The Underground Railroad
(Photo courtesy of Scholastic.com)
(Map courtesy of Government of Canada Digital Collections)
The history and origination of the Underground Railroad is difficult to determine. By its very nature it required great secrecy, and there were few written records. As early as 1786 George Washington noted the common practice of Quakers in Philadelphia aiding runaway slaves. He believed that if the practice was not stopped, anyone visiting Philadelphia with a slave would run the risk of losing the slave.
Although many sites can claim to be the birthplace of the Underground Railroad, the only city built for the sole intent of aiding runaway slaves was Columbia, Pennsylvania. Columbia, which was laid out by Samuel Wright in 1787, had the northeast corner of the municipality set aside for manumitted slaves. By 1804 the practice of assisting slaves was so prominent in Columbia that many people believe that Columbia was the birth of the Underground Railroad.
As with the origin of the Underground Railroad, the actual number of slaves who reached freedom will never be known. After the war several southern politicians estimated the number between 30,000 and 100,000. However, one must take into account that these numbers were given as part of a treaty attempt with Canada to recoup millions of dollars in lost slave property. In 1864 the Freedman’s Inquiry Commission estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 slaves reached Canada between 1860 and 1864. In 1852 the Anti-Slavery Society of Toronto determined the black population of Canada to be 30,000. However, the Canadian Census of 1860 only lists 11,000 blacks living there.
There were several areas where runaway slaves sought refuge. At first slaves intended to reach one of the Northern states where slavery was no longer practiced. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 changed that. Although the destination changed to Canada, Mexico was also an alternative. The Freedman’s Inquiry Commission Report of 1864 stated that Mexico became a goal of runaways as early as the War of 1812. However, in 1772, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield of Great Britain stated that any slave reaching British soil would automatically be set free. At the time, Canada was part of Great Britain.
The Underground Railroad was organized around many of the same principles and terminology of a real railroad. Slaves would make their way to safe havens referred to as “depots” or “station houses.” Those individuals helping slaves along the Underground Railroad were referred to as “conductors.” The owners of the safe houses were referred to as “agents”. Interestingly, William Goodridge would have been considered both a conductor and an agent.
The depots, or station houses, were located about ten to twenty miles apart, the average distance an escaping slave could reasonably travel during the night. Once the slave arrived at the depot, a knock on the door or a tap at the window after sundown would gain admittance. Between depots slaves were frequently hidden in wagons. Other methods of travel included waterways (in canoes, skiffs and schooners), on foot and even on railways. Note that William Goodridge owned several rail cars reportedly used for transporting runaway slaves. One of the most famous stories of an escaping slave involves Henry “Box” Brown, who mailed himself in a wooden container. While at the depot, the slave could hide outside in the woods, or in barns or in secret rooms hidden under the floorboards of the house.
Although many sites can claim to be the birthplace of the Underground Railroad, the only city built for the sole intent of aiding runaway slaves was Columbia, Pennsylvania. Columbia, which was laid out by Samuel Wright in 1787, had the northeast corner of the municipality set aside for manumitted slaves. By 1804 the practice of assisting slaves was so prominent in Columbia that many people believe that Columbia was the birth of the Underground Railroad.
As with the origin of the Underground Railroad, the actual number of slaves who reached freedom will never be known. After the war several southern politicians estimated the number between 30,000 and 100,000. However, one must take into account that these numbers were given as part of a treaty attempt with Canada to recoup millions of dollars in lost slave property. In 1864 the Freedman’s Inquiry Commission estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 slaves reached Canada between 1860 and 1864. In 1852 the Anti-Slavery Society of Toronto determined the black population of Canada to be 30,000. However, the Canadian Census of 1860 only lists 11,000 blacks living there.
There were several areas where runaway slaves sought refuge. At first slaves intended to reach one of the Northern states where slavery was no longer practiced. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 changed that. Although the destination changed to Canada, Mexico was also an alternative. The Freedman’s Inquiry Commission Report of 1864 stated that Mexico became a goal of runaways as early as the War of 1812. However, in 1772, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield of Great Britain stated that any slave reaching British soil would automatically be set free. At the time, Canada was part of Great Britain.
The Underground Railroad was organized around many of the same principles and terminology of a real railroad. Slaves would make their way to safe havens referred to as “depots” or “station houses.” Those individuals helping slaves along the Underground Railroad were referred to as “conductors.” The owners of the safe houses were referred to as “agents”. Interestingly, William Goodridge would have been considered both a conductor and an agent.
The depots, or station houses, were located about ten to twenty miles apart, the average distance an escaping slave could reasonably travel during the night. Once the slave arrived at the depot, a knock on the door or a tap at the window after sundown would gain admittance. Between depots slaves were frequently hidden in wagons. Other methods of travel included waterways (in canoes, skiffs and schooners), on foot and even on railways. Note that William Goodridge owned several rail cars reportedly used for transporting runaway slaves. One of the most famous stories of an escaping slave involves Henry “Box” Brown, who mailed himself in a wooden container. While at the depot, the slave could hide outside in the woods, or in barns or in secret rooms hidden under the floorboards of the house.
The Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania
(Map courtesy of William J. Switala, The Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania)
There were three principal Underground Railroad routes that ran through Pennsylvania. The Eastern Route involved York, Lancaster, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties. The Central Route began in Adams and Fulton Counties and proceeded through Cumberland and Dauphin Counties. The Western Route, utilized primarily by slaves who had passed through Virginia, Ohio or Maryland ultimately led through Clearfield, Indiana or Pittsburgh.
One of the routes extended from Gettysburg through York and Wrightsville to Columbia. Slaves may have used the Lincoln Highway (US Route 30) during the night as it was a major highway linking Philadelphia with the counties of southern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Another route extended from York Springs to Columbia. The third route is from Hanover to Columbia, although the details of this route are unknown. The final route was from Dover, Delaware to Middletown, Pennsylvania.
The City of York had an extensive Underground Railroad system. The most prominent people were Joel Fisher, Samuel Willis and William Goodridge. William Yokum, the local chief constable, was an invaluable asset to the York members of the Underground Railroad. Goodridge would arrange with a black teamster, Cato Jourdan to carry them in his wagon across the bridge over the Susquehanna River to Columbia. Many refugees would find safe haven in rotie’s Row, a primarily black section of York.
One of the routes extended from Gettysburg through York and Wrightsville to Columbia. Slaves may have used the Lincoln Highway (US Route 30) during the night as it was a major highway linking Philadelphia with the counties of southern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Another route extended from York Springs to Columbia. The third route is from Hanover to Columbia, although the details of this route are unknown. The final route was from Dover, Delaware to Middletown, Pennsylvania.
The City of York had an extensive Underground Railroad system. The most prominent people were Joel Fisher, Samuel Willis and William Goodridge. William Yokum, the local chief constable, was an invaluable asset to the York members of the Underground Railroad. Goodridge would arrange with a black teamster, Cato Jourdan to carry them in his wagon across the bridge over the Susquehanna River to Columbia. Many refugees would find safe haven in rotie’s Row, a primarily black section of York.