1861 Diary Abolitionist Anti - Slavery Frederick Douglass Underground Railroad
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:751 |
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 1861 to 1864 and includes... remarkable content on the war and his anti-slavery activities. He describes meeting and going to dinner with Frederick Douglass, meetings that were happening to help and aid “Contraband”, along with first hand information on Gettysburg and much much more. It is over 200 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:
The aspect of affairs growing out fo the slavery questions look threatening and portend a coming storm. South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama have seceded from the Union and other states propose to do so. And this because a great majority of the people growing tired of Southern aggression upon Northern Rights and determined upon a limitation of Slavery extension chose to elect Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States, what the result may be is impossible to say…
Annually meeting of Horse Company at Foster’s was reelected treasure…Met this morning the Board of the Springhouse and Hill town TPRC at Jno Stifer’s was placed again against my will on the road court…
The war commenced yesterday at Charleston, SC the rebel army attacked Fort Sumpter when the government attempted to supply it with provisions and that Major Anderson repelled the attack…truly we have fallen on sad times. How humiliating to think that in this enlightened day men shall be found rebelling against making war upon her government because it seeks to limit the area of slavery and prospectively abolish it…people seek to substitute liberty for slavery throughout our land and forbid the unholy traffic in human flesh, the Southern Confederacy so called will rise up and ? their hands in the blood of their fellow men..
Troops are leaving from all the Northern States for the South. Northern troops were fired on in Baltimore last week by a mob and several killed, the Bridge at the Susquehanna Tunnel Railroad communication stopped. Maryland divided in her sentiment also Virginia…
Out at Fosters this afternoon on the occasion of a Pole and Flag raising, pole 75 feet, flay about 12x25 feet, a large number of persons were present and patriotic speeches by B.M. Boyer, H Bonsall and R Watson of Doylsetown…
Military companies are marching through the streets and under drill in the squads and much excitement every where prevails Maryland has now changed her attitude and declares for the Union. Virginia divided in sentiment and wavering. Volunteers are arriving almost daily and moving southward. The Capitol is now thought to be safe and most probably in a week or two a sad retribution will be visited upon the South…
At home recording marriage certificates. With committee of superintendence of Springhouse and Hilltown Road….Heard yesterday of the death of Stephen A Douglas. The war still progresses. Goops are multiplying and the federal government has taken a few posts occupied by the seceders with the loss of a few lives. In all Northern states great unanimity prevails and a determination to push the war vigorously forward to a termination…that termination may be a redemption from Southern misruled and dictation of the destruction of slavery. Truly it cannot be that we are to suffer by their treason the loss of life and property and national prosperity…
Went this morning to an appointed meeting at Gwynedd boor for John Hodgkin an orthodox friend from England….was well attended and the sermon given will received….Hodgkin and Wister went to T.S. Foulke’s to dine and we also went. He is a small dark complexioned many aged 45 or 50 very affable and polite…Saw the great parade of 4000 Home guards fully equipped…A fine distinct comet made its appearance in the Northern Sky…
On first day last was fought a terrible battle in Virginia near Manassas Junction. Report says under General McDowell the federal army lost in killed and wounded from 600 to 1000 and rebels a still greater number…truly terrible is war…
A state Anti-Slavery convention be there in W Chester convened, first session this morning and William Lloyd Garrison being present we concluded to remain till tomorrow. Heard Garrison in afternoon and again at evening meeting and liked him better than I had anticipated. Some men’s praise pass away with or before them but his is reserved for a future and I trust no distant day. Heard Purvis, Johnson, McKim, Lucretia Mott and others. Boarded and lodged with 30 others from the Convention at Joshua Hoops’…
