Appendix D | List of Important Fugitive Slave Cases
No attempt has been made to present a full list of cases, but only such as had especial influence on the public mind, or such as illustrate some special phase of the question.
1. New Netherlands and Hartford Controversy. [§ 11.]
1646. Escapes from both colonies: Winthrop, History of New England, 383; Moore, Notes on History of Slavery in Massachusetts, 28; Doyle, English in America, I. 391.
2. Escape to Manhattan. [§ 7.]
1659. Four men escaped from New Amsterdam: New York Colonial Manuscripts, XIII. 238; Documentary History of N. Y. Colony, II. 556 (Ch. I. p. 4).
3. Escape of White Servants to Cape May. [§ 9.]
1661. Virginian white colonists escape: New York Colonial Manuscripts, XIII. 346.
4. Escape to the Indians. [§ 8.]
The negro servants of the Governor of Virginia: New York Colonial Manuscripts, II. 637.
5. Escape From English to French. [§ 11.]
1748. Negro servant escapes from English to Canada: New York Colonial Manuscripts, X. 209.
6. Crispus Attucks. [§ 5.]
1750, Oct. Escaped from Framingham, Mass.: Boston Gazette, Oct. 2, 1750; Liberator, Mar. 16, 1860; Nineteenth Anniversary of Boston Massacre, W. C. Neil, Address; Williams, History of the Negro Race in America, I. 330.
7. Glasgow. [§ 12.]
Slave freed in Glasgow: Mass. Historical Society Collections, Third Series, IX. 2.
8. Shanley V. Haney. [§ 12.]
1762. Slave freed in England: Quincy, Reports of Cases, 96.
9. Somersett Case. [§ 12.]
1772. England will not return a fugitive slave: Moore, Slavery in Mass., 117; Cobb, Historical Sketch of Slavery, 163; Goodell, Slavery and Antislavery, 44-52; Hurd, Law of Freedom and Bondage, I. 189-193; Broom, Constitutional Law, 6-119; Howells, State Trials, XX. 1; Tasswell-Langmead, English Constitutional History, 300, n.
10. Ship Friendship, Case of. [§ 5.]
1770. Harbored a slave: Moore, Slavery in Mass., 117.
11. John. [§ 17.]
1778. Free negro kidnapped in Pennsylvania: Am. State Papers, I. 39; Cong. Globe, 31 Cong. 1 Sess., Appendix, 1585.
12. Quincy’s Case. [§ 34.]
1793. First case in Boston after 1793: Edw. C. Learned, Speech on The New Fugitive Slave Law, Chicago, Oct. 25, 1850; Whittier, Prose Works, 11, 129, A Chapter of History; Goodell, Slavery and Antislavery, 232; Boston Atlas, Oct. 15, 1850.
13. Washington’s Slave. [§ 35.]
1796, Oct. President Washington demanded a slave from Portsmouth, N. H.: Magazine of American History, Dec., 1877, p. 759; Charles Sumner, Works, III. 177.
14. North Carolina Fugitives. [§ 19.]
1796. Annals of Congress, 1796-7, p. 2015, 1801-2, p. 343.
15. Columbia Case
1804. General Boude defends a runaway: Smedley, Underground Railroad, 26.
16. Solomon Northup. [§ 38.]
1808. Kidnapping at Saratoga, N. Y.: Solomon Northrup, Autobiography.
17. Williams Case
1815. Claimed as a fugitive in Philadelphia: Greeley, American Conflict, I. 216.
18. Prigg Case. [§ 27.]
1832. 16 Peters, 539; Report of Case of Edward Prigg, Supreme Court, Pennsylvania; Cobb, Historical Sketch of Slavery; Bledsoe, Liberty and Slavery, 355; Clarke, Antislavery Days, 69; Hurd, Law of Freedom and Bondage, II. 456-492; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, I. 472-473; Von Holst, Constitutional History, III. 310-312.
19. Kidnapping of Jones. [§ 37.]
1836. Kidnapping in New Jersey: Liberator, Aug. 6, 1836.
20. Chickasaw Rescue. [§ 42.]
1836. Rescue of two colored women on brig Chickasaw: Liberator, Aug. 6, 1836.
21. Schooner Boston Case. [§ 47.]
1837. Georgia and Maine controversy: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, I. 473. Niles’s Register, LIII. 71, 72, LV. 356; Senate Journal, 1839-40, pp. 235-237; Senate Doc., 26 Cong. 1 Sess., Vol. V. Doc. 273.
22. Philadelphia. [§ 43.]
1838. Attempted rescue: Liberator, March 16, 1838.
23. Escape of Douglass. [§§ 68, 75.]
1838. Escape of Frederick Douglass: Life and Times of Douglass; Williams, Negro Race in America, II. 59, 422; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, I. 501, 502.
