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HomeMy WebLinkAboutugrrIII. Sites and Stories: Auburn --East Nicholas and Harriet Bogart House 20 Miller Street Auburn, New York Significance: Home of African American community leaders February 2005 Looking East 37 Nicholas and Harriet Bogart represent those African American community leaders born in slavery in the North, who acted as a bridge between the local African American and European American communities, facilitating the work of abolitionists and Underground Railroad sympathizers. From the 1830s until the 1890s, they acted as leaders not only of this community but of the organized African American network in New York State. They also acted as a key link between African Americans and the Seward-Worden family network in Auburn and Washington, D.C., facilitating the work of these families as they assisted African Americans in both freedom and slavery, including those who escaped on the Underground Railroad. According to an obituary, Nicholas Bogart was "one of the oldest and best known colored men in this State and a man of almost national reputation during the slavery agitation, from his connection as coachman with the family of the late Secretary of State William H. Seward." Bogart born in slavery in New York State on December 24, 1801. In 1826, he went to live with David Titus in Dutchess County, and three years later, he came with the Titus family to Cayuga County. In 1838, his name appeared on the first incorporation papers for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on Washington Street. In 1839, he was a trustee of the "African School" in the village of Auburn, and he signed a "card of thanks" published in the Friend of Man for money raised for the school.3 3Special thanks to Peter Wisbey for sharing the photograph of Harriet Bogart and quotations relating to the Bogarts from collections of the Seward House, Auburn. Friend of Man, April 24, 1839; Religious Corporations of Cayuga County, NY, Vol. 1, 154, Cayuga County Records Retention Office. Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) _ Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 38 III. Sites and Stories: Auburn --East David Titus was a close friend of William Henry Seward, and when Seward was elected Governor of New York State in 1839, Nicholas Bogart went with him to Albany as his coachman. There, in 1840 and 1841, Bogart was also appointed a delegate from Albany to black state conventions held in Albany and Troy. Bogart, whom the family called Nick, remained in Seward's employ in both Auburn and Washington, D.C., _ as a coachman and then as a gardener, until Seward's death in 1872, and the Seward family continued_ to provide for him until his death.4 By 1855, Nicholas Bogart was also working as sexton for the First Baptist Church„ where he was a member. He was, according to his obituary, "very religious." Harriet C. Bogart was also a mainstay in the Seward household. She worked either for the Sewards or for Lazette Worden, Frances Seward's sister, from the 1830s on. She was born about 1810, somewhere in Cayuga County and moved to Auburn about 1830. She married a man named Hays and had two children with him, Willis and Lewis. Her marriage to Hays dissolved shortly after the birth of her second child. According to Lazette Worden's daughter, Frances Worden Chesebro, "Harriet was my mother's servitor, her main dependence when she commenced housekeeping and the one who received me from Doctor Little when I made my first appearance into this world. An unfortunate marriage had taken her from our family to which she returned in a few years with two piccaninni [?] boys and remained our own Harriet until - persuaded into a second marriage by Nicholas Bogart." The Bogarts had one daughter, Harriet E., born — about 1838.s In 1855, Harriet and Nicholas Bogart lived with their daughter; Harriet. E., then age 17. When Harriet _ married in 1857, Frances Seward wrote to her husband, William Henry Seward, that "Hattie Bogart vis Simpson had a beautiful wedding and party. I wish you could have been there.' -,6 In 1857, the Auburn city directory listed the Bogarts as living at 3 Exchange Street, still near the Baptist Church, but Seward's land records suggest that they purchased a small house at 16 Miller Street (now 20 Miller Street) from William Henry Seward in that year. [Is this correct?] The deed for this house, recorded in 1868, was in Harriet Bogart's name, not Nicholas Bogart's. In 1860, the census recorded them in a house worth $300, living with one -year-old Mary Simpson of Ohio, next door to William Cromwell, pastor of Zion Church. City directories in 1865-66 noted their continued residence at 16 Miller Street, although the 1865 census suggested they were "with Silas Bradley, . Merchant," and that Nicholas Bogart's occupation was "none." 4 Obituary, Nicholas Bogart, n.d. and February 20, 1893, from Seward House, Obituary Scrapbook, in Peter Wisbey and Jennifer Haines, "Selected references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. 