John Jones, remembered as the sexton of the Elmira First Baptist Church
who was in charge of the burials of all-Confederate dead from the prison
camp was also very active in the Underground Railroad movement before the
war. He was a slave on a Virginia plantation in 1817 when he, his two brothers
and two other men decided on the dangerous journey north. They reached
Elmira safely and John stayed for the rest of his life. He was known to
have been quietly in command of the operation in the city and was assisted
by well-known men and women of the community, among them Jervis Langdon
and William K. Beecher. Two are known to have hidden escapees in their
homes. Riggs Watros and a Mrs. Culp. There must have been others but it
was a very secret operation as everyone was not in favor of abolition and
it was illegal to help these slaves trying to reach Canada.
These groups of fugitives were collected and escorted north by certain
of their people who made the trip many times guiding the frightened slaves
who, otherwise would have had no help but the sight of the North Star which
many followed as it led them steadily north and to freedom. The route,
as pictured in an issue of the Historical Journal, led from Philadelphia,
through Harrisburg, Williamsport, Elmira and north to Seneca Lake, then
west to St. Catherines, Ontario. Elmira was the only main station between
Philadelphia and Canada.
Some of the people remained for a time in the vicinity and in July,
1845 there were at least 17 fugitives in and around Elmira. Five were known
to have jobs on a local farm and the total number passed through was well
over 800.
After the completion of the Northern Central Railroad in 1850, Jones
stepped up his efforts on the part of his people. He made friends with
employees of the railroad and they stowed away untold numbers of slaves
in the baggage cars and the trembling fugitives crouched among the trunks
as the train steamed along to Watkins Glen and, finally directly to St.
Catherines. Most were carried at night in farm wagons or covered carriages
from home to home where they rested and ate and moved on again after dark.
It was a sort of relay race to freedom with danger to everyone concerned.
A few of the houses where the fugitives were sheltered have been identified
but there must have been more whose secret was never disclosed. The so-called
"1812 house" near Big Flats had an unusual supporting beam under the fireplace.
In reality, it conceals a tiny underground room dug just outside the foundation.
The oldest home in Burdett, Schuyler County was found to have drawings
on a fireplace that had been covered over for generations. They showed
a bird in flight, a pointing hand and letters indicating food, flight and
rest in a small pit under the floor if danger was near. A sign near Gabriel’s
Junction near Watkins Glen used to tell of "Luther Cleveland and wife who
sheltered slaves and helped them on their way to Canada" at the old home
nearby. John Jones’ small house back of the church was known to have sheltered
30 men, women and children on the same night. It is a fascinating story
with much never told because of the danger to the brave people who helped,
as well as to the escaping slaves.
First Added to the Site on 23 DEC 2002
By Joyce M. Tice
You are our welcome visitor since 23 DEC 2002 |
