1864 Diary Abolitionist Anti - Slavery Underground Railroad Lincoln Assassination
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:740 |
This week we are pleased to offer a collection of diaries and photographs related to Henry Jones and his family. Henry Jones was a Quaker abolitionist living in the Philadelphia area. He was very active in the meetings that were going on as well as involved in making clothes for fugitive slaves and meeting and talking with known conductors on the Underground Railroad. There is much research to be done on his journals. This diary is from 1864 to 1867 and includes... remarkable content on the end of the war and his anti-slavery activities. He describes seeing President Lincoln at a Sanitary Fair, meetings that were happening to help and aid “Contraband”, Anti-Slavery Conventions, he was friends with James and Lucretia Mott and describes spending time with them, along with detailed accounts of the end of the Civil War and the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln including going to see the remains of Lincoln. It is over 150 pages long and each page is completely filled. It is in very good condition and very readable. Here is a small sample of what is in the diary:
Went to Philadelphia this afternoon chiefly to hear George Thompson of Eng Lecture…about 7 for Academy of Music…he was introduced with flattering remarks by Horace Binney…he took occasion during his remarks to pay a handsome but deserved complement to the Quakers for their efforts for the Abolition of Slavery…Thompson was followed by Judge Kelley, Ben Brewster, and Dan Dougherty all in strong Anti-Slavery speeches…
Meeting closed at noon, I rejoice to see a great change has occurred in our society as in the world on the subject of slavery, George Truman, HW Ridgway and others are now particularly listened to in their strong denunciations…
Attended a great Sanitary Fair for relief of wounded soldiers. Of the great fairs now all the rage this is said to be the greatest…Yesterday President Lincoln and wife were there, again today, just saw her passing. Some think this fair excels the World’s Exhibition…
Much excitement prevails in Western PA and Maryland the rebels having made another raid. Frederick MD captured their force perhaps 1000. This morning we learn that the rebs have cut the Phil and Baltimore Railroad. Grant is still before Richmond and Petersburg guarding Lee…
Benny Lilles here in eve says he is going as a soldier for 100 days at the call of Gov Curtin the rebels have attacked an outpost at Washington. The City is thought to be safe the fortunes of war however are uncertain. Should this our capitol fall, thousands would take up arms will rush to the conflict…
At Quarterly meeting, had two good discourses from John Parish and Lucretia Mott. The latter preached as long hath she preached the necessity of zeal and activity in good works…She is now about 70 years old and has lived down much and most of the oppressiveness and opposition formerly hurled against her. She may sometimes have ? but is yet an extraordinary woman both as regards heart and mind. She spoke of her great joy in seeing the people after a long and fatal …aroused and urgent in their pleas fro freedom for all. To her and such as her Garrison, Thompson, Johnson, McKim and others who have labored for 30 years in the cause…I feel pleasure in having early been in the cause of slavery, taking 25 years ago the Pennsylvania Freeman when no none else in the neighborhood did so, talk much upon the subject…
Another draft is coming off at Norristown this week which is a very unpleasant thing. News came this morning that General Sheridan has won a great battle in the Shenandoah Valley quite recently Sherman has captured Atlanta…Lincoln is renominated by the Union Party and McClellan by the Southern Sympathizers now called Copperheads. Union success in the field will greatly strengthen Lincoln’s vote. Lincoln is not the best man in our country to my mind, yet may he succeed…
At meeting in morning Benny Hilles having been drafted. Thomas Lightfoot and I went with him to Norristown to get him exempt of physical inability, think we will succeed…
Very cheering news of election, Penn, Ohio and Indiana all gone for the Union ticket and all hail to Maryland! She is now a free state. The people have ratified a new constitution prohibitory of slavery forever. This is glorious…
Attended the Freedman’s Meeting at Concert Hall last evening, Reuben Tomlinson and William Mitchell teachers among them gave details and flattering accounts of the progress made. The Rev Bishop Potter presided and spoke briefly but well and also at length, the Rev Phillips Brooks both of the episcopal church…declared that freedom for all should be incorporated with the Christianity of the land of the churches! Both the Bishop and Brooks had the generosity last night to say that little credit was due them that it belonged to the early agitators in the cause who had endured reproach unflinchingly for the slave’s sake…
He paid a glowing tribute to the women now teaching colored children, the dum and outcast in foreign land…
Attended the funeral of Ellwood Roberts, son of Hannah, aged about 17, he was out with the 100 day men, and died in hospital at Philadelphia…
Took Mary to D Foulkes, Jon Jones’s and elsewhere to day begging for the Contrabands, Got $13 + clothing…Went to Hatboro tonight to hear George Thompson of England…I took pleasure in speaking to this moral hero, hero of the best sort…Heard this morning of the capture of Savannah, 150 heavy guns great amount of cotton and the enemy fled, this is another severe loss to the rebels, it does appear as if their race of folly and crime must be near its end…
Listened this afternoon to Mrs Holstein of L Mission in recounting her experience of Hospital and Camp Life. For a period of 3 years perhaps she has devoted herself. She is visiting the Aid Societies to encourage them to further effort. She is a well organized woman of good mind and executive ability….for her self sacrifice of mercy she has her reward…
Went to Philadelphia yesterday attended in evening a lecture by J Mercer Langston, a colored man of Ohio, who is scarcely inferior, if any, to Douglas…
At a sale of horses at Springhouse in afternoon prices very high, $200, $250, $300 heard at sale that Richmond and Petersburg have fallen in our hands, the rebs having fled, this is joyful news….
The news of last eve is confirmed. Those two rebel stronghold are ours with many prisoners and booty. General Lee managed to escape, many half starved prisoners of ours in Libby were rereleased. Our city wild with joy…
The news is brought that last eve about 10 o’clock while attending a performance at the theatre to which he was especially invited President Lincoln was shot thro the head by a pistol ball and that his death is hourly expected. the villain escaped from the theatre and is not yet caught. At the same hour William H Seward lying ill from a fall was violently attacked by an unknown villain rushing into his room and stabbing him in the neck and rushing out…We have the painful news that our good president expired this morning about 7 o’clock. The event fills most hears with gloom…the wretch that murdered President Lincoln is supposed to be John Wilkes Booth an actor, not yet caught…
Mary and I went to Philadelphia this morning to attend to witness the public display of the remains of our late revered President. The body is embalmed and is being bourne to Illinois by way of Philadelphia, NY, Albany, …the general train reached Batt Depot about 5 but the procession slow in forming reached 3rd and Chestnut, EM Davis were we were, after dark, by lamplight we saw the splendid hearse that carried the cold form of our chief. The procession was very extensive and subdued…
At Gillingham’s all night, went with them to church. Heard a good discourse on the character of President Lincoln, did not see the President’s corpse…
The assassin of President Lincoln was found in a barn in Virginia and that upon resisting was shot through the head and killed…
Jeff Davis, Stephens and others were captured some two weeks and are now n confinement waiting trial…Booth’s aides are now on trial…
Mary went to Philadelphia, a great parade of firemen there. This afternoon occurred an important event namely, Client sold at public sale his store house, dwelling and lot do David Craft for $7105. Though a good sale, I regret to see it go out of our family. This land has been in our family, I think since 1683. Change and progression mark all things…
Went this evening to Weldon Hall with Daniel and heard J.W. Forney lecture on the cause of the Freedmen…
President Johnson vetoed a few days since a bill for the enlargement of the Freedmen’s Bureau after having it passed by a two thirds vote and since shown great favor with the rebel states. it will most likely rupture the union party. Many of us have had little faith in him for long months. It is a sad thing…
Met J and Lucretia Mott at Gwynedd Railroad Station and took them to meeting after which we brought them here to dinner and at 4 took them to RR…we were glad to have these worthy people with us. They have gone steadily on in the path of humanity and duty and the have won the love of all enlightened minds. Lucretia tho now 73 betrays no mental decline but is wondrously bright…a liberal charitable spirit runs thro all her thoughts and these qualities of mind and heart make her an extraordinary woman. To tea we had several…At meeting everywhere she goes, Lucretia now meets with favor whereas a few yers since she was shunned and reviled and what was her crime? She loved liberty for all and advocated for the cause of the poor and weak. Is slavery less wicked and abhorrent now…now that slavery has been made odious and unpopular the timid can join in issue against in…I am glad that I have been an abolitionist from youth to present!
