Anthony Burns

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Anthony Burns By Elizabeth DePalma

Transcript of Anthony Burns

Page 1: Anthony Burns

Anthony Burns

By Elizabeth DePalma

Page 2: Anthony Burns

Early Life

Anthony Burns was born on May 31, 1834 in Stafford County, Virginia

Born to slave parents who belonged to John Suttle

His mother had been married three times and had a total of 13 children, Anthony being the youngest.

His father, his mother’s third husband, died before he could remember.

A few years later, Mr. Suttle died, and due to financial problems, Mrs. Suttle sold five of Anthony’s brothers and sisters. The remaining Suttle slaves were often hired out, which resulted in a two-year separation for Burns from his mother

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Early Life Cont.

Around the time Burns turned six years old, Mrs. Suttle passed away leaving the estate to her son, Mr. Charles F. Suttle

Anthony was hired out to several people, performing a variety of duties.

He worked as a personal servant, sawmill worker, and tavern servant. In addition to these skills, he also learned to read and write

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Early Life Cont.

He was baptized and accepted into the Baptist Church at Falmouth. Both blacks and whites both attended this church, but were separated by a partition.

A couple of years later, Anthony applied to his fellow brethren to be recognized as a preacher. Although violating Virginia law, which prohibited any assembly by slaves without a white person present, Burns would preach to small congregations of slaves. He was also often called upon to perform marriages and funerals among slaves

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Escape to FreedomThroughout his childhood and early adulthood, Anthony Burns heard several elders speak of a land to the North were there were no slaves.

"Until my tenth year I did not care what became of me; but soon after I began to learn that there is a Christ who came to make us free; I began to hear about a North, and to feel the necessity for freedom of soul and body.”

1854 Burns began to plan his escape. Burns had been hired out to Mr. Millspaugh, a druggist in Richmond. Millspaugh, however, soon found he didn’t have enough work to keep Burns busy.

Although going against the laws of Virginia, Millspaugh suggested Burns seek odd jobs here and there. Part of the earned money would be used to pay off Suttle and the remaining money would be split between the two of them

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Escape to FreedomBurns sought and found a job at the wharves. While working there he befriended a sailor to whom he would share his plan of escape.

On the night he finally decided to go, he put on all of the clothes he owned—four outfits—and headed to the wharf. He stowed away on the vessel where his friend belonged. Burns lay for three weeks on one side. He received bread and water every three or four days from his sailor friend.

He lost the use of one arm for a period of time. He endured seasickness, hunger, and uncomfort, but finally arrived on the shores of Boston. The first obstacle for freedom had been overcome.

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The ArrestHaving done a few other short term jobs previously while in Boston, on May 24, 1854, Anthony Burns had been working in a clothing store. The store was located on Brattle Street and belonged to the black trader, Coffin Pitts.

Upon leaving the store for the evening, Burns was followed and arrested by Asa O. Butman. Burns was told he was being arrested for breaking into and robbing a jewelry store

Burns, knowing he was innocent, went unresistingly with the men to the Court House, feeling he could easily prove his innocence. Although offering no resistance, Burns was surrounded by six or seven men who "took him in their arms horizontally as they would a dead person," and carried him to the Court House

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The ArrestAt the Court House, Burns realized in reality he had been arrested for being a fugitive slave. Butman knew if he revealed to Burns the real reason for his arrest, Burns might have tried to escape.

Shortly after arriving in Boston, Burns had sent a letter to his brother, who was also a slave for Mr. Suttle. Although the letter was sent through Canada, it was still intercepted by Mr. Suttle

Mr. Suttle was now at the Boston Court House, where Burns had been taken, to reclaim his slave.

The Fugitive Slave Law "empowered commissioners . . . to issue certificates entitling claimant of fugitive slaves to take their property back to the state or territory from which the slaves fled, provided only that satisfactory proof was presented . . . that the prisoners were the fugitives as alleged and did owe service" (Pease 11). Therefore, Burns who had considered himself free just a few hours before, was now being threatened of being sent back into slavery.

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The Trial

With all rescue attempts having failed, Anthony Burns had to go through with the trial. At first, Burns was unsure if he wanted a lawyer for his defense. His reasoning was that he was going to be sent back anyway. If he had a defense lawyer and tried to form a defense, he would only be treated worse upon returning to Virginia. He finally, however, conceded and allowed Richard Henry Dana to represent him

The trial itