The Drinking Gourd
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The Canal towpath served as one of the routes of the Underground Railroad. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 almost paralleled the abolition of slavery in New York State in 1827.
The Canal helped move slaves to freedom. For many the destination was Canada, but some stopped along the way. Many cities' populations along the canal, like Albany and Oswego, grew by double or triple. Albany increased from |
12,630 in 1820 to 24,209 in 1830. Although a majority of immigrants were European American, a considerable number were African American (Welman, n.d.).
Then in 1850 with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, the New York State canals provided an accessible route to Canada for the exodus of a great number of African Americans.
Then in 1850 with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, the New York State canals provided an accessible route to Canada for the exodus of a great number of African Americans.
Canal for Freedom Seekers
“Near the canal, African Americans found work in canal-related industries, as laborers, boatmen, hotel workers, or barbers. African American barbers were especially important" (Welman, n.d.).
By the 1840s, Albany was the main depot for freedom seekers who came through New York City. Freedom seekers formed the Albany Vigilance Committee. A prominent figure of the Committee was member Stephen Myers, a freed slave. He and his wife, Harriet maintained a safe house as well as established the papers: Northern Star and Freeman’s Advocate. Myers was regarded as Albany's Superintendent of the Underground Railroad. He worked as a steward on the steamboat Armenia, which operated between New York City and Albany. Myers forwarded most of the freedom seekers to Syracuse or Oswego (Welman, n.d.; The underground railroad, 2012).
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The city of Oswego grew enormously with the completion of the Oswego Canal in 1828. Many were African Americans. Well-known abolitionist and freed slave, Tudor E. Grant was a barber and outspoken leader in the African American community. He was part of the Vigilance Committee for the City of Oswego (Welman, n.d.). |
City of Oswego on the Erie Canal/UGRR
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Canal for Reformers
In addition to the strong Anti-Slavery presence in the canal villages,
like that of Albany and Oswego, heroes of the movement, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, at one time both resided in upstate New York.
In addition to the strong Anti-Slavery presence in the canal villages,
like that of Albany and Oswego, heroes of the movement, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, at one time both resided in upstate New York.
Harriet Tubman, born in slavery in Maryland, freed herself
and many others using the Underground Railroad. She made thirteen trips to bring more than seventy people to freedom. From 1859, until her death in 1913, Tubman lived on a farm in the town of Auburn in Cayuga County. Auburn had "a well-established Underground Railroad network that had been operating for more than thirty years" (Following the freedom, n.d.). As in Albany and Oswego, the network had an important geographic location, an organized African American community, and supportive European American connections.
and many others using the Underground Railroad. She made thirteen trips to bring more than seventy people to freedom. From 1859, until her death in 1913, Tubman lived on a farm in the town of Auburn in Cayuga County. Auburn had "a well-established Underground Railroad network that had been operating for more than thirty years" (Following the freedom, n.d.). As in Albany and Oswego, the network had an important geographic location, an organized African American community, and supportive European American connections.
"Cayuga County pointed like an arrow directly north through the heart of New York State, linking Pennsylvania with Lake Ontario and Canada"
(Following the freedom, n.d.).
Fredrick Douglass as born into slavery in 1818, yet "became one of the most famous intellectuals of his time, advising presidents and lecturing to
thousands on a range of causes, including women’s rights" (Frederick Douglass biography, n.d.). Douglass was one of the few men to attend the First Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY. He wrote several books, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845), My Bondage and My Freedom (1855), and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1884), describing his escape from slavery and his work in Rochester where he hid other people who were escaping to Canada. While living in Rochester, Douglass was the editor and publisher the North Star, an important anti-slavery newspaper (American treasures of, n.d.).
"The North Star's slogan, "Right is of no Sex--Truth is of no Color--God is the Father of us all, and we are all Brethren," testifies to the broad scope of the newspaper's coverage, including not only emancipation but also women's suffrage and education" (American treasures of, n.d.).
