|
|
|
Home > Politics > History > Thomas Garrett and Delaware’s Underground Railroad
|
|
|
|
Thomas Garrett and Delaware’s Underground Railroad
|
|
The Underground Railroad’s last stop in the slave-holding state of
Delaware was located on Shipley Street in Wilmington at the home of a
Quaker merchant named Thomas Garrett. Over 2,700 runaway slaves were
given safe harbor there before making their way to the free states of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Garrett’s passionate commitment to the abolition of slavery would cost
him a great deal over the course of his life. Maryland authorities went
so far as to offer $10,000.00 for his arrest. In 1848 federal court
fines bankrupted him, forcing him accept the charity of his
abolitionist friends to stay in business. During the Civil War his life
was in constant danger so that he had to be guarded by African-American
volunteers. But throughout his trials, Garrett never wavered from his
principled stand again the evils of slavery.
Though Thomas Garret is today recognized as one of Delaware’s most
honored citizens, he was in fact born in Upper Darby Pennsylvania in
August of 1789. Garrett’s parents instilled in him a respect for human
freedom at an early age by hiding runaway slaves on the family farm.
When Garrett was a young man a family servant was kidnapped and forced
into slavery. Garrett managed to track the family’s friend and employ
down and affect an escape, but the incident left an indelible
impression.
He moved to Wilmington, Delaware in 1822, but his personal convictions
and deep commitment to his Quaker religious beliefs put him at odds
with the state’s pro-slavery stance. It was only a few years before
Garrett once again resumed his efforts to aid escaped slaves. For the
next 40 years he did everything in his power to do so.
In 1848 Garrett and fellow abolitionist John Hunn were convicted of
aiding the Hawkins family in their escape from slavery in Maryland. The
sentence, a bank-breaking fine that would leave both men virtually
penniless, was handed down in the New Castle, Delaware courthouse by US
Chief Justice Roger Taney. After the sentence was read and unrepentant
Garrett gave an impassioned speech so moving that even a slave-holding
juror offered him his hand, “I say to thee and to all in this court
room, that if anyone knows a fugitive who wants shelter” he said “send
him to Thomas Garrett and he will befriend him."
Garrett continued to fight against inequality even after the end of the
Civil War, acting as an advocate for the rights of former slaves. When
the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870, giving African-Americans the
right to vote, Garrett was paraded through the streets by his grateful
supporters. Some went as far as to refer to him as “out Moses”.
On January 25th of 1871 Thomas Garrett died. His funeral, attended by
friends from all walks of life, including many he aided in their fight
for freedom. Garrett's coffin was borne from shoulder to shoulder to
his final resting place in the cemetery at the Wilmington Friends
Meeting House at 4th and West Streets in Quaker Hill.
|
|
|
Please Rate this Article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partner sites: Noi
That, Dien thoai di dong, Du
lich, Thoi trang, Quản
lý cổ đông, Quan Ly Nha Hang,
Phan mem, Phan
mem, Phan mem viet nam
Phần mềm nhà hàng, Quản
lý nhà hàng, Diễn đàn ngân hàng,
Download phần mềm, Free
Article, Article Business, Global
in arm, Article Nutrition
article Confederation, Article
Find, Article News, Articles
Find, Article health, Article
Marketing
Phần mềm nhân sự Phần mềm bán hàng Phần mềm Khách sạn Quản lý khách sạn
Phần mềm diệt virus Download Firefox |Giấy Dán Tường | Giấy Dán Tường | Nội Thất Xuân Hòa| Nội Thất Hòa Phát| Nội thất 190 | Nội thất văn phòng | Bồn tắm cao cấp | Tủ bếp | Tủ bếp | Ván sàn gỗ tự nhiên | Rèm văn phòng | Giàn phơi thông minh | Thảm sàn | Thảm trải phòng | Thảm trải văn phòng | Trần thạch cao | Nội thất phòng khách | Thiết kế nhà | Giấy dán tường hàn quốc | Tủ bếp | Nội thất hòa phát | Nội thất xuân hòa | Rèm văn phòng | Giấy dán tường | nội thất hòa phát | Gan nhiễm mỡ | Tủ bếp đẹp | Vật liệu xây dựng | Vật liệu xây dựng hà nội | eglo | ván sàn | nội thất fami | Nội thất fami | Xuân hòa | Trần thạch cao | Thiết bị vệ sinh | Nội Thất Văn Phòng | Đèn Trang Trí | Thảm văn phòng | oto tải | Thiết kế xây nhà | Kiến Trúc | Đèn trang tríHoa trang trí | Sofa da | Sofa gỗ |
| Giấy dán tường| Giấy dán tường đẹp | Bàn để laptop | Học lái xe Học lái xe | Oto tai
|Exchange sites: Contact Us (email: redbluevn@yahoo.co.uk)
|
|