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John Berry Meachum, husband of Mary Meachum. He and his wife were both freed persons engaged in the efforts of the Underground Railroad through their church, home, and school. A pastor and founder of the oldest black church in Missouri he was also a skilled carpenter. A trade he taught to those he assisted, a skill that afforded him income to help free enslaved people by buying their freedom. As an educator he operated a school which taught both free and enslaved black students. When the state of Missouri banned all education for blacks in 1847 he circumvented the law by teaching classes on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. The efforts of John and Mary Meachum are today celebrated with the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing.
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Newspaper account of the capture and arrest of Mary Meachum and enslaved persons during attempted crossing of the Mississippi River to freedom on May 21, 1855. Account from the Louisiana newspaper, Thibodaux Minervera. See IMAGE 0151.
1855 |
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Bill of sale for Esther, enslaved black woman, 1852 (call#E445.M67 K55 1852 4o,) Julian Edison Department of Special Collections, Washington University Libraries.
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Bill of sale for Esther, enslaved black woman, 1852 (call#E445.M67 K55 1852 4o,) Julian Edison Department of Special Collections, Washington University Libraries.
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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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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 0146.
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 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 0154 for full page.
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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.
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