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Jerry Rescue
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Jerry Rescue
The Jerry Rescue occurred on October 1, 1851, and involved the public rescue of a fugitive slave who had been arrested the same day in Syracuse, New York, during the anti-slavery Liberty Party's state convention. The escaped slave was William Henry, a 40-year-old cooper from Missouri whose slave name was "Jerry."
New York was sympathetic to slaves because it was a free state, and a number of abolitionists lived in the area. Syracuse became an active center for the abolitionist movement due in large part to the influence of Gerrit Smith, from Madison County, and a group allied with him, mostly associated with the Unitarian Church and their pastor, Reverend Samuel May, in Syracuse, as well as Quakers in nearby Skaneateles, supported by abolitionists in many other religious congregations. Other prominent abolitionists from the area were Frederick Douglass, Matilda Joslyn Gage, John W. Jones, William Marks and Harriet Tubman. Prior to the Civil War, due to the work of Reverend Jermain Wesley Loguen (a fugitive slave himself) and others in defiance of federal law, Syracuse became known as the "great central depot on the Underground Railroad." Its central location meant that many slaves passed through while traveling to freedom in Canada.
In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed by the United States Congress. W. Freeman Galpin wrote in the journal New York History that passage of the law "touched Syracuse to the quick". Prominent abolitionists in Syracuse joined in protest of the law, including Samuel May. May organised two protests of the law in October. An event in January 1851 featured George Thompson, a British abolitionist, as a speaker. In May, the American Anti-Slavery Society held a meeting in Syracuse, which was attended by William Lloyd Garrison.
On May 26, Secretary of State Daniel Webster visited the city. He spoke at Frazee Hall for two hours and warned that the Fugitive Slave Law would be enforced even "here in Syracuse in the midst of the next Anti-Slavery Convention, if the occasion shall arise."
William Henry, who would later call himself Jerry, was born into slavery in North Carolina in 1811 by a slave named Ciel on the property of their owner, William Henry, in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Ciel came to be in William Henry's possession when he inherited her through marriage of a widow from the nearby McReynolds family. Although there is no documentation to prove so, "Jerry, with his red hair and light skin tone, was most likely the son of William Henry". In 1818, when Jerry was seven years old, William Henry pursued manifest destiny and moved his operations to the town of Hannibal in Marion County, Missouri. Here Jerry would grow up and hone his skills as a carpenter and a cooper. Jerry was especially known for his skill crafting chairs.
In 1843 Jerry fled from Missouri. Although Jerry's initial destination is unknown, it is speculated that he found himself in the Illinois town of Quincy, only twelve miles north of William Henry's residence in Hannibal. Although Jerry's exact escape route has been lost to history, there is evidence that he evaded capture twice, once in Chicago, Illinois, and also in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Due to these failed captures, his owner, and presumed father, William Henry, sold off the rights to Jerry to Thomas Miller for $400. As this sale had taken place after the Fugitive Slave Act had passed, it enabled Miller to more effectively continue the search to return Jerry to slavery.
In the winter of 1849/1850, Jerry arrived in Syracuse. Through his travels, he had heard of anti-slavery nature that the community of Syracuse fostered and desired to make a home there, rather than continuing his journey to Canada. Jerry was able to find work under Charles F. Williston as a cabinet maker. Shortly into his employment, Williston's shop workmen's committee declared that if Jerry was employed there, they would leave. However, Williston stood by Jerry and would eventually refer to Jerry as "a favorite". In 1851, Jerry made the decision to leave Williston's shop and work at Morrell's cooperage in order to make better wages.
Although Jerry would establish himself in various establishments of the community, such as the church of Samuel J. May's Unitarian Church, he was still mistreated by members of the community. Jerry was frequently arrested for crimes such as theft and assault and battery ("as a result of his heated relationship with Sarah Colwell"), of which he was never guilty. As a result, Jerry knew better than to struggle and would clear whatever legal trouble he was in after his arrest. However, Jerry was not aware that his ownership had been purchased by William Henry's stepson John McReynolds for $400. With the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 on McReynolds' side, he had every intention of retrieving Jerry.