5[Frances Worden Chesebro}, [Manuscript on the Underground Railroad], Seward Papers, University of Rochester, 5. Thanks to Kate Clifford Larson for discovering this. 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870 census; - Obituary, Nicholas Bogart, n.d. and February 20, 1893, from Seward House, Obituary Scrapbook, in Peter Wisbey and Jennifer Haines, "Selected references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground " Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. _ 6 1855 Census; Frances Seward to William Henry Seward, May 28, 1857, Seward Papers, in Peter Wisbey- " and Jennifer Haines, "Selected references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground Railroad," , February 2004. Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates - 2004-05 III. Sites and Stories: Auburn—East Harriet Bogart, c. 1860 Courtesy of Seward House, Auburn, New York Throughout the 1850s, the Sewards-were regular supporters of the Underground Railroad, -- As William Seward wrote to his wife, Frances, in 1855, "The `underground railroad' works wonderfully. Two passengers came here last night. Watch (family dog) attacked one of them. I am against extending suffrage to dogs. They are just like other classes of parvenus."' In 1859, William Henry Seward helped eighteen people escape from slavery on a steamer from Washington, D.C. He also sold seven acres of land to Harriet Tubman, a known freedom seeker, and about 1861, Tubman brought her niece (perhaps actually her daughter), Margaret Stewart, to Auburn, to live with Lazette Worden and the Sewards8. Cited in Frederick Seward. Seward in Washington. Vol. II, p. 256, in Wisbey and Haines, "Selected references to Af ican-Americans, Slavery or the Underground Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. s July 1870, Francis B. Carpenter, "A Day with Governor Seward at Auburn": "Among the visitors in the evening was Mr. Wormley, the well known colored landlord of Washington. Greeting him cordially and introducing him to his other guests, Mr. Seward said: `Wormley and I went into the emancipation business a year and a half before Mr. Lincoln did, down on the James River. How was it Wormley — how many slaves did we take off on our steamer?' `Eighteen,' replied Mr. Wormley. `Among them was Harriet Freeman, who has never ceased to pray for you, sir, since night and morning!' A lady guest from Washington said: `Mr. Seward, black Harriet wished me to say to you that she thanked God every day that she had a son old enough and strong enough to go with you accompany him on his journey.)" [handwritten mss., Seward Papers, University of Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 39 40 III. Sites and Stories: Auburn East Local tradition associated the old kitchen with the Underground Railroad. The Auburn Daily Herald reported in 1891 that "it is said that the old kitchen was one of the most popular stations of the Underground Railroad, and that many a poor slave who fled by this route to Canada carried to his grave the remembrance of its warmth and cheer."9 The Bogarts would have been key players in this Underground Railroad network, acting as a bridge between the Seward family, the local African American community, and freedom seekers in need of help. Quite likely, Harriet Bogart also took care of Margaret Stewart, Harriet Tubman's Maryland -born niece, when she stayed with the family. During the Civil War, Harriet's son, Willis A. Bogart, joined the U.S. Army. In Chicago on December 31, 1863, he mustered into Company B, 290i Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry, as a Private. From Camp Casey, Virginia on May 8, 1864, he wrote a cheerful letter to William Henry Seward, then Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln: Sir, Will you Please tell or let me know at your earliest opportunity If my father is in Washington with you. Or not As I have written home to Auburn & can get no answer from Home. I would like to _ know Whereabouts of Lt. Colonel Wm. H. Seward is and the No. of his Regt. I am well and in fine spirits in the 29 USC Troops at this Camp. No more at present, I remain your Humble Serv't Willis A. Bogartlo _ Willis Bogart was discharged October 21, 1864: Two years later, an exchange of letters between Harriet Bogart and William