Episodes Nearest to October 27, 1851: 1 through 25 of 25
- The Cotton Planter's Convention at Macon and its Broader Implications
October 27, 1851
MACON, Georgia
Agriculture, Economy, PoliticsThe 1851 Cotton Planter's Convention in Macon, GA brought together 261 cotton farmers, who were agitated by recent criticisms of their economic practices. More importantly, Charles Goethe Baylor came to the Convention to address the planters while on temporary leave from his position as the United States consul at Amsterdam. The merchants of Amsterdam had authorized him to tender cash advances,...
- The Campaign of Louis Kossuth and the Slavery Question
October 20, 1851
NEW YORK, New York
Slavery, Abolition, The New York Times, Louis KossuthIn 1851, Hungarian revolutionary Louis Kossuth became an international celebrity who found himself trapped in the divisive slavery politics of the United States. He gained notoriety worldwide as a brilliant crusader for the liberty of his country, and upon announcing a tour around the United States to enlist support for his cause, Kossuth was met with the enthusiasm of the American media. The New...
- George Wythe Randolph Moves his Business
November 5, 1851
BUCKINGHAM, Virginia
Agriculture, Economy, Migration/TransportationIn a letter dated November 5, 1851, George Wythe Randolph wrote to his brother Dr. Benjamin F. Randolph concerning the relocation of his, to that point, profitable business. At the time of this particular correspondence, George was in Richmond, Virginia and he was writing back home to Buckingham County, where Benjamin had established himself as a prudent physician and a prosperous community member....
- Slave Runs Away from Harsh Master
November, 1851
GREENSVILLE, Virginia
African-Americans, Race-Relations, SlaveryIn November 1851, a 36-year-old slave by the name of Charles was reported missing. Charles' abrupt disappearance enraged his master, John C. Kerric. On November 22, 1851, Kerric wrote an impassioned letter to his friend, Robert T. Hubard, describing his unfortunate situation. Kerric explained that Charles ran away and was purchased by a plantation owner on the "other side of the mountain." He...
- Abolitionists Free Suspected Runaway Slave
October 4, 1851
ONONDAGA, New York
Abolitionism, Abolitionist violence, ViolenceOn Wednesday October 4, 1851, Syracuse city police, led by Deputy U.S. Marshall Allen, arrested an African American man by the name of Jerry McHenry. John M. Reynolds of Marion County, Indiana, claimed McHenry to be his slave, and as a result, McHenry was taken into custody as a runaway slave and set for trial. However, Reynolds would soon be surprised by an unexpected turn of events that neither...
- European Tastes in the Antebellum South
November 20, 1851
CLARKE, Georgia
Arts/LeisureIn November of 1851 the Athens Southern Banner announced that a famous French musician, Monsieur Andrieu, would be giving three concerts in Athens. The newspaper encouraged Athenians to attend saying that Andreiu was well received in Charleston and Augusta where he had been performing. The announcement also told Athenians that the accompanist would, give imitations of the great Prima Donnas...
- This episode discusses is a specific event that occurred due to the establishment of the Fugitive Slave Laws in the 1850s called the Jerry Rescue.
October 1, 1851
OSWEGO, New York
Jerry Rescue, Fugitive Slave Law, SlaveryWilliam “Jerry” Henry was a Missouri slave during this time period. He grew tired of the brutality and sought freedom in the north. He successfully escaped from Missouri and went to Syracuse, New York, which was a popular immigration city. He lived and worked in the city for a while, but in October 1852, U.S. Marshal Allen arrested him. The officer tricked him into cooperating by saying he was...
- Christiana Riot Trial for Treason
November 24, 1851
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania
Fugitive Slave Act, Christiana, RiotThe slave owner Edward Gorsuch traveled to Pennsylvania, along with several men, two of whom were federal marshals, to retrieve six of his slaves that had escaped from his plantation years earlier. Gorsuch planned to confront William Parker, the owner of a tenant house, about harboring his fugitive slaves. An altercation between the two groups of people developed and Gorsuch was killed during...
