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
Location: Cass County (Mich.); Cassopolis (Mich.)
Initiating Event: 1847--First of Two Group Escapes
Preceding Event: 1847--Second of Two Group Escapes
Concurrent Event: 1847--Elkhart County (Ind.) Raid
Source: Infamous!; The Cassopolis Outrage--The Rights of Slavery; Negro Stealing; The Kentucky Raid; Perry Sanford's account of the raid

Item sets: AA--Events--Escapes--Kentucky--Boone County--1780-1849

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Items with "Following Event: 1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid"
Title	Class
1847--Second of Two Group Escapes	Event

Items with "Concurrent Event: 1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid"
Title	Class
1847--Elkhart County (Ind.) Raid	Event

Items with "Participant in: 1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid"
Title	Class
Buckner, Hubbard Taylor	Person
Cleveland, James	Person
Eubanks, Jonathan	Person
Eubanks, Mary	Person
Eubanks, Nancy	Person
Eubanks, Robert	Person
Gardner, Betsy	Person
Gardner, Lewis	Person
Gardner, Mary	Person
Graves, Milton	Person
Merriman, Harriet	Person
Merriman, Isabella	Person
Merriman, Samuel	Person
Merriman, William	Person
Oglesby, Dorcas	Person
Oglesby, James	Person
Reynolds, Susan	Person
Sandford, Alexander P.	Person
Sanford, Ben	Person
Sanford, Celia	Person
Sanford, Joseph	Person
Sanford, Perry	Person
Stephens, Annie	Person