Went to Philadelphia to attend a Convention of Loyal Southern Men at National Hall which was very large and interesting, these loyal men f the south have grown under trial and suffering extremely radical and talk earnestly. Among those present from the South were Gov Brownlow, Attorney General Speed…from the North invited to join in Convention were Gen Butler, Senator Harlan, Frederick Douglass and others. In eve in front of the league house on Broad St many thousands congregated…
We attended in Philadelphia the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Anti Slavery Society. Also a grand Freedman’s meeting at the academy of music presided over by Chief Justice Chase and addressed by General Howard, Phillips Brooks and Judge Bond of Baltimore. At Convention we had Wendall Phillips, Aaron M Powe, Susan B Anthony and others. The whole affair was interesting and contrasts grandly with the olden days of proscription and abuse…Free thought and free speech are recognized as a freeman’s rights and that truth may be born against sin and oppression tho it falls on unwelcome ears….raise a voice against slavery and attend perchance a Convention. The Convention declared strongly for free suffrage and even this very radical movement is advocated by many prominent Republicans and a few democrats. Abolitionists are not the despised persons they used to be…
Heard today that Plymouth Meeting House was this morning burned down…
Went to Philadelphia this afternoon chiefly to hear George Thompson of Eng Lecture…about 7 for Academy of Music…he was introduced with flattering remarks by Horace Binney…he took occasion during his remarks to pay a handsome but deserved complement to the Quakers for their efforts for the Abolition of Slavery…Thompson was followed by Judge Kelley, Ben Brewster, and Dan Dougherty all in strong Anti-Slavery speeches…
Meeting closed at noon, I rejoice to see a great change has occurred in our society as in the world on the subject of slavery, George Truman, HW Ridgway and others are now particularly listened to in their strong denunciations…
Attended a great Sanitary Fair for relief of wounded soldiers. Of the great fairs now all the rage this is said to be the greatest…Yesterday President Lincoln and wife were there, again today, just saw her passing. Some think this fair excels the World’s Exhibition…
Much excitement prevails in Western PA and Maryland the rebels having made another raid. Frederick MD captured their force perhaps 1000. This morning we learn that the rebs have cut the Phil and Baltimore Railroad. Grant is still before Richmond and Petersburg guarding Lee…
Benny Lilles here in eve says he is going as a soldier for 100 days at the call of Gov Curtin the rebels have attacked an outpost at Washington. The City is thought to be safe the fortunes of war however are uncertain. Should this our capitol fall, thousands would take up arms will rush to the conflict…
At Quarterly meeting, had two good discourses from John Parish and Lucretia Mott. The latter preached as long hath she preached the necessity of zeal and activity in good works…She is now about 70 years old and has lived down much and most of the oppressiveness and opposition formerly hurled against her. She may sometimes have ? but is yet an extraordinary woman both as regards heart and mind. She spoke of her great joy in seeing the people after a long and fatal …aroused and urgent in their pleas fro freedom for all. To her and such as her Garrison, Thompson, Johnson, McKim and others who have labored for 30 years in the cause…I feel pleasure in having early been in the cause of slavery, taking 25 years ago the Pennsylvania Freeman when no none else in the neighborhood did so, talk much upon the subject…
Another draft is coming off at Norristown this week which is a very unpleasant thing. News came this morning that General Sheridan has won a great battle in the Shenandoah Valley quite recently Sherman has captured Atlanta…Lincoln is renominated by the Union Party and McClellan by the Southern Sympathizers now called Copperheads. Union success in the field will greatly strengthen Lincoln’s vote. Lincoln is not the best man in our country to my mind, yet may he succeed…
At meeting in morning Benny Hilles having been drafted. Thomas Lightfoot and I went with him to Norristown to get him exempt of physical inability, think we will succeed…
Very cheering news of election, Penn, Ohio and Indiana all gone for the Union ticket and all hail to Maryland! She is now a free state. The people have ratified a new constitution prohibitory of slavery forever. This is glorious…
Attended the Freedman’s Meeting at Concert Hall last evening, Reuben Tomlinson and William Mitchell teachers among them gave details and flattering accounts of the progress made. The Rev Bishop Potter presided and spoke briefly but well and also at length, the Rev Phillips Brooks both of the episcopal church…declared that freedom for all should be incorporated with the Christianity of the land of the churches! Both the Bishop and Brooks had the generosity last night to say that little credit was due them that it belonged to the early agitators in the cause who had endured reproach unflinchingly for the slave’s sake…
He paid a glowing tribute to the women now teaching colored children, the dum and outcast in foreign land…
Attended the funeral of Ellwood Roberts, son of Hannah, aged about 17, he was out with the 100 day men, and died in hospital at Philadelphia…
Took Mary to D Foulkes, Jon Jones’s and elsewhere to day begging for the Contrabands, Got $13 + clothing…Went to Hatboro tonight to hear George Thompson of England…I took pleasure in speaking to this moral hero, hero of the best sort…Heard this morning of the capture of Savannah, 150 heavy guns great amount of cotton and the enemy fled, this is another severe loss to the rebels, it does appear as if their race of folly and crime must be near its end…
Listened this afternoon to Mrs Holstein of L Mission in recounting her experience of Hospital and Camp Life. For a period of 3 years perhaps she has devoted herself. She is visiting the Aid Societies to encourage them to further effort. She is a well organized woman of good mind and executive ability….for her self sacrifice of mercy she has her reward…
Went to Philadelphia yesterday attended in evening a lecture by J Mercer Langston, a colored man of Ohio, who is scarcely inferior, if any, to Douglas…
At a sale of horses at Springhouse in afternoon prices very high, $200, $250, $300 heard at sale that Richmond and Petersburg have fallen in our hands, the rebs having fled, this is joyful news….
