The "Freedom Seekers In York and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading just one more story about the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania.  I have written a few stories in the past about the Lancaster heroes who were a part of the Underground Railroad, but this time the story I am reading tells about Lancaster's neighbor, York County and their efforts in the Underground Railroad.  If you are not aware, the term Underground Railroad refers to a loosely organized network of abolitionists and sympathizers who lived in the Northern states that sought to help African Americans in their escape from slavery in Southern states.  The Underground Railroad was a collection of patriotic people who had localized networks of friends known as "conductors" who helped coordinate people who would seek freedom for Southern slaves that had escaped from their prison of slavery in the South.  The destination of the slaves depended upon routes that had been set up that would take them to "safehouses" to the north.  I have written stories about those escaping through Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but I have never written about their escapes through neighboring York County which had a much larger borderline to the south than Lancaster County did.  Evidently, there were common routes for freedom seekers traveling north through York County.  Many slaves tried to make their way North, through York County, as quickly as possible, but some found safe havens in York County and by the 1850s had settled in York County.  The routes and locations in York County follow with a photograph of the area if I was able to find one to post: 

New Market (The Maryland Border):  The Southern border was easy to cross, but there were quite a few slave hunters who made a living trying to capture slaves and return them to their owners south of the border.  If slave hunters managed to catch a slave north of the border, they would have to get local authorities to sign off on their papers before being able to apprehend anyone.  Luckily there were many friendly conductors who were Quakers and sympathetic with the slaves.  The Shepherd family of Quakers help guide freedom seekers north and out of harms way.  Many were directed towards the home of fellow Quaker, apple nurseryman and clockmaker Jonathan Jessop who lived along the Baltimore Pike.

Shrewsbury:  Not far from the southern Maryland border was a small town known as Shrewsbury that had quite a few slaves find their way through their town on their way to safety.  One farmer, John Lowe, Jr. operated a camp in the woods that hosted revivals for the Methodist Episcopal Church.  One of his tenants was Samuel Berry who was a free African American and well known conductor in the area.

Samuel and Mariam Berry:  Samuel and Mariam worked for years to earn enough money to buy their freedom.  They finally moved to Shrewsbury with their five children where they had a farm.  Samuel was also a conductor on the Underground Railroad.  One time he was caught by slave hunters and beaten.  Marian was so upset that when slave hunters appeared again she threatened them until they left, often apologizing for disturbing her.  On one occasion she headed to New Market to tell everyone there the slave hunters names and when the slave hunters arrive in town, the townspeople cried "Shame" to the men who sulked away.  No one ever bothered the Berry family again.

Town of Hanover

Hanover: This town was close to the Mason-Dixon Line which ran along the border between Pennsylvania and southern states.  Many freedom seekers found their way through this town on their way North.  The town was home to a local slave-catcher, William Otter who was born in England and a Royal Navy officer who deserted the Navy and came to the United States.  He was known as "Big Bill" since he was 6'4" tall and 250 pounds.  He was called upon by slave masters to help catch runaway slaves.  How well he did in a town that was anti-slavery I could not determine.

Fawn Grove:  This town served as a crossroads for freedom seekers coming through Maryland.  Quakers who lived in the farming town provided shelter and guidance for slaves.  Families in the town would help slaves on their trip north to ferry crossings.

Peach Bottom:  On the eastern side of the Susquehanna River from York County was Lancater county and a town known as Peach Bottom.  They had several active conductors who assisted slaves across the river.  One former slave, Henry W. Grant, married another freed slave and they moved to Southern Lancaster.  After they had their 12th child they moved to Peach Bottom where he helped fellow African Americans on their way north as well as hold meeting with other fellow conductors.

View of the Susquehanna River

Drumore Township:  After slaves had been shuttled across the river they would end up in Drumore where they would move deeper into Lancaster County.  Some were pointed in the direction of Quarryville along Peters Creek which eventually became known as Pilgrim's Pathway.

Jonathan Jessop:  Mr. Jessop was a clockmaker and creator of the York Imperial apple farm.  He was a member of the Underground Railroad and lived on an apple farm that is now the location of the Apple Hill Medical Center.  He and his two friends, Samuel Willis and Amos Griest, had a network that moved freedom seekers through York, PA to points north.  At times they were driven in carriages to the home of  Mr. Griest and hidden until they could escape to the north.