Henry Seward revealed something of what happened to Willis. The letters also suggest the mutual respect and love that existed between Harriet Bogart, family servant, and William Henry Seward, Secretary of State. Seward's reference to Harriet Bogart's "assiduous" attentions to his family - during the past year certainly refer to Harriet's help during the attack on his own life at the time of - Lincoln's assassination, as well as Frances Seward's death shortly thereafter. As Peter Wisbey,. Director, of the Seward House, has noted, Seward's request for a pardon for Willis went to the Governor of the late President Lincoln's own state, Illinois, in the difficult national context of Reconstruction politics. March 6, 1866 Harriet Bogart in Auburn to WHS in Washington: Mr. Seward, Kind sur I have neaver yet replied to your kind leter but will now try to do so. I am very gladto hear that your helth is better and I hope that it will continue to improve and that your whole family may be restored to perfect health with the blessing of god upon you. Mr. Seward did you receive a letter from Mr. Senter a short time ago which he wrote for me[J If you did you may think it strange that I shold of gotten him to wright to you in sted of wrighting my self. I will tel you why that was. I went to China and take care of you!' (This referred to Mr. Seward's body servant who was to Rochester, "A Day with Governor Seward" folder, cited in Wisbey and Haines, "Selected _ references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. 9Auburn Daily Herald, February 20, 1891, Seward House scrapbook, cited in Wisbey and. Haines, - "Selected references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. 10Cited in Wisbey and Haines, "Selected references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground - Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York. Research Associates 2004-05 III. Sites and Stories: Auburn—East 41 to him to make inquire of a society which I wisht to get some information and he thought that I had better wright to you. I asked him if he wold wright for me. He told me that he wold which was very kind in him. I have not sene him since. I felt then as if I cold not wright or do anything its ever again and I have not hardly been able to do much since for I some times think that I shall half to be cent to the asylum. I do not no what Mr. Senter wrote to you therefore I will wright you[.] I had a letter from mr. Isaac R. Hitt of Chicago, Ill. Real estate war claim and pension agency stateing that Willis my son had taken money from his safe which he was tride and sentence to the penitentiary for 2 years and 6 monts and I also had a letter from Willises attorney saying that if I wold send him one hundred dollars that he wold go to Springfield and procure a pardon for him that I have not got[.] -- Mr. Hitt ses that he given him information relation to his claim against the government for a pension for he was certainly disabled in the service. Mr. Seward you certainly have done a great deal for Willis which I can never re pay you for and now may I ask you if you will wright to the governor _ of that state for a pardon for him. I no he is un worthe but he is my son however un worthey. Ever your unworthey, Harriet C. Bogart P.S. he gose by the name of Willis A. Bogart" March 12, 1866 WHS in Washington to Mrs. Harriet Bogart of Auburn: _ My Dear Harriet, I have received your letter of the 6a' instant. I am glad to hear that you are well. We all here are improving. I will write to the Governor of Illinois of the case of Willis. Do not send One Hundred dollars, or any money whatever to any lawyer. Very truly, your friend, William H. Seward" March 12, 1866 WHS in Washington to Gov. Richard J. Oglesby of Illinois: Sir, Willis A. Bogart, is a colored man who, I think, has been in some capacity in the — military service; perhaps only a servant in the Quarter -masters or some other department. He certainly was disabled in the war. In former times he was a servant of mine. His mother, Harriet C. Bogart, is an exemplary and inestimable woman and has for more than thirty years been connected with my family by very affectionate relations. Her attentions in my family during the last year were assiduous, and attended with much personal sacrifice. She writes me that her son, Willis, has been convicted of a larceny and sentenced to the penitentiary for two — years and six months. I understand the conviction to have occurred at Chicago, but the information in this respect is imperfect. She writes, also, that her son's attorney applies to her to send him One Hundred dollars, upon receiving which he will go to Springfield and procure