At quarterly meeting at Horshams, Samuel Levie there and spoke at great length on the present war, said the hand of the Lord was in it, that all might fight but the quakers…those that have not had the light, many hold slaves, whip them to death, may steal, lie and swear and commit murder! Who seeks to excuse the latter classes none. This thing of separating the sin from the sinner is hard business…If our house is entered by a midnight assassin and a member of the family murdered we must speak of the crime with said qualifications…
Went this morning to Horsham to hear Rachel Moore and the audience was very large. She compacted grandly the idea of original depravity contending that our first nature is love and that men fight and do evil only when they come from under its influence. She urges that the infant mind is as a blank sheet…Lucretia Mott also was there and said a little in her quiet way…
At the Anti-Slavery fair, dined there at S Webb’s to tea…We heard H.W. Beecher lecture on the present wartimes, he contrasted in his peculiar way Liberty and Slavery showing the counter operation of each…At Annual Meeting of Horse Company was reelected treasurer…
Met at 4000 at W Station Charles C Burleigh by arrangement made this week with J.M. McKim. Burlegh, Edward Townsend and Harris here to tea after which we drove to Horshamville Hall where Charles spoke for 2 hours on the Meaning of the War in his clear forcible style without a note, audience not large…
Took Burleigh to Station this morning tomorrow he speaks at Wilmington and next eve at Newtown, the man, saying nothing of his long beard and hair we like, possessing a splendid talent and a heart full of high and generous impulses…
At Gwynedd meeting Rachel Moore there and spoke at length to a large audience…
Mary gone with others to Joseph Ambler’s to sew for the “Contrabands” so called…
This afternoon we went to Philadelphia to hear Wendall Phillips on the War and the Times, he spoke in Concert Hall to a full house for an hour and a half. He spoke without a note as his practice and is certainly a really fluent man but on this occasion with rather less eloquent than I had anticipated. By request he spoke on 7th day night last in Washington to an immense audience not only without interruption but was much applauded…Our army West and South have gained great victories on the Potomac much less…
Out of the convulsion that now sends our country…some good and great results, since the commencement of the war, thousands of slaves have fled from their masters and are free and on the 11th congress by a large vote abolished slavery in the District of Columbia with a compensation clause allowing every loyal claimant $300 for each slave…Thus one great good is accomplished and the hope of there souls is that more yet will be…A great battle in that Division is expected soon perhaps at Yorktown…
At Green St Meeting in Morning heard Rachel Moore and Mary Lippincott…meeting closed about 1 after much opposition from the conservative party, a minute prepared by Women friends was adopted and directed to be forwarded to congress approval of the Act of Emancipation in the District…
Late disasters before Richmond have deepened the gloom and lessened McClellan’s popularity. Congress has just adjourned and before doing so passed a bill emancipating the slaves of rebels and the President after some modification signed it but will he cause its enforcement and will he carry out its intent and meaning faithfully? Orders have ben issued for the enlisting of 300000 men and many fear that volunteers will not be found…
Went this morning with Lee Garrigues, six others riding, in search of Bill Gillan who stole yesterday morning about $55…six of us met at Doylestown and then we soon found him and brought him down with us and had him committed and placed in Norristown Jail, he is a youth about 20 and not very bright…
We received from Abraham Lincoln a Proclamation giving freedom at the 1st of January next to all the slaves the property of those in rebellion against the United States…If Liberty now dies on our soil by the hands of the traitors and despots still as God rules it must one day prevail….Went this even to Joseph Ambler’s to offer our sympathy he having been so unfortunate as to have been drafted yesterday…Some are procuring Substitutes as extravagant prices, $300, $500, or even $1000. Some are exempt on conscientious grounds…
