Person Information
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George A Washington
Birth: 1822
Death: unknown
Biography
"George Washington escaped from slavery in South Carolina, only to find himself in prison for burglary in Auburn, New York. But, in 1854, when slave catchers tried to return him to slavery under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act, William Titus and Col. Lewis, wardens of Auburn Prison, delivered him instead to Underground Railroad activists, who took him to safety in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. " France Seward wrote to her son Augustus describing the events in a letter from March 28, 1853-
"We came very near having a riot here last Sunday from the attempt of a Southern master to take a fugitive whose time in the State Prison expired that day– he was imprisoned for burglary 10 years ago– some of the Prison officials in- formed the master who em- ployed the Marshall to secure his property– A large number of persons from the country and adjoining towns met to resist the capture– By the good man- agement of some of our citizens all violence was prevented The man was released from the prison at an early hour while the Marshall was convinced by the war- like demonstration made by the people that any action on his part would uselessly endanger his life– The fugitive was taken by his friends and I hope is by this time in the Queen’s dominions– So much for the Nebraska bill– Should it pass the house the spirit of the North will not slumber–"
Letter References
Citations
"George Washington escaped from slavery in South Carolina, only to find himself in prison for burglary in Auburn, New York. But, in 1854, when slave catchers tried to return him to slavery under the terms of the Fugitive Slave Act, William Titus and Col. Lewis, wardens of Auburn Prison, delivered him instead to Underground Railroad activists, who took him to safety in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. " France Seward wrote to her son Augustus describing the events in a letter from March 28, 1853-
"We came very near having a riot here last Sunday from the attempt of a Southern master to take a fugitive whose time in the State Prison expired that day– he was imprisoned for burglary 10 years ago– some of the Prison officials in- formed the master who em- ployed the Marshall to secure his property– A large number of persons from the country and adjoining towns met to resist the capture– By the good man- agement of some of our citizens all violence was prevented The man was released from the prison at an early hour while the Marshall was convinced by the war- like demonstration made by the people that any action on his part would uselessly endanger his life– The fugitive was taken by his friends and I hope is by this time in the Queen’s dominions– So much for the Nebraska bill– Should it pass the house the spirit of the North will not slumber–"