a — pardon. I beg leave of your Excellency to ask that you will give to the subject upon this application of mine the same consideration that would be procured if this poor, laboring colored woman had been able, and had sent One Hundred dollars to the attorney for the purpose of procuring an enquiry into the case. I beg leave to extenuate the boldness of this request by saying that only in one other instance have I ever asked, or recommended to the Governor of any State an exercise of clemency. That other case concerned William Freeman, a demented Negro, wrongfully convicted of murder, whom I had defended on his trial at my own cost. I beg leave to enclose to you Mrs. Bogart's letter, the original together with a copy. The original is precious to me, and I will thank you, therefore, to return it. I have the honor to be, sir, Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 42 Ill. Sites and Stories: Auburn --East Your obedient servant, William H. Seward March 16, 1866 Gov. Richard Oglesby of Illinois to VMS: Your letter and two enclosures received today. I have made examination of the record of applications for pardon but have been unable to find that Willis A. Bogart has made such an application. I suppose he or his friends will [very] soon move in the matter or if not I will cause an examination to be made into the facts of his case and will be disposed to grant the pardon. There will be no necessity for sending one hundred dollars to any attorney for this purpose and his mother need not do so -• your letter is all that will be necessary in the case as soon as I shall learn what there is of it when and where he was convicted &c. I return herewith the letter addressed to you by Mrs, Bogart as requested. September 23, 1867 Willis A. Bogart in Chicago, Ill., to WHS in Washington, DC: To His Excellency the Hon Wm. H. Seward Respectful Sir. Will you take upon yourself in your leisure moments to solve this mistery[sic] which to me is yet unexplained in the year '66 I received a bundle of Doc. From Messrs. Johnson, Brown & Co. No. 4 Intelligence Block of your City and after procuring them for my Attys. And after having my papers signed by the County Clerks at this City & forwarded to them & after a lapse of time I can hear nothing from them. I think it hard that alter having fought, bled & got crippled for life in defense of my Country that I have not got my just dues & I am extremely glad as I have before written to you for your service in procuring my release from solitary confinement in which I am completely cured of all my former [merits?] & look to him who is Higher than all this World. I wish to know if they are trustworthy & have an Honorable reputation of such. As I need my Back Bounty to sustain me in my pilgrimage through this Wide Wide World that I take this step: If you deems it worthy in the name of Hiram the Widow, my God is there no Hope for the Wid6w'g- sons. Or a member of this [_ft.] An Ans. Is fully requested. Please direct to my address in rear 242 East Madison Street, Chicago, Ills. I have written to day & before to them here. Hoping that I may & this may find in your eye a favorable opinion of such that my request may be granted, I will in the name of the Most. High god remain your most unworthy servant. Willis A. Bogart Give my love to Mr. Frederick Seward & all the family therein. , [In pencil, Seward's notation: "Is there any bounty due him. He is a colored man. Is there any bounty due him."]" In 1869-70, the city directory noted the Bogarts were living at 40 Main Street, but by 1879=80, they were back at 16 Miller Street. In 1876 they mortgaged their house for $300, with Augustus Seward, William Henry Seward's son, holding the mortgage. This seems to reflect Augustus Seward's general reorganization of accounts, for he remortgaged more than one property that year. Perhaps it was also Seward's attempt to give the Bogarts an annuity, much like a reverse mortgage would work for retirees today. 12 "Cited in Wisbey and Haines, "Selected references to African-Americans, Slavery or the Underground Railroad in the William Henry Seward Papers and other Sources," February 2004. -- 12 Deed recorded 1868, Cayuga County Clerk's Office Book 124, 493; Mortgage, Harriet C. & Nicholas Bogart to Augustus H. Seward, 27 June 1876, City of Auburn, Cayuga County, NY, Mortgage Book 93, 448-449. See attached abstract by Tanya Warren. [Is this deed dated 1868 or recorded 1868?] Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 I11. Sites and Stories: Auburn East 43 Harriet Bogart, that "inestimable and exemplary women," died in 1888. Nicholas Bogart, "one of the oldest and best known colored men in this State and a man of almost national reputation during the slavery agitation," lived alone at 16 Miller Street, cared for by neighbor Betsey Shaver and her daughter, with support from the Sewards. Nicholas Bogart died February 15, 1893, age 91. Funeral services were held at his home, and he was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery. 13 Written with the assistance of Peter Wisbey, Jennifer Haines, and Tanya Warren. Mortgage Deed Abstract — Harriet C. & Nicholas Bogart to Augustus H. Seward 27 June 1876 City of Auburn, Cayuga County, NY Mortgage Book 93, page 448-449 This indenture made this 27a' day of June 1876 between Harriet C. Bogart & Nicholas Bogart, her husband -- of the City of Auburn, etc., and Augustus H. Seward of the same place, in consideration for the sum of $300... do grant and convey to (Seward) all that tract or parcel of land situate in the City of Auburn known and distinguished as lot # 16 on Plot 1 of lands in the City of Auburn on map of William H. Seward, _ executor of Elijah Miller, deceased, made by James Bostwick and filed in the office of the Cayuga County Clerk 26 January 1864. Being the same premises conveyed to the said Harriet. Bogart by deed dated 28 March 1868 and recorded in Cayuga County Clerk's Office Book 124, page 493. This grant is intended" as a security for the payment of the sum of $300 ongoing on this date with interest according to the condition of a bond this day executed and delivered by the said Harriet Bogart to the party of the second part ... (payment details illegible)... also agreed by and between the parties that (Harriet Bogart) shall and will keep the building erected and to be erected upon the lands above conveyed covered against loss and damage by fire by insurance in an amount agreed to by (Seward) (additional insurance details illegible). Signed by the hand of Harriet Bogart and the mark of Nicholas Bogart Witness: F. G. Day. Research and transcription by Tanya Warren 13 1880 Census; Obituary, February 15, 1893, Seward House scrapbook. Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 44 III. Sites and Stories: Aubum–East Rev. William Cromwell and Melinda and Julia Cromwell House 8 Francis Street (Historic 6 Frances Street) Auburn, New York 13021 Significance: Home of freedom seeker and early AME Zion minister February 2005 Looking South Set back from the road farther than its neighbors, this small house gives us that one tantalizing _ clue about its early origins. Its modest size, however, belies its importance to the nineteenth century African American community in Auburn. Rev. William Cromwell was pastor of the AME Zion Church at 9 Washington Street from about 1852-c. 1875. He purchased this land in 1855, and he (or his congregation) built the house itself before 1865 This small dwelling represents the organized African American community in Auburn as it integrated freedom seekers from the southern U.S. and Canada—including Rev. Cromwell himself= -into the existing community of free people of color. This community included those who had been, although enslaved, among the first settlers of Auburn. Cromwell had himself been born in either Maryland or Virginia, probably in slavery. According to the 1855 census, he had arrived in Auburn about 1852. In 1855, he was 34 years old, an AME Zion minister, married to Malinda, age 39, who had been born in Pennsylvania. Their four Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism; African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 III. Sites and Stories: Auburn --East 45 children were Catharine E., age 14, born in Pennsylvania; Harriet, age 10, born in Chemung County; Elijah A., age 7, born in Oswego; and Mathilda, age 5, born in Oswego County. We can follow their migration pattern through their children's birthplaces, from Pennsylvania in the early 1840s to Chemung County (perhaps Elmira) about 1845 to Oswego about 1848 to Auburn about 1852. In addition to his duties as AME Zion minister locally, Rev. Cromwell participated in local and state-wide black conventions. In 1853, he was one of those who issued a call to "a convention of _ the colored people in the counties of Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga and Wayne" to be held in Geneva to organize "a Society auxiliary to the state council of colored people; and to further consider the proceedings of the National Convention held in Rochester in July last." "Come ye _ fathers and mothers, young men and maidens,:and let us take Council together," read the call. 14 On October 1, 1855, William A. Cromwell .purchased Lot No. 47 on plot 3 at 6 Frances Street, with a mortgage from William H. Seward; Executor of Elijah