At Quarterly meeting at Horsham, Lucretia Mott there and spoke at length, she has lived down happily much of the prejudice existing against her, had with us to dine some 14 persons…
Abut 20 here making “Contraband” clothes…
At Thomas Foulkes’ quite a number there sewing for “Contrabands” this is an upper company so engaged…
At E Townsend’s and others there cutting out clothes for “Contrabands”. At the “Circle” in the evening…
In the evening we went to the Academy of Music to hear a new star, Anna E Dickinson, hon how Providence is Teaching the nation, she has made quite stir and for her age, 20 or 21 is something of a prodigy, had a large audience…
Another raid has just been made by the rebels into Pennsylvania, Chambersburg is no being occupied by them. How strong they come is not known. Great efforts are making to repel them…
Great excitement at Harrisburg. Rebels machine upon and now within 15 miles of the place. Lee’s force said to be all N of the Potomac…
Information is received of an engagement between General Mead commanding the army of the Potomac and General Lee at or near Gettysburg in which the latter was defeated and is now leaving PA in haste, heavy loss on both sides…
Heart today that the Rebels at Vicksburg have at length surrendered the stronghold to General Grant. Good news this…
Yesterday a terrible mob was raging in New York on account of the draft…
This morning commenced in Concert Hall the 3rd decade meeting of the America Anti-Slavery society to continue 2 days, attended morning and afternoon sessions. In evening I heard H Ward Beecher, most eloquently hold forth in the Academy of Music upon his recent visit to Eng and its connection with our war and slavery. His Anti-slavery was equal to Garrisons…AT morning meeting we had the presence of HW Beecher who delivered a short but neat speech of all classes and degrees of talent. Among them, Garrison, Lucretia Mott, McKim, Samuel J May, S Foster, Ch Burleigh, Robert Purvis, Frederick Douglass, Theodore Tilton, Mary Grew, Lucy Stone, Susan B Anthony, Frances D Gage, Annie Dickinson, Hon Henry Wilson, the latter sat upon the platform a full session and near its close delivered a strong anti-slavery speech. The occasion was one of much interest without any molestation and a general good feeling seemed to prevail…
Mary went this eve with Jos Ambler to Horsham to hear Frances D Gage lecture upon the subject of the Contrabands at Port Royal and her sojourn there for more than a year. She is deeply interested in the welfare of these unfortunate creates and she is seeking to enlist sympathy on their behalf…
Left at one with Th Foulke to attend a lecture in Horsham Hall by Frederick Douglass, he appeared and gave a good lecture to a full house. So great has been the change in public sentiment that many present today three years ago would have repealed the idea of being present…After the Lecture we invited Frederick to tea and Th Atkinson and wife in whose company he was which was accepted. With these and some others come to hear him the evening was spent very pleasantly. Frederick was in a good mood and showed quite as much intelligence as some white men! His age is 47. Tomorrow he lectures at Newtown. The proceeds of lectures to to the Freedmen South…
The aspect of affairs growing out fo the slavery questions look threatening and portend a coming storm. South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama have seceded from the Union and other states propose to do so. And this because a great majority of the people growing tired of Southern aggression upon Northern Rights and determined upon a limitation of Slavery extension chose to elect Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States, what the result may be is impossible to say…
Annually meeting of Horse Company at Foster’s was reelected treasure…Met this morning the Board of the Springhouse and Hill town TPRC at Jno Stifer’s was placed again against my will on the road court…
The war commenced yesterday at Charleston, SC the rebel army attacked Fort Sumpter when the government attempted to supply it with provisions and that Major Anderson repelled the attack…truly we have fallen on sad times. How humiliating to think that in this enlightened day men shall be found rebelling against making war upon her government because it seeks to limit the area of slavery and prospectively abolish it…people seek to substitute liberty for slavery throughout our land and forbid the unholy traffic in human flesh, the Southern Confederacy so called will rise up and ? their hands in the blood of their fellow men..
