Last updated: September 6, 2025
Article
Trial of John Hunn
On May 24th, 1848, a trial was conducted by Justice Roger in the case of Charles Glanding v. John Hunn. The claim asserted by Glanding was based on his claim of enslavement of Samuel Jr. and Chester.
There are no summaries of witness statements that are available for the trial of Glanding v. Hunn. However, it appears that several of the witnesses who were called to testify in the trials against Garrett would have testified against John Hunn.
For example, Robert Cochran and William Hardcastle could have testified about the circumstances under which the Hawkins family were arrested while they were sheltered at Hunn's farm. They may have also testified about Samuel Hawkins Sr.'s admission that Emeline and their children were enslaved. It is unlikely that Hunn testified on his own behalf because he would have probably admitted that he believed the individuals he assisted were enslaved.
The jury in Glanding v. Hunn returned a verdict in favor of Glanding in the amount of $1,000. This represented damages of $500 for each enslaved person (Samuel Jr. and Chester) harbored or assisted in violation of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.
John Hunn's attorney argued to Justice Taney that the plaintiff (Glanding) was only entitled to collect damages of $500 per act, regardless of the number of enslaved people harbored or assisted by such an act. Taney took this matter under advisement. He held in a later opinion that under the Fugitive Slave Act, an enslaver who had proved that the defendant had knowingly assisted a freedom seeker was entitled to damages of $500 per freedom seeker helped.
As to the case of Turner v. Hunn, Hunn confessed to damages of $2,500 ($500 each for Emeline and the four younger children). However, that confession was made with the agreement that if Justice Taney later determined that Turner was only entitled to a total of $500 per act rather than $500 per freedom seeker helped, the judgment would then be reduced to $500.
After Taney determined that under the Fugitive Slave Act an enslaver who proved their case was entitled to $500 per freedom seeker helped, the total damages against Hunn were $3,500. The plaintiffs enforced payment of damages by way of sheriff's sale. Hunn's farm and all his personal belongings were sold. He was left penniless, but did eventually recover.
Like Garrett, Hunn remained steadfast to his commitment to help freedom seekers through to the end of the American Civil War. After the conflict, Hunn moved to Port Royal, South Carolina to work with the Freedman's Bureau there. He also worked as a customs officer in Beaufort, South Carolina. Eventually, he returned to his native state and lived in Camden, Delaware. He died there on July 6th, 1894, and is buried at the Camden Friends Meetinghouse. His son, John Hunn Jr., served as Governor of Delaware from 1901 to 1905.
There are no summaries of witness statements that are available for the trial of Glanding v. Hunn. However, it appears that several of the witnesses who were called to testify in the trials against Garrett would have testified against John Hunn.
For example, Robert Cochran and William Hardcastle could have testified about the circumstances under which the Hawkins family were arrested while they were sheltered at Hunn's farm. They may have also testified about Samuel Hawkins Sr.'s admission that Emeline and their children were enslaved. It is unlikely that Hunn testified on his own behalf because he would have probably admitted that he believed the individuals he assisted were enslaved.
The jury in Glanding v. Hunn returned a verdict in favor of Glanding in the amount of $1,000. This represented damages of $500 for each enslaved person (Samuel Jr. and Chester) harbored or assisted in violation of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.
John Hunn's attorney argued to Justice Taney that the plaintiff (Glanding) was only entitled to collect damages of $500 per act, regardless of the number of enslaved people harbored or assisted by such an act. Taney took this matter under advisement. He held in a later opinion that under the Fugitive Slave Act, an enslaver who had proved that the defendant had knowingly assisted a freedom seeker was entitled to damages of $500 per freedom seeker helped.
As to the case of Turner v. Hunn, Hunn confessed to damages of $2,500 ($500 each for Emeline and the four younger children). However, that confession was made with the agreement that if Justice Taney later determined that Turner was only entitled to a total of $500 per act rather than $500 per freedom seeker helped, the judgment would then be reduced to $500.
After Taney determined that under the Fugitive Slave Act an enslaver who proved their case was entitled to $500 per freedom seeker helped, the total damages against Hunn were $3,500. The plaintiffs enforced payment of damages by way of sheriff's sale. Hunn's farm and all his personal belongings were sold. He was left penniless, but did eventually recover.
Like Garrett, Hunn remained steadfast to his commitment to help freedom seekers through to the end of the American Civil War. After the conflict, Hunn moved to Port Royal, South Carolina to work with the Freedman's Bureau there. He also worked as a customs officer in Beaufort, South Carolina. Eventually, he returned to his native state and lived in Camden, Delaware. He died there on July 6th, 1894, and is buried at the Camden Friends Meetinghouse. His son, John Hunn Jr., served as Governor of Delaware from 1901 to 1905.