Miller, Seward's father-in-law. ` Cromwell did not immediately move there; however. The 1857 Auburn city directory listed his address as 206 Genesee. In 1859-60, he was at "Miller St. n Dam." In the 1860 census, William H. [?] Cromwell listed his age as 47. He still listed his birthplace as Maryland, and his occupation — was "E. Zion Church" He was the owner of $600 worth of land. His wife Melinda listed her, age as 45, and three children lived at home, Mathilda (10), Lucy A. 1(12), and Marietta (16). By 1863-64, the family had moved to 79 Owasco. In 1865-66, however, the directory listed him — at 6 Francis Street, so we know that the Cromwells had almost certainly constructed a dwelling there by that date. A house appeared on that lot on the map by W.W. Richie in 1871. - The 1865 New York State census listed William A. Cromwell as age 45, now a cook, born in Virginia, owning a frame house and land worth $600. Melinda was 46, born in Pennsylvania. Children at home included only Lela, 16, born in Oswego County, and Eliza, 18, born in Chemung County. In 1870, the only William Cromwell listed in the census was a cook in a hotel, age 55, born in New York State. This was probably the same William A. Cromwell who was the AME Zion — minister. Melinda Cromwell seems to have died; for by 1875, William A. Cromwell, still living - on Francis Street, was listed with an occupation as "Clergyman ME," and his wife's name was Julia. In 1876, Rev. William Cromwell recorded a mortgage for property at 6 Frances with Frederick Seward, William Henry Seward's son; for $300. On April 9, 1900,.William Cromwell's heirs lost" this house through foreclosure. In a suit brought by Frederick W. Seward against Julia E. Cromwell [William A. Cromwell's second wife], Effa Jackson, Alexander C. Davinger, F. Maude Wilson, Mary Melinda Cromwell, Laura Lewis, and Samuel Andrews, the judge ruled that the _ house was to be sold at sheriffs auction. Burt L. Rich purchased it for $475.16 and subsequently - sold it to Thomas Hoyle. _ In 1880, William Cromwell, cook, aged 58, born in Maryland, was living on Frances Street, with; his wife, Julia, born in New York, aged 51. 14 Frederick Douglass Paper, December 2, 1853, Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life - Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Hoard Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates -- 2004-05 46 III. Sites and Stories: Auburn= -East The house remained in the care of stable, long-term, single-family owners through most of its existence. After 45 years in the hands of the Cromwells, Thomas Hoyle kept the property only three years before selling it to the Clements family, who owned it for nineteen years. The next owners, Charles and Martha Harvey kept the house in the family for thirty-eight years. The Steigerwalds owned it for twenty-four years. Since 1984, the house has had only two owners. Cromwell House: Deed Chronolo2v October 1, 1855 Seward to Cromwell. Mortgage C Book 94, p. 45. 1876 Mortgage, Frederick Seward to William Cromwell, Liber 9, page 45. April 9, 1900 George S. Wood as Sheriff to Thomas Hoyle. Deed Book 30, p. 354. 1903 Thomas Hoyle to Clements. Deed Book 33, p. 87. 1922 Clements? Catharine to Charles Harvey. Deed Book 56, p. 17. 1960 Charles and Martha. Harvey to Steigerwalds. Book 314, p. 72 1984 Henry White (executor of Ruth Steigerwald) to Dr. R.M. Tucker: Book 674, p. 194 1991 David and Rose Mary Tucker to Helen Gamba. Book 832, p. — 42. 1996 Helen Rose Gamba to ? Book 939, p. 323. Research by Tanya Warren. Sites Relating to the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, African American Life Sponsored by Auburn Historic Resources Review Board Cayuga County Historian's Office Funded by Preserve New York (Preservation League of NYS and NYS Council on the Arts) _ Coordinated by Historical New York Research Associates 2004-05 I R )a_ ; Find' _ end " Ig Pr' ly & - Ond; . 'bour 777 Using primary sources is a powerful tool for engaging student$ in the study of history and through the Web, students and researchers have greater access to primary source materials as greater numbers of credible sources post these materials online. As explained in the Teacher Guide for Safe Passage, "primary sources create a direct link to the past, and humanize history by supplying the language, emotions, attitudes and values of the people who lived that history. "In general, primary sources are firsthand, or eyewitness, accounts of an event or the original work of a person. The person who wrote or created the document actually witnessed the event, participated in it or lived at the time it happened. Because people create primary source documents, they