By: By: Brian HoranBrian Horan

Joseph JacksonJoseph JacksonGroup documentaryGroup documentary

Youth DivisionYouth Division

By: By: Brian HoranBrian Horan

Joseph JacksonJoseph JacksonGroup documentaryGroup documentary

Youth DivisionYouth Division

Adam Crosswhite was Adam Crosswhite was born a slave on born a slave on October 17, 1799 in October 17, 1799 in Kentucky.Kentucky.

Adam was born to a Adam was born to a Slave mother and a Slave mother and a white father.white father.

....

Adam learned in 1843 that his slave owner, Adam learned in 1843 that his slave owner, Francis Giltner was Going to sell his Children.Francis Giltner was Going to sell his Children.

The family escaped in August 1843 and used The family escaped in August 1843 and used the underground railroad to get to Michigan.the underground railroad to get to Michigan.

They finally reached Marshall Michigan and after They finally reached Marshall Michigan and after a while, Bought a small home.a while, Bought a small home.

..

One early morning Lucretia was looking for One early morning Lucretia was looking for some string for her father, when she heard the some string for her father, when she heard the voice. She hadn’t heard that voice since they lived voice. She hadn’t heard that voice since they lived in Kentucky. She wondered if he was from in Kentucky. She wondered if he was from Kentucky. So she ran home, completely forgetting Kentucky. So she ran home, completely forgetting about the string.about the string.

Lucretia swung through the door Lucretia swung through the door breathlessly. Her mother said “Lucretia! What’s breathlessly. Her mother said “Lucretia! What’s the matter girl?”the matter girl?”

““When I was at the dry goods store, I heard When I was at the dry goods store, I heard a man From Kentucky and he might be after us.”a man From Kentucky and he might be after us.”

““Now you don’t know that.” said her mother.Now you don’t know that.” said her mother.

They lived Marshal, M.I. until 1847 when They lived Marshal, M.I. until 1847 when Francis Giltner sent David his son, his nephew Francis Giltner sent David his son, his nephew Francis Troutman and others too to try and Francis Troutman and others too to try and recapture the Crosswhite family.recapture the Crosswhite family.

Troutman, who plans to take the Crosswhites Troutman, who plans to take the Crosswhites back to the south, is confronted by several back to the south, is confronted by several hundreds of people.hundreds of people.

When slave catchers When slave catchers tried to recapture the tried to recapture the Crosswhites, they felt it Crosswhites, they felt it was unsafe and moved was unsafe and moved to Canada.to Canada.

They moved to Buxton They moved to Buxton Ontario until after the Ontario until after the civil war. civil war.

Adam said he did Adam said he did reside in Marshall reside in Marshall Michigan about the Michigan about the month of January month of January 1847. 1847.

He recollects hearing a He recollects hearing a noise that sounded like noise that sounded like a door falling in while a door falling in while feeding his chickens in feeding his chickens in the back. the back.

He went to the front of He went to the front of the house and saw the house and saw Francis Troutman and Francis Troutman and David Giltner.David Giltner.

He asked what they He asked what they wanted and why they wanted and why they were there.were there.

They wanted to take They wanted to take them back to the south them back to the south for more slavery. for more slavery.

When it came time for the case, they told them to When it came time for the case, they told them to be taken by wagon.be taken by wagon.

They then proposed to take the children and leave They then proposed to take the children and leave him and his wife. Adam said he would die before him and his wife. Adam said he would die before they laid hands on either child.they laid hands on either child.

When he was at Marshall, He told the five men to When he was at Marshall, He told the five men to get out of his house.get out of his house.

They all left except Giltner, who sat down and They all left except Giltner, who sat down and cried, While Adam said he would see what the law cried, While Adam said he would see what the law would do with him.would do with him.

The deputy sheriff went with Adam to Squire Sherman’s The deputy sheriff went with Adam to Squire Sherman’s and afterwards went to Adam’s house and said he had and afterwards went to Adam’s house and said he had nothing left tom do with Adamnothing left tom do with Adam

Adam said he did not see any of the white defendants Adam said he did not see any of the white defendants while walking to Sherman’s.while walking to Sherman’s.

When returning he only saw Hurd and Comstock, Which When returning he only saw Hurd and Comstock, Which neither of them showed anything to affray the matter as neither of them showed anything to affray the matter as Adam could see.Adam could see.

On return to his own house, he saw two color defendants, On return to his own house, he saw two color defendants, Planter Moss and Charles Berger, who threw off their coats Planter Moss and Charles Berger, who threw off their coats as Troutman Pulled and Replaced a pistol.as Troutman Pulled and Replaced a pistol.

He said he left grounds 15 minutes after He said he left grounds 15 minutes after returning to his house with the sheriff.returning to his house with the sheriff.

When Adam left the grounds, he recollects When Adam left the grounds, he recollects seeing Comstock and Hurd, but no colored seeing Comstock and Hurd, but no colored defendants.defendants.

He thinks they were there to prevent He thinks they were there to prevent bloodshed. bloodshed.

Adam Moved back to Adam Moved back to Marshall after the civil Marshall after the civil war.war.

Ultimently, the case Ultimently, the case led to the fugitive slave led to the fugitive slave act of 1850.act of 1850.

Adam died on January Adam died on January 23, 1878 in Marshall 23, 1878 in Marshall Michigan.Michigan.

The conflict is that Adam was a slave who The conflict is that Adam was a slave who wanted to keep his kids.wanted to keep his kids.

The compromise is that Adam left his home The compromise is that Adam left his home and town to stay free.and town to stay free.

Photo CreditsPhoto Credits

1. http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-1. http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18670_44390-160755--,00.html160-17451_18670_44390-160755--,00.html

2. 2. http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/dcr/harrhttp://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/dcr/harriettubman.htmiettubman.htm

3.http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/3.http://www.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2003/109/6928464_1050873682.jpgphotos/2003/109/6928464_1050873682.jpg