- Measure to Prohibit the Introduction of Slaves for Sale Into Georgia
November, 1851 to December, 1851
BALDWIN, Georgia
Economy, Government, Politics, SlaveryIn 1851, Mr. McDougald introduced a bill to the Georgia legislature that would have banned further importation of slaves for sale into the state. The purpose of the bill was supposedly to ensure the survival of slavery in the state, but it was largely opposed. People disagreed on the real intentions of the bill, and on what the consequences of it would be. The Georgia Telegraph called the...
- Southern Benefits from the Compromise of 1850
September 5, 1851
BARNWELL, South Carolina
Government, Law, Politics, SlaveryThe North and South had reached a stalemate, the compromise measures had been debated for over ten months. Finally, an agreement was reached. In September of 1850 the provisions that would become the Compromise of 1850 were passed. About a year later, on September 5, 1851, Winchester Graham, a representative from South Carolina, gave a speech in Barnwell, S.C. that defended his support of the...
- Impact of Religion in New England Education
December 2, 1851 to January 2, 1852
PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts
Educational System, Religion, Puritan EducationIn New England, the Puritans required every town to establish public schools supported by all families. After settling in the United States, the first buildings they constructed were a house of worship and a school. This exemplifies that education and religion were the two most important beliefs that the Puritans held. According to New England First Fruits, “After God… reared convenient places...
- A la Mode
May 6, 1851 to 1851
ROCKBRIDGE, Virginia
Arts/Leisure, Urban-Life/Boosterism, WomenOn May 6, 1951, John P. Lightner of Rockbridge County received a letter from his traveling cousin. The author of the letter was finally able to see what city life was like He described Fifth Street as being packed; everywhere he looked he saw merchants with small stands trying to sell veggies, fowl, and more flowers than one could possibly imagine. That night, he bought tickets for six dollars each,...
- Bringing Women's Education Close to Home
January 8, 1852
CLARKE, Georgia
Economy, Education, Migration/Transportation, WomenAn Old Citizen of Athens, as he called himself, wrote an editorial for the Southern Banner in January 1852 complaining about the way Athenians were educating their daughters. He argued that instead of sending their daughters to large overgrown establishment outside of Athens, they should take advantage of the good teachers and schools available closer to home. There are two advantages that this...
- A Pennsylvania Court Convicts Under the Fugitive Slave Law
August 8, 1851
MARSHALL, Mississippi
African-Americans, Crime/Violence, Law, Migration/Transportation, Race-Relations, SlaveryAs the news of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 reached Holly Springs, Mississippi, the citizens were very anxious to see how the North would uphold the laws. The law stated that if one captures a fugitive slave, it is the responsibility of the law enforcement and citizens to aide in the returning of those slaves to their rightful owners. The people of Mississippi knew that slaves would attempt...
- Cotton Planters Convention
July 26, 1851
LEON, Florida
Agriculture, EconomyThe Cotton farmers of Florida came together in hopes of stabilizing pricing and markets. Judge Broome was the chairman of this convention and created the report which was used to analyze Cotton production and output. They came to the conclusion that a price minimum was essential and blamed irregular output for their pricing problems. This convention sparked interest in other southern cotton growing...
- U.S. Marshall Protected by Fugitive Slave Act
October 1, 1851 to June 21, 1852
ONONDAGA, New York
Crime/Violence, Economy, Law, Slavery, Urban Life/Boosterism, SlaveryIn 1851, United States Deputy Marshall Henry W. Allen arrested freed slave William Henry in Syracuse, New York. Allen claimed Henry was a fugitive slave from Missouri. Though Henry was temporarily aided in escaping by local abolitionists, Marshall Allen and police arrested William Henry. This arrest happened in a brutal manner and William Henry was "excessively bruized in the struggle and was taken...
- Adoption of an Ordinance in Marietta
February 13, 1852
COBB, Georgia
African-Americans, Government, Law, Migration/Transportation, Slavery, WomenJenny, an African American woman residing in Marietta, Georgia, desperately wanted to move. In 1852, the local government of Marietta passed an ordinance against negroes hiring out their own time or living on lots to themselves. This new law was greatly at odds with Jenny's current living situation. Jenny believed that under the law she would no longer prosper at her current residence. Faced...