The news of last eve is confirmed. Those two rebel stronghold are ours with many prisoners and booty. General Lee managed to escape, many half starved prisoners of ours in Libby were rereleased. Our city wild with joy…
The news is brought that last eve about 10 o’clock while attending a performance at the theatre to which he was especially invited President Lincoln was shot thro the head by a pistol ball and that his death is hourly expected. the villain escaped from the theatre and is not yet caught. At the same hour William H Seward lying ill from a fall was violently attacked by an unknown villain rushing into his room and stabbing him in the neck and rushing out…We have the painful news that our good president expired this morning about 7 o’clock. The event fills most hears with gloom…the wretch that murdered President Lincoln is supposed to be John Wilkes Booth an actor, not yet caught…
Mary and I went to Philadelphia this morning to attend to witness the public display of the remains of our late revered President. The body is embalmed and is being bourne to Illinois by way of Philadelphia, NY, Albany, …the general train reached Batt Depot about 5 but the procession slow in forming reached 3rd and Chestnut, EM Davis were we were, after dark, by lamplight we saw the splendid hearse that carried the cold form of our chief. The procession was very extensive and subdued…
At Gillingham’s all night, went with them to church. Heard a good discourse on the character of President Lincoln, did not see the President’s corpse…
The assassin of President Lincoln was found in a barn in Virginia and that upon resisting was shot through the head and killed…
Jeff Davis, Stephens and others were captured some two weeks and are now n confinement waiting trial…Booth’s aides are now on trial…
Mary went to Philadelphia, a great parade of firemen there. This afternoon occurred an important event namely, Client sold at public sale his store house, dwelling and lot do David Craft for $7105. Though a good sale, I regret to see it go out of our family. This land has been in our family, I think since 1683. Change and progression mark all things…
Went this evening to Weldon Hall with Daniel and heard J.W. Forney lecture on the cause of the Freedmen…
President Johnson vetoed a few days since a bill for the enlargement of the Freedmen’s Bureau after having it passed by a two thirds vote and since shown great favor with the rebel states. it will most likely rupture the union party. Many of us have had little faith in him for long months. It is a sad thing…
Met J and Lucretia Mott at Gwynedd Railroad Station and took them to meeting after which we brought them here to dinner and at 4 took them to RR…we were glad to have these worthy people with us. They have gone steadily on in the path of humanity and duty and the have won the love of all enlightened minds. Lucretia tho now 73 betrays no mental decline but is wondrously bright…a liberal charitable spirit runs thro all her thoughts and these qualities of mind and heart make her an extraordinary woman. To tea we had several…At meeting everywhere she goes, Lucretia now meets with favor whereas a few yers since she was shunned and reviled and what was her crime? She loved liberty for all and advocated for the cause of the poor and weak. Is slavery less wicked and abhorrent now…now that slavery has been made odious and unpopular the timid can join in issue against in…I am glad that I have been an abolitionist from youth to present!
Went to Philadelphia to attend a Convention of Loyal Southern Men at National Hall which was very large and interesting, these loyal men f the south have grown under trial and suffering extremely radical and talk earnestly. Among those present from the South were Gov Brownlow, Attorney General Speed…from the North invited to join in Convention were Gen Butler, Senator Harlan, Frederick Douglass and others. In eve in front of the league house on Broad St many thousands congregated…
We attended in Philadelphia the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Anti Slavery Society. Also a grand Freedman’s meeting at the academy of music presided over by Chief Justice Chase and addressed by General Howard, Phillips Brooks and Judge Bond of Baltimore. At Convention we had Wendall Phillips, Aaron M Powe, Susan B Anthony and others. The whole affair was interesting and contrasts grandly with the olden days of proscription and abuse…Free thought and free speech are recognized as a freeman’s rights and that truth may be born against sin and oppression tho it falls on unwelcome ears….raise a voice against slavery and attend perchance a Convention. The Convention declared strongly for free suffrage and even this very radical movement is advocated by many prominent Republicans and a few democrats. Abolitionists are not the despised persons they used to be…
Heard today that Plymouth Meeting House was this morning burned down…
