?) to freedom and were caught. Cincinnati Commercial, Cincinnati, Ohio; August 27, 1858

Escape on Horseback

22 September, 1858- An enslaved man from Boone County, Kentucky escaped from slaveholder William Donaldson on the back of a “fine mare belonging to Mr. D.” The slaveholder gave chase, but no trace of the man or horse was found. Both the horse and the man were valued at about $1000 apiece. Cincinnati Commercial, Cincinnati, Oh. 24 Sep 1858

BRACKEN: Eleven slaves escape.

23 Oct 1858; Eleven enslaved people escaped from near Germantown. No other details given, probably related to Juliet Miles case. Louisville Daily Courier, Louisville, KY; 28 October, 1858, p 1 col 5

TRIMBLE: Sarah escapes; John arrested.

Sarah, enslaved by Charles Henry of Trimble County, escaped with the help of John Robertson, who was arrested. Louisville Daily Courier, Louisville, Ky; 25 April, 1859; p 1