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 "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