File:History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania (1883) (14758811684).jpg

Identifier: historyofundergr00smed_0 (find matches)
Title: History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Smedley, R. C. (Robert Clemens), 1832-1883
Subjects: Underground Railroad African Americans
Publisher: Lancaster, Pa., Office of the Journal
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
an anti-slavery advo-cate, and took a deep interest in everything pertainingto human freedom and human welfare. James Gibbons w^as born in Chester county, Pro-vince of Pennsylvania, in 1734. Although a Friend,he was such an ardent advocate of human rights thathe was very much inclined to take part in the Revo-lutionary war. He was oflfered the position of a cavalryofficer, partly on account of his large stature and com-manding appearance, and partly on account of thegreat interest he took in the welfare of his country. Hedeclined accepting the position, however, in deference tothe earnest solicitation and prayers of his wife, w^ho wasdevotedly attached to the peace principles of Friends. He was married at Goshen meeting-house, Chestercounty, in 1756. There was a large gathering of Friendsthere, who came to bid farewell to the bride and groom,as they were going immediately after their marriageinto the far wilds to settle. Some of the youngwomen remarked that not for the best man in the
Text Appearing After Image:
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 55 Province would they go into the wilderness to live/That wilderness was where the village of Bird-in-Hand is now situated, in Lancaster county, 39 milesw^est of Goshen meeting-house, and seven miles east ofLancaster city. About the year 1789, when a sitting magistrate inWilmington, Delaware, a colored man was broughtbefore him by a party of kidnappers. They attemptedas usual, to carry their case through by bluster. Buthe told them peremptorily that if they did not behavethemselves he would commit them/ He then set theman at liberty. He died in 1810. Daniel Gibbons was a man of large firmness, inde-pendence of mind, clearness of perception, discreetphilanthrophy, conscientious, affectionate in his family,and a devout member of the Society of Friends, inwhich he was an elder for twenty-five years prior to hisdeath. His wife, Hannah, was eminently endowed withfine intellectual capabilities, quick perception, excellentjudgment, affectionate and amiable in dispositi

Note About Images