Troops are leaving from all the Northern States for the South. Northern troops were fired on in Baltimore last week by a mob and several killed, the Bridge at the Susquehanna Tunnel Railroad communication stopped. Maryland divided in her sentiment also Virginia…
Out at Fosters this afternoon on the occasion of a Pole and Flag raising, pole 75 feet, flay about 12x25 feet, a large number of persons were present and patriotic speeches by B.M. Boyer, H Bonsall and R Watson of Doylsetown…
Military companies are marching through the streets and under drill in the squads and much excitement every where prevails Maryland has now changed her attitude and declares for the Union. Virginia divided in sentiment and wavering. Volunteers are arriving almost daily and moving southward. The Capitol is now thought to be safe and most probably in a week or two a sad retribution will be visited upon the South…
At home recording marriage certificates. With committee of superintendence of Springhouse and Hilltown Road….Heard yesterday of the death of Stephen A Douglas. The war still progresses. Goops are multiplying and the federal government has taken a few posts occupied by the seceders with the loss of a few lives. In all Northern states great unanimity prevails and a determination to push the war vigorously forward to a termination…that termination may be a redemption from Southern misruled and dictation of the destruction of slavery. Truly it cannot be that we are to suffer by their treason the loss of life and property and national prosperity…
Went this morning to an appointed meeting at Gwynedd boor for John Hodgkin an orthodox friend from England….was well attended and the sermon given will received….Hodgkin and Wister went to T.S. Foulke’s to dine and we also went. He is a small dark complexioned many aged 45 or 50 very affable and polite…Saw the great parade of 4000 Home guards fully equipped…A fine distinct comet made its appearance in the Northern Sky…
On first day last was fought a terrible battle in Virginia near Manassas Junction. Report says under General McDowell the federal army lost in killed and wounded from 600 to 1000 and rebels a still greater number…truly terrible is war…
A state Anti-Slavery convention be there in W Chester convened, first session this morning and William Lloyd Garrison being present we concluded to remain till tomorrow. Heard Garrison in afternoon and again at evening meeting and liked him better than I had anticipated. Some men’s praise pass away with or before them but his is reserved for a future and I trust no distant day. Heard Purvis, Johnson, McKim, Lucretia Mott and others. Boarded and lodged with 30 others from the Convention at Joshua Hoops’…
At quarterly meeting at Horshams, Samuel Levie there and spoke at great length on the present war, said the hand of the Lord was in it, that all might fight but the quakers…those that have not had the light, many hold slaves, whip them to death, may steal, lie and swear and commit murder! Who seeks to excuse the latter classes none. This thing of separating the sin from the sinner is hard business…If our house is entered by a midnight assassin and a member of the family murdered we must speak of the crime with said qualifications…
Went this morning to Horsham to hear Rachel Moore and the audience was very large. She compacted grandly the idea of original depravity contending that our first nature is love and that men fight and do evil only when they come from under its influence. She urges that the infant mind is as a blank sheet…Lucretia Mott also was there and said a little in her quiet way…
At the Anti-Slavery fair, dined there at S Webb’s to tea…We heard H.W. Beecher lecture on the present wartimes, he contrasted in his peculiar way Liberty and Slavery showing the counter operation of each…At Annual Meeting of Horse Company was reelected treasurer…
Met at 4000 at W Station Charles C Burleigh by arrangement made this week with J.M. McKim. Burlegh, Edward Townsend and Harris here to tea after which we drove to Horshamville Hall where Charles spoke for 2 hours on the Meaning of the War in his clear forcible style without a note, audience not large…
Took Burleigh to Station this morning tomorrow he speaks at Wilmington and next eve at Newtown, the man, saying nothing of his long beard and hair we like, possessing a splendid talent and a heart full of high and generous impulses…
At Gwynedd meeting Rachel Moore there and spoke at length to a large audience…
Mary gone with others to Joseph Ambler’s to sew for the “Contrabands” so called…
This afternoon we went to Philadelphia to hear Wendall Phillips on the War and the Times, he spoke in Concert Hall to a full house for an hour and a half. He spoke without a note as his practice and is certainly a really fluent man but on this occasion with rather less eloquent than I had anticipated. By request he spoke on 7th day night last in Washington to an immense audience not only without interruption but was much applauded…Our army West and South have gained great victories on the Potomac much less…