24. Isaac Gansey Case. [§ 47.]
1839. Virginia and New York controversy: U. S. Gazette, Case of Isaac, Judge Hopkinson’s speech; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, I. 474; Seward, Works, II. 449-518; Von Holst, Constitutional History, II. 538-540; Senate Documents, 27 Cong. 2 Sess., Vol. II. Doc. 96.
25. Van Zandt Case. [§ 50.]
1840. Prosecution for aiding escape: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, I. 475; T. R. Cobb, Historical Sketch of Slavery, 207.
26. Oberlin Case. [§ 50.]
1841 (about). Liberator, May 21, 1841.
27. Thompson Case
1841, July. Prosecution for aiding escapes: Thompson, Prison Life and Reflections; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 69; Goodell, Slavery and Antislavery, 440.
28. Latimer Case. [§ 44.]
1842. Famous fugitive slave case, Boston: Liberator, Oct. 25, Nov. 11, Nov. 25, 1842, Feb. 3, 7, 17, 1843, and Aug. 16, 1844; Law Reporter, Latimer case; Eleventh Annual Report of Mass. Antislavery Society; Mass. House Journal, 1843, pp. 72, 158; Mass. Senate Journal, 1843, p. 232; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, I. 477.
29. Goin Case
1844. Attempted seizure of fugitive: Liberator, April 19, 1844.
30. Thomas Case
1844. Seizure in Marietta, Penn.: Liberator, June 14, 1844.
31. Walker Case. [§ 50.]
1844. Prosecution for aiding escapes: Trial and Imprisonment of Jonathan Walker, Liberator, Aug. 16, 31, Sept. 6, 13, Oct. 18, 25, and Dec. 27, 1844, Aug. 8, 15, and July 18, 1845.
32. Smithburg
1845. Battle between whites and ten runaways: Liberator, June 27, 1845.
33. Kirk Case
Between 1845 and 1849. Unsuccessful attempt to capture George Kirk in New York: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 52. Supplement to New York Legal Observer, containing report of case, Boston Public Library.
34. Brig Ottoman. [§ 45.]
1846. Unsuccessful attempt to rescue slave on brig: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 54.
35. Kennedy Case. [§ 43.]
1847. Riot in Carlisle, Penn.: Liberator, Sept. 10, 27, 1847; Congressional Globe, 1860-61, pp. 801, 802, 908.
36. Slaves on Board Brazilian Ship
1847. Attempt to rescue: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 53; Liberator, Aug. 20, 1847.
37. Ohio and Kentucky Controversy48
1848. Controversy on account of extradition demanded: Liberator, July 14, 1848.
38. South Bend Case
1847, Oct. 9. Fugitives discharged on trial in Michigan: South Bend Fugitive Slave case.
39. Brig Wm. Purrington
1848. Escape from: Liberator, Dec. 31, 1848.
40. Drayton and Sayres. [§ 50.]
1848. Prosecution for aiding escapes: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 104.
41. Crafts Escape. [§ 69.]
1848. Escape of William and Ellen Crafts: Liberator, Nov. 1, 1850; Still, Underground Railroad, 368; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 325.
42. Washington Case. [§ 39.]
Between 1840-1850: Liberator, May 26, 1848.
43. Hamlet Case. [§ 53.]
1850. Rendition in N. Y.: Fugitive Slave Bill, its History and Unconstitutionality, with an Account of the Seizure of James Hamlet, 3; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 304.
44. Gannett Case
1850, Oct. 18. Alleged fugitive discharged in Philadelphia: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 326; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 8.
45. Gibson Case
1850, Dec. 21. Rendition of an innocent man: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 327; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 8; Still, Underground Railroad, 349.
46. Case in Pennsylvania
1851, Jan. House of colored man entered by force: Liberator, Jan. 10, 1851.
47. Sims Case. [§ 54.]
1851. Rendition in Boston:Liberator, April 17 and 18, 1851; Daily Morning Chronicle, April 26, 1851; Twentieth Annual Report of Mass. Antislavery Society, 1855, p. 19; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 333; New England Magazine, June, 1890; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 16; Trial of Sims, Arguments by R. Rantoul, Jr. and C. G. Loring; C. F. Adams, Richard Henry Dana, I. 185-301.
48. Shadrach Case. [§ 57.]
1851, Feb. Rendition in Boston: Liberator, Feb. 21, May 30, 1851; Cong. Globe, 31 Cong. 2 Sess., Appendix, 238, 295, 510; Von Holst, III. 21; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 10; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 329; New England Magazine, May, 1890; Boston Traveller, Feb. 15, 1851; Boston Courier, Feb. 17, 1851; Washington National Era, Feb. 27, 1851; Statesman’s Manual, III. 1919.
