Remember Enslaved People

 

Little was recorded about the multitude of enslaved people in and around Harpers Ferry from colonial times through the end of American slavery. We remember them by sharing their names as they appeared in record books or newspapers. Stories of enslaved people in Harpers Ferry help put John Brown's Raid into context and provide a view of the dehumanizing institution of slavery and the resiliency of those caught in its grasp. Explore their stories.

 

1769

First record of enslaved people in the Harpers Ferry area

A 1769 record of property lists 14 men, two boys, four women and one girl as enslaved by John Semple, the owner of Keep Tryst Furnace, which was located between Bolivar Heights and School House Ridge along the Potomac River. Semple declared bankruptcy in 1769 which trigger the assessment of his property including the valuation of human lives. Likely these enslaved people would have been sold to pay off Semple's debts.

The names of the enslaved people hint that several were likely born in Africa. Golingo possibly refers to Golunga-Alto, a Portuguese colony in modern Angola. Eboe was an alternate spelling of Igbo, an ethnic group in Nigeria. Using these terms with their names may indicate the enslaved person's birthplace.

 

1782

Town founder, Robert Harper, used enslaved labor to build his wealth
When town founder, Robert Harper, wrote out his will he gave directions about what should happen to the woman who's unpaid labor had enabled him to run his business and build his wealth.

"I hereby give leave and bequeath unto my nephews ... the whole amount of what my negro wench Beck shall bring to be equally divided and shared amongst them and for that purpose it is my will that my Executors shall as soon as convenient for them after my decease lease the said Negro Wench Beck to be sold."

*It is possible that Beck is the same person listed in the 1769 appraisal of the Semple property.

 

The Beckham's who enslaved Billy and Jane lived in the building on the left at the corner of Shenandoah and High streets

NPS / A King

1832

Jane, a girl, and Billy, an old man

Jefferson County Will Book 8 records that on August 9, 1832 an enslaved man and an enslaved girl were sold. Billy (described as an "old" man) was sold to Fontaine Beckham for $50 and Jane (described as a girl) was sold to Mrs. F Beckham for $125. The Beckhams lived in Harpers Ferry on the corner of High and Shenandoah streets. It's likely both Billy and Jane lived there too.

 

Often the only recorded mention of enslaved people is when their names appear in court documents like this 1859 appraisal of property that includes a monetary value on their lives.

NPS image

1859

Enslaved Women and Children take their fate into their own hands

December 28, 1859, the names of 13 enslaved women and children were noted in the Jefferson County deed records.
They were part of the property assessment of Harpers Ferry's mayor, Fontaine Beckham. Beckham was killed during the John Brown Raid. After his death, these 13 women and children were relocated to the Hooff farm in Charles Town WV.On December 28th, 1859, the value of the women and children was appraised. From this appraisal record, we learn most of their names (shown in the graphic). Their lives were valued at $5,500 ($204,000 in today's money).

Bits and pieces of the women and children's lives were also noted in a journal from their enslavers' perspectives. Mr. Hooff records that on Christmas day of 1859, Jane married Daniel Johnson, a free Black man. "They have been desiring for some time to get married and I opposed it 'till today."

The monetary appraisal of people’s lives, the dislocation of a whole group of people and the delay of a marriage at the whim of an enslaver all speak to the dehumanizing condition of slavery.

Two years later, most of the same women and children took their fate in their own hands. Amelia Hooff wrote on March 12th 1862, "when we got up we found every woman and child gone- took our wagon and moved everything- several of the neighbors servants [enslaved people] gone at the same time." They had all left for the nearby US army lines in Harpers Ferry and the possibility of freedom. Amelia continued "I got a pass for George* to go to the Ferry- he saw the servants [enslaved people]- they were not willing to come back."

*George was also enslaved by the Hoffs