Newport Fugitive Slave Rescue
Newport, Perry County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
In July 1841, three Md. slaves, Alick, Tom, and Ben, were pursued to Newport by bounty hunters. While Ben drowned as he attempted to cross the Juniata River, the other two were captured. Several Newport citizens aided the fugitives' escape, and in 1842 six of them were fined in a federal court for their actions. The event is an example of growing tensions between the North and the South prior to the Civil War that led to the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In July 1841, three enslaved men from Maryland—Alick, Tom, and Ben—fled north and were tracked to Newport by bounty hunters. Ben drowned trying to cross the Juniata River, and the other two were seized, but several Newport residents helped them get away. Six of those citizens were convicted in federal court in 1842 for aiding the escape.
Why it matters
The episode captures the rising North-South conflict over slavery that hardened into the harsh 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, and it honors ordinary Pennsylvanians who risked prosecution to help people reach freedom.
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Related people
- · Alick
- · Tom
- · Ben
Related events
- · Newport fugitive slave rescue, 1841
Themes & tags
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