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Newspaper account of the capture and arrest of Mary Meachum and enslaved persons attempted crossing of the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois on May 21, 1855. See IMAGE 0153.
1855 |
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Newspaper account of the capture and arrest of Mary Meachum and enslaved persons attempted crossing of the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois on May 21, 1855. See IMAGE 0152.
1855 |
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The Daily Dispatch page 1, May 29, 1855. Reporting of capture of fugitive slaves belonging to Henry Shaw and Underground Railroad agents which include Mary Meachum. See Image 0155 for detail.
1855 |
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The Daily Dispatch page 1, May 29, 1855. Reporting of capture of fugitive slaves belonging to Henry Shaw and Underground Railroad agents which include Mary Meachum. See Image 0154 for full page.
1855 |
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Portrait of Caroline Shaw, younger sister of Henry Shaw. She oversaw the business affairs of her brother while he was away from St. Louis travelling abroad.
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Mary Meachum (1801-1869), wife of John Berry Meachum. She and her husband were both freed persons engaged in the efforts of the Underground Railroad through their church, home, and school. On the early morning of May, 21st of 1855 nine enslaved persons including four owned by Henry Shaw; Esther, her two children, and one unnamed male made their break for freedom utilizing the Underground Railroad with the assistance of Mary Meachum. They attempted crossing the Mississippi River to the free state of Illinois. Unfortunately bounty hunters awaited them and they were soon captured and Mary Meachum would be jailed for the attempt. The location of this historic event on the banks of Mississippi River north of downtown St. Louis is today memorialized as the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing.
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Photographic reproduction of painting of Henry Shaw, 1835.
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Portrait of Henry Shaw standing holding papers taken in 1858.
1858 |
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Bill of sale for purchase of enslaved person, Jim, by Henry Shaw in 1852. See PHO2020-0041.
1852 |
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Bill of sale for purchase of enslaved person, Jim, by Henry Shaw in 1852. Back of record. Jim was most likely the unidentified male captured with Esther, her two children, and Mary Meachum in their bid for freedom in May of 1855. See PHO2020-0040.
1852 |
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