Out of the convulsion that now sends our country…some good and great results, since the commencement of the war, thousands of slaves have fled from their masters and are free and on the 11th congress by a large vote abolished slavery in the District of Columbia with a compensation clause allowing every loyal claimant $300 for each slave…Thus one great good is accomplished and the hope of there souls is that more yet will be…A great battle in that Division is expected soon perhaps at Yorktown…
At Green St Meeting in Morning heard Rachel Moore and Mary Lippincott…meeting closed about 1 after much opposition from the conservative party, a minute prepared by Women friends was adopted and directed to be forwarded to congress approval of the Act of Emancipation in the District…
Late disasters before Richmond have deepened the gloom and lessened McClellan’s popularity. Congress has just adjourned and before doing so passed a bill emancipating the slaves of rebels and the President after some modification signed it but will he cause its enforcement and will he carry out its intent and meaning faithfully? Orders have ben issued for the enlisting of 300000 men and many fear that volunteers will not be found…
Went this morning with Lee Garrigues, six others riding, in search of Bill Gillan who stole yesterday morning about $55…six of us met at Doylestown and then we soon found him and brought him down with us and had him committed and placed in Norristown Jail, he is a youth about 20 and not very bright…
We received from Abraham Lincoln a Proclamation giving freedom at the 1st of January next to all the slaves the property of those in rebellion against the United States…If Liberty now dies on our soil by the hands of the traitors and despots still as God rules it must one day prevail….Went this even to Joseph Ambler’s to offer our sympathy he having been so unfortunate as to have been drafted yesterday…Some are procuring Substitutes as extravagant prices, $300, $500, or even $1000. Some are exempt on conscientious grounds…
At Quarterly meeting at Horsham, Lucretia Mott there and spoke at length, she has lived down happily much of the prejudice existing against her, had with us to dine some 14 persons…
Abut 20 here making “Contraband” clothes…
At Thomas Foulkes’ quite a number there sewing for “Contrabands” this is an upper company so engaged…
At E Townsend’s and others there cutting out clothes for “Contrabands”. At the “Circle” in the evening…
In the evening we went to the Academy of Music to hear a new star, Anna E Dickinson, hon how Providence is Teaching the nation, she has made quite stir and for her age, 20 or 21 is something of a prodigy, had a large audience…
Another raid has just been made by the rebels into Pennsylvania, Chambersburg is no being occupied by them. How strong they come is not known. Great efforts are making to repel them…
Great excitement at Harrisburg. Rebels machine upon and now within 15 miles of the place. Lee’s force said to be all N of the Potomac…
Information is received of an engagement between General Mead commanding the army of the Potomac and General Lee at or near Gettysburg in which the latter was defeated and is now leaving PA in haste, heavy loss on both sides…
Heart today that the Rebels at Vicksburg have at length surrendered the stronghold to General Grant. Good news this…
Yesterday a terrible mob was raging in New York on account of the draft…
This morning commenced in Concert Hall the 3rd decade meeting of the America Anti-Slavery society to continue 2 days, attended morning and afternoon sessions. In evening I heard H Ward Beecher, most eloquently hold forth in the Academy of Music upon his recent visit to Eng and its connection with our war and slavery. His Anti-slavery was equal to Garrisons…AT morning meeting we had the presence of HW Beecher who delivered a short but neat speech of all classes and degrees of talent. Among them, Garrison, Lucretia Mott, McKim, Samuel J May, S Foster, Ch Burleigh, Robert Purvis, Frederick Douglass, Theodore Tilton, Mary Grew, Lucy Stone, Susan B Anthony, Frances D Gage, Annie Dickinson, Hon Henry Wilson, the latter sat upon the platform a full session and near its close delivered a strong anti-slavery speech. The occasion was one of much interest without any molestation and a general good feeling seemed to prevail…
Mary went this eve with Jos Ambler to Horsham to hear Frances D Gage lecture upon the subject of the Contrabands at Port Royal and her sojourn there for more than a year. She is deeply interested in the welfare of these unfortunate creates and she is seeking to enlist sympathy on their behalf…
Left at one with Th Foulke to attend a lecture in Horsham Hall by Frederick Douglass, he appeared and gave a good lecture to a full house. So great has been the change in public sentiment that many present today three years ago would have repealed the idea of being present…After the Lecture we invited Frederick to tea and Th Atkinson and wife in whose company he was which was accepted. With these and some others come to hear him the evening was spent very pleasantly. Frederick was in a good mood and showed quite as much intelligence as some white men! His age is 47. Tomorrow he lectures at Newtown. The proceeds of lectures to to the Freedmen South…