- Mob Expels Wesleyan Minister for Abolitionist Agitation
May 18, 1851 to August 15, 1851
GUILFORD, North Carolina
African-Americans, Church/Religious-Activity, Crime/Violence, Race-Relations, SlaveryThe mob had made up its mind. Wesleyan Methodist preacher Jesse McBride had stirred too much controversy among whites and slaves in Guilford County. Intending to run McBride out of the county, about two-hundred men gathered on May 23, 1851 outside of the church where he would preach that morning. For six hours McBride had been on the road, not finishing the 18 mile journey to his Liberty Hill...
- The Implications of Racist Railroad Policies
1851
MACON, Georgia
African-Americans, Migration/Transportation, Race-Relations, SlaveryThe Macon and Western Railroad adopted a new policy in 1851 which prohibited all black people, regardless of their freed or enslaved status, from boarding any train unless they could prove the legitimacy of their travel. All African Americans had to have a written pass issued by the individual's owner or trustee. The office and the conductor both required a copy of it, and if the office was...
- A Woman's Worth
1851
AUGUSTA, Virginia
African-Americans, Race-Relations, Slavery, WomenWhen reading novels from nineteenth century, one often sees an overbearing mother whose only joy in life is finding suitable matches for her infinite number of daughters. In these stories, the daughter does not normally have much, if any, say as to whom she will wed. On Tuesday October 25, 1851, Mary Jane Boggs Holladay of Virginia was busy in preparation for her marriage. She was confronted with...
- Contraception of the 1840's and 1850's
1851
AUGUSTA, Virginia
Health/Death, WomenNEW EDITION OF DR WEISSELHOFF'S SCIENTIFIC WORK ON THE SUBJECT OF CHILD-BIRTH screamed an ad in Lexington's The Valley Star. The proclamation, which ran on Thursday, February 26, 1849, advertised a new book containing insights into birth control. Years before John Stuart Mill and his wife handed out condoms in a London subway, this paper in a small Virginia town danced around the issue a...
- A Good Christian
1851
AUGUSTA, Virginia
Church/Religious-Activity, WomenAs a sociable southerner, one expected certain attributes from you: manners, dress that suited your means, Christianity. Although Mary Jane Holladay wrote in her diary that it was her constant prayer that she should be able to please her husband and have a loving marriage, she was quite anxious when it came to religion. In her opinion, it was better to spend time wrestling with and testing her faith...
- Seed Planted for Central Park
1851
NEW YORK, New York
Arts/Leisure, Health/Death, Politics, Urban-Life/BoosterismIn 1851, a journalist put into words an ideology that would start a new trend in urban development. He proposed the construction of a huge public park that would "be enjoyed by thousands of all classes, without distinction." The ideals of Romanticism and the Republican view of the importance of nature were at a peak among educated Americans at this time and this commentator proposed a way to manifest...
- Abolitionism Takes a Whipping in Virginia
1851
GRAYSON, Virginia
Abolition, Vigilance CommitteeAll that John Gornith heard as he stood tied to an oak tree in the Virginia woods was the crack of the whip. In 1851, the Vigilance Committee of Grayson County, Virginia arrested Gornith for spreading abolitionist propaganda. The Committee forced Gornith, a friend of an Ohio abolitionist, to renounce his abolitionist sentiments and leave the state, but not before tying him to a tree to "receive...
- Doctor C.K. Winston and the University of Nashville Medical School
March 13, 1852
DAVIDSON, Tennessee
Health/Death, EducationDoctors C.K. and J.D. Winston declared their services available to the people of Nashville on March 13, 1852. The two doctors provided both the practice of general medicine and surgery. The advertisement gave the locations of their offices, the first on Cherry Street and the second out of Doctor J.D. Winston's home on Vine Street. Doctor C.K. Winston gained significant praise in the medical...