York:  York was the most important crossroads in the county for both freedom seekers and slave hunters.  Slaves could either head north to Harrisburg or east towards the bridge over the river towards Wrightsville in Lancaster County.  York had several conductors and sympathy organizations who would often shelter and guide freedom seekers.  One former slave, William Goodridge, used rail cars to transport freedom seekers into Lancaster, PA.

William Goodridge

William Goodridge:  William was born a slave in 1806 in Baltimore, Maryland.  At age 6 he was indentured to a tannery in York, but the tannery went out of business and William was granted his freedom.  He then became a barber and later married.  He became wealthy and was able to provide passage for slaves by putting them on his private railroad freight car to take them north to safety.  The Goodridge House is now recognized as a site on the National Underground Railroad to Freedom.  His home had a secret room hidden beneath his kitchen were slaves could safely stay until shipped north.  

Home of Samuel Willis

Samuel Willis:  Samuel "Kindly Friend" Willis was a member of the Underground Railroad.  He lived in York on a secluded farm property in Manchester County.  He was a Quaker whose building still stands today near the Codorus Creek.  He helped Freedom Seekers move through the town of York.  Today his home is a recognized site on the National Park Service's National Undergorund Railroad to Freedom.

Hallam

Hallam:  The road between York and Wrightsville sometimes had groups as large as 40 Freedom Seekers walk the route at night.  Along the route were several safe houses.  A tunnel was later found on the property of Abraham Hiestand that ran underneath the limestone highway and connected his Valley Inn to stables on the other side of the highway where fugitives could hide.

Jonathan Mifflin and Samuel Mifflin:  Miller was a veteran of the American Revolution who married Susanna Wright, the sister of William Wright.  Both families were part of the local Underground Railroad. Jonathan employed a free African American named Robert Loney as a raftsman on the Susquehanna River.  Robert would secretly transport Freedom seekers across the river at night to the town of Columbia. Jonathan died in 1840 and his son Samuel took over his job.  Sam and his wife eventually moved from the area and a Mr. Robert Loney took over the job conveying freedom seekers across the river to Columbia. 

The town of Wrightsville looking toward Columbia in Lancaster County

Wrightsville:  Freedom seekers arriving from York to the Susquehanna River ended up in Wrightsville.  The Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge was the final barrier between freedom and slavery.  Slave catchers knew this and would often wait for their targets by the bridge.  But, this area was also home for many conductors who ran a small network of boatmen who escorted thousands of freedom seekers across the river.

The Columbia side of the bridge.

Columbia:  The crossing of the river was mistaken as the border between the United States and Canada for freedom seekers.  Many freedom seekers celebrated when they got off the ferry, but were warned they were a long way from freedom.  The chances of being captured dropped quite a bit from here even though Canada was many miles away.

William Wright: Mr. Wright was the grandson of the founder of Wright's Crossing or Wrightsville.  He lived in Columbia and hated slavery.  He established a network of stations and safe houses spaced about 10 miles apart in the early 1820s.  He was responsible for the Underground Railroad in York County.

William Whipper

William Whipper: Mr. Whipper was a successful businessman in Columbia.  He lived near the Wrightsville bridge and was able to watch for freedom seekers on their way to Philadelphia.  He had private railroad cars that he would use to hide the slaves.  He even had special canal boats that he would place them on so they could eventually reach Pittsburgh.  He didn't believe that freedom seekers would ever be safe in the United States and would send some to Canada.  His home was watched by local slave hunters and one time his lumber yard was almost set on fire by one of them.

William Wagner painting of he city of York, Pennsylvania
York:  Many York Countians feared participating in the regional Underground Railroad networks since Freedom seekers were considered fugitives from federal law and helping them flee could have serious repercussions.  One such person was caught and forced to sell their farm to pay the fine.  Both jail time and heavy financial penalties were used.  In 1850 the situation was made even more dangerous with the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act.  Most who did participate did so with more secretive efforts.  Those who did help Freedom seekers would be remembered and admired.

A Sketch by local artist Lewis Miller
of the Wrightsville-Columbia covered bridge.
Click on image to enlarge it to make it easier to read the cursive.

A drawing of Wright's Ferry on the Susquehanna River.