1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid
Item
-
Title
-
1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid
-
Date
-
20 Aug 1847
-
Formatted date
-
1847-08-20
-
Event type
-
Capture
-
Dispute
-
Escape
-
Description
-
A large group of northern Kentucky slaveholders, slave catchers and their various assistants descended on Cass County, Michgan, raiding homes in pursuit of those who had escaped enslavement en mass several months before.
-
Local residents fought back, defending the African Americans, many of whom evaded capture. In the end, the Kentuckians were forced to take their case to the courts in nearby Cassopolis. Meanwhile, the locals had ensured the case would be heard by a judge who was also a member of the the Underground Railroad network in the area. While the case was being heard, the African Americans who had been captured were freed and sent on their way.
-
The slaveholders later sued for damages, attempting to recoup their losses. They lost the case when Michigan law was applied. This case is widely regarded as the impetus behind the construction and passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.
-
Participant
-
African American(s): Eubanks, Jonathan; Eubanks, Mary; Eubanks, Nancy; Eubanks, Robert; Gardner, Betsy; Gardner, Lewis; Gardner, Mary; Merriman, Hannah; Merriman, Isabella; Merriman, Samuel; Merriman, William; Oglesby, Dorcas; Oglesby, James; Reynolds, Susan; Sanford, Ben; Sanford, Celia; Sanford, Joseph; Sanford, Perry; Stephens, Annie; Stephens, Nancy [2]; Stephens, Nelson; Stephens, Peter; Stephens, Reuben; Timberlake, Gabriel; Walker, David; Washington, Abraham; unknown, Allen [9]; unknown, Dinah [12]; unknown, John [55]; unknown, Rachel [20]; unknown, Robin; unknown, Wesley
-
Eubanks, Jonathan
-
Eubanks, Mary
-
Eubanks, Nancy
-
Eubanks, Robert
-
Gardner, Betsy
-
Gardner, Lewis
-
Gardner, Mary
-
Merriman, Harriet
-
Merriman, Isabella
-
Merriman, Samuel
-
Merriman, William
-
Oglesby, Dorcas
-
Oglesby, James
-
Reynolds, Susan
-
Sanford, Ben
-
Sanford, Celia
-
Sanford, Joseph
-
Sanford, Perry
-
Stephens, Annie
-
Stephens, Nancy [2]
-
Stephens, Nelson
-
Stephens, Peter
-
Stephens, Reuben
-
Timberlake, Gabriel
-
Walker, David
-
Washington, Abraham
-
unknown, Allen [9]
-
unknown, Dinah [12]
-
unknown, John [55]
-
unknown, Rachel [20]
-
unknown, Robin
-
unknown, Wesley
-
Slaveholder(s) and allies: Timberlake, Thornton; Sanford, Alexander P.; Carpenter, R.B.; Brasher, George; Rust, F.B; Stephens, James P.; Buckner, Hubbard T.; Cleveland, Wash; Scott, Obadiah; Lemon, James C.; Griffing, William, Rev.; Bristow, Anselm; Stephens, William M.; Graves, Milton; Graves, Jack
-
Buckner, Hubbard Taylor
-
Cleveland, James
-
Graves, Milton
-
Sandford, Alexander P.
-
Timberlake, Thornton
Linked resources
Items with "Participant in: 1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid"
Title |
Class |
Stephens, Nancy [2] |
Person
|
Stephens, Nelson |
Person
|
Stephens, Peter |
Person
|
Stephens, Reuben |
Person
|
Timberlake, Gabriel |
Person
|
Timberlake, Thornton |
Person
|
unknown, Allen [9] |
Person
|
unknown, Dinah [12] |
Person
|
unknown, John [55] |
Person
|
unknown, Rachel [20] |
Person
|
unknown, Robin |
Person
|
unknown, Wesley |
Person
|
Walker, David |
Person
|