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Jerry Rescue
The Jerry Rescue occurred on October 1, 1851, and involved the public rescue of a fugitive slave who had been arrested the same day in Syracuse, New York, during the anti-slavery Liberty Party's state convention. The escaped slave was William Henry, a 40-year-old cooper from Missouri whose slave name was "Jerry."
New York was sympathetic to slaves because it was a free state, and a number of abolitionists lived in the area. Syracuse became an active center for the abolitionist movement due in large part to the influence of Gerrit Smith, from Madison County, and a group allied with him, mostly associated with the Unitarian Church and their pastor, Reverend Samuel May, in Syracuse, as well as Quakers in nearby Skaneateles, supported by abolitionists in many other religious congregations. Other prominent abolitionists from the area were Frederick Douglass, Matilda Joslyn Gage, John W. Jones, William Marks and Harriet Tubman. Prior to the Civil War, due to the work of Reverend Jermain Wesley Loguen (a fugitive slave himself) and others in defiance of federal law, Syracuse became known as the "great central depot on the Underground Railroad." Its central location meant that many slaves passed through while traveling to freedom in Canada.
In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed by the United States Congress. W. Freeman Galpin wrote in the journal New York History that passage of the law "touched Syracuse to the quick". Prominent abolitionists in Syracuse joined in protest of the law, including Samuel May. May organised two protests of the law in October. An event in January 1851 featured George Thompson, a British abolitionist, as a speaker. In May, the American Anti-Slavery Society held a meeting in Syracuse, which was attended by William Lloyd Garrison.
On May 26, Secretary of State Daniel Webster visited the city. He spoke at Frazee Hall for two hours and warned that the Fugitive Slave Law would be enforced even "here in Syracuse in the midst of the next Anti-Slavery Convention, if the occasion shall arise."
William Henry, who would later call himself Jerry, was born into slavery in North Carolina in 1811 by a slave named Ciel on the property of their owner, William Henry, in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Ciel came to be in William Henry's possession when he inherited her through marriage of a widow from the nearby McReynolds family. Although there is no documentation to prove so, "Jerry, with his red hair and light skin tone, was most likely the son of William Henry". In 1818, when Jerry was seven years old, William Henry pursued manifest destiny and moved his operations to the town of Hannibal in Marion County, Missouri. Here Jerry would grow up and hone his skills as a carpenter and a cooper. Jerry was especially known for his skill crafting chairs.
In 1843 Jerry fled from Missouri. Although Jerry's initial destination is unknown, it is speculated that he found himself in the Illinois town of Quincy, only twelve miles north of William Henry's residence in Hannibal. Although Jerry's exact escape route has been lost to history, there is evidence that he evaded capture twice, once in Chicago, Illinois, and also in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Due to these failed captures, his owner, and presumed father, William Henry, sold off the rights to Jerry to Thomas Miller for $400. As this sale had taken place after the Fugitive Slave Act had passed, it enabled Miller to more effectively continue the search to return Jerry to slavery.
In the winter of 1849/1850, Jerry arrived in Syracuse. Through his travels, he had heard of anti-slavery nature that the community of Syracuse fostered and desired to make a home there, rather than continuing his journey to Canada. Jerry was able to find work under Charles F. Williston as a cabinet maker. Shortly into his employment, Williston's shop workmen's committee declared that if Jerry was employed there, they would leave. However, Williston stood by Jerry and would eventually refer to Jerry as "a favorite". In 1851, Jerry made the decision to leave Williston's shop and work at Morrell's cooperage in order to make better wages.
Although Jerry would establish himself in various establishments of the community, such as the church of Samuel J. May's Unitarian Church, he was still mistreated by members of the community. Jerry was frequently arrested for crimes such as theft and assault and battery ("as a result of his heated relationship with Sarah Colwell"), of which he was never guilty. As a result, Jerry knew better than to struggle and would clear whatever legal trouble he was in after his arrest. However, Jerry was not aware that his ownership had been purchased by William Henry's stepson John McReynolds for $400. With the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 on McReynolds' side, he had every intention of retrieving Jerry.