Letter from John Booton from 1851
- Containers:
- Box 1, Folder 18
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Letter from John Booton from 1851 about escaped enslaved persons from Virginia and the battle that ensued over them being arrested and the free Black persons and abolitionists that got involved and were ready to fight for them, really fantastic: "We had a great excitement here last Monday on account of the arrest of some runaway negroes from Virginia. There were warrants issued for the arrest of five fugitives. Two of them were taken at Robstown on the Loughegheny River, but the free blacks and abolitionists raised a mob, rescued the slaves and cut some of the officers. Two others were arrested in Brownsville and after creating a good deal of excitement were brought to Uniontown for trial. After they had been lodged in jail news came that there was a considerable body of armed negroes headed by one or two abolitionists coming from Brownsville to attempt a rescue. In hearing this the sheriff ordered out the military to maintain the laws. A part of the darkies reported to be coming, come in town one at a time. Finding the soldiers ready and anxious for a fight they left town without ceremony. Money was raised to indemnify the owners and the slaves set at liberty."
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Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem LibraryCollege of William and Mary400 Landrum DrivePO 8795Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
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