invariably have a specific perspective, purpose anal/or interpretation. -Primary sources show that any, account of an, event, no matter how impartially ,presented it appears to, be, is.essentially subjective. It is'also important to recognize that people who ' later read or use primarysource documents bring to them,th'eir own biases, created by their own personal situations and the culture and times in http://w'%A-w.safepassageobio.org/resources/Primarysource-s.asp 8/18/2008 4 Of ®_e _ 777 Using primary sources is a powerful tool for engaging student$ in the study of history and through the Web, students and researchers have greater access to primary source materials as greater numbers of credible sources post these materials online. As explained in the Teacher Guide for Safe Passage, "primary sources create a direct link to the past, and humanize history by supplying the language, emotions, attitudes and values of the people who lived that history. "In general, primary sources are firsthand, or eyewitness, accounts of an event or the original work of a person. The person who wrote or created the document actually witnessed the event, participated in it or lived at the time it happened. Because people create primary source documents, they invariably have a specific perspective, purpose anal/or interpretation. -Primary sources show that any, account of an, event, no matter how impartially ,presented it appears to, be, is.essentially subjective. It is'also important to recognize that people who ' later read or use primarysource documents bring to them,th'eir own biases, created by their own personal situations and the culture and times in http://w'%A-w.safepassageobio.org/resources/Primarysource-s.asp 8/18/2008 S; _ IsE 'Fin(" land ' T ' �g R ' ry & " pond . pour I 151 which they live." Examples of primary sources that students can find for the Underground Railroad include letters slave diaries court records, government legislation and business receipts. Through ,,;-s•{,;,,,;,;;.- a-� field trips, students can also observe artifacts from that era. When studying the Underground Railroad, students may find that primary sources are not easy to find. The success of the Underground Railroad depended heavily on secrets. If word leaked -, ;_.F� out, conductors and abolitionists would be punished and slaves would lose valuable assistance It•u'a on their quest for freedom. Another reason for the lack of primary resources is that very few slave owners provided an education for the people they owned. The Teacher Guide for Safe Passage also offers a word of caution about Underground Railroad sources. "Few contemporary documents related to the Underground Railroad itself survived. Most sources that have come down to us today are autobiographies or personal accounts If there is no struggle, written years after the described events occurred. This distance in time leads to possible there is no progress. distortions and inaccuracies. Biases based on different points of view can be enlightening and --Frederick Douglass problematic at the same time. For example, newspaper accounts after the Civil War often embellished the stories of abolitionists and freedom seekers.. Even those involved in the - Now activities sometimes had trouble separating fact from fiction." The proliferation of material on the web emphasizes the need for evaluation of primary sources. Students that find and incorporate these resources should examine them to determine their authenticity, including that of the person or organization providing them. Also, it is important to study primary sources in relation to the historical events that occurred at the time the documents were created, as well as the culture of the time. Such study will lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of the primary sources that are uncovered. Below you will find a list of links to websites that contain information and guidelines on finding, analyzing, interpreting and using primary and secondary sources. Safe Passage also provides a handout. for students to help them analyze primary sources. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.) Library Resea_r..ch. Using Primary_Sou rces provides an excellent primer for students. The University of California at Berkeley offers both definition, and lists of primary and secondary sources, how to find the right reference source, and strategies for finding primary sources. While the material is geared toward the sources in the UC Berkeley library, the same type of collections and reference sources can be found at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. 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