49. Christiana Case. [§ 60.]
1851, Sept. Riot in Christiana: Parker’s account, The Freedman’s Story, T. W. Higginson, Atlantic Monthly, Feb. and March, 1866; U. S. v. Hanway, Treason, 247; Smedley, Underground Railroad, 105, 107, 130, 223; May, Fugitive Slave Law, 14; Lunsford Lane, 114; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 324; History of the Trial of Castner Hanway and others for Treason; N. Y. Tribune, Sept. 12, 1851, and Nov. 26 to Dec. 12; Greeley, American Conflict, I. 215; National Antislavery Standard, Sept. 18, 1851; Lowell Journal, Sept. 19, 1851; Boston Daily Traveller, Sept. 12, 1851; Still, Underground Railroad, 348.
50. Miller. [§ 61.]
1851, Nov. Mr. Miller murdered: Liberator, Feb. 4, 1853; Lunsford Lane, 113; May, Fugitive Slave Law, 15; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 324.
51. Jerry Case. [§ 58.]
1851, Oct. Rescue in Syracuse, N. Y.: Liberator, Oct. 10 to 17, 1851; Life of Gerrit Smith, 117; Trial of H. W. Allen, 3; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 327.
52. Parker Rescue
1851, Dec. 31. Rescue by Mr. Miller: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 324; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 15; Liberator, 1853, Feb. 4; Lunsford Lane, 113.
53. Brig Florence
1853. Rescue of slave on board by Mr. Bearse: Bearse, Reminiscences of Fugitive Slave Days in Boston, 34.
54. Lewis Case
1853. Escape of Lewis from trial: Liberator, Oct. 28, 1853.
55. Glover Case
1854. Joshua Glover rescued by a mob at Milwaukee: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, 444; Liberator, April 7, 24, 1854.
56. Bath
1854. Escape to Canada from ship from Florida: Liberator, Oct. 6, 1854.
57. Burns Case. [§ 55.]
1854. Rendition in Boston: Liberator, May, June, 1854, Aug. 22, 1861; Kidnapping of Burns, Scrapbook collected by Theo. Parker; Personal Statement of Mr. Elbridge Sprague, N. Abington; Accounts in Boston Journal, May 27, 29, 1854; Daily Advertiser, May 26, 29, June 7, 8, July 17; Traveller, May 27, 29, June 2, 3, 6, 10, July 15, 18, Oct. 3, Nov. 29, Dec. 5, 7, 1854, April 3, 4, 10, 11, 1855; Evening Gazette, May 27, 1854; Worcester Spy, May 31; Argument of Mr. R. H. Dana; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 256; Clarke, Antislavery Days, 87; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 435, Stevens, History of Anthony Burns; Greeley, American Conflict I. 218, New York Tribune, May 26, 1854; Liberator, June 2, 9, 16, 1854; Von Holst VI. 62, Garrisons’ Garrison, II. 201, III. 409; C. F. Adams, Dana, I. 262-330.
58. Garner56
1856. Rendition of a family in Ohio: Liberator, Feb. 8, 22, 29, 1856; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 37; Lunsford Lane, 119; Greeley, American Conflict, I. 219, Lalor’s Cyclopædia, I. 207; Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 446, 447.
59. Williamson Case
1856, Jan. Prosecution for aiding fugitives: Wilson, Rise and Fall of the Slave Power, II. 448; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 9, 34; Annual Report of American Antislavery Society, N. Y., May 7, 1856, p. 24; Narrative of the Facts in the Case of Passmore Williamson, Penn. Antislavery Society.
60. Johnson Case
1856, July 16. Rescue of slave on ship from Mobile: Liberator, July 18, 1856.
61. Gatchell Case
1857, Jan. Rendition of Philip Young: Chambers, Slavery and Color; Fugitive Slave Law, Appendix, 197.
62. Oberlin-Wellington Case59
1858. Rescue at Wellington: Liberator, Jan. 28, April 29, May 6, June 3, June 10, 1859; Shepherd, Oberlin-Wellington Rescue; Lunsford Lane, 179, Anglo-African Magazine (Oberlin-Wellington Rescue), 209; May, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims, 108.
63. John Brown’s Raid. [§ 62.]
1858. Raid in Missouri: Sanborn, Life and Letters of John Brown, 420; Von Holst, John Brown, 104.
64. Nalle Case
1859, April 28. Rescue of Charles Nalle by a mob: Bradford, Harriet, the Moses of her People, Appendix, 143; Liberator, May 4, 1860.
65. Anderson Case. [§ 23.]
1860. Extradition case between U. S. and Canada: Liberator, Dec. 3, 1860; Pamphlets on Anderson Case, Boston Public Library; Life of Gerrit Smith, 15; Liberator, Jan. 22, 1861.
66. Wisdom Case. [§ 91.]
1861. Rendition by army officers: Liberator, July 19, 1861.
67. Major Sherwood’s Servant. [§ 91.]
1861. Rendition ordered in army: Liberator, July 19, 1861.
68. Norfolk Case
1863. Kidnapping by N. Y. Volunteers: Liberator, March 27, 1863.
69. Archer Alexander
1863. Fugitive during the war: Archer Alexander.