Read John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger, Runaway Slaves: Rebels
on the Plantation.
They argue, quite persuasively, that most runaway slaves DID NOT run
North, but stayed in the South, usually to be near family.
Paul Finkelman
John Selby wrote:
> Family????
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "phebe" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 2:50 PM
> Subject: run away slave
>
>
> I have a question about a run away slave and I can not seem to find an
> answer, so I am turning to this ever knowledgeable list.
>
> BACKGROUND:
>
> I recently appeared before the Sarasota Florida City Commission to request a
> historic designation for the oldest cemetery in Sarasota Florida. My
> application was based on the life of the first white settler (William
> Whitaker) in Sarasota Florida in 1843. In the application I stated that he
> owned 6 slaves. During the question period, one of the Commissioners asked
> if I would find more information about any slaves in the Sarasota Florida
> area prior to the War Between the States.
>
>
> MY FINDINGS:
>
> I found that one of the slaves of William Whitaker was a run away from North
> Carolina. Long story short -- William Whitaker paid his previous owner
> $1,000 for him.
>
> MY QUESTION:
>
> Most slaves would go north for freedom, while some from Georgia would come
> to Florida and live with the Seminole. But this slave ran away in 1857
> after the majority of Seminoles had been relocated west. It is very
> puzzling to me why he chose to come through South Carolina, Georgia and on
> to Florida - a slave state. To me this does not make sense.
>
> Any thoughts or comments or books I could read would be most helpful.
>
> One of the Commissioners was actually shocked to think that we at one time
> had slaves in Sarasota. These folks are politicians not historians so
> ........
>
> Thanks for taking time to read my dilemma.
>
> Phebe Morgan
> Sarasota, Florida
>
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--
Paul Finkelman
Chapman Distinguished Professor
University of Tulsa College of Law
3120 East 4th Place
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-2499
918-631-3706 (office)
918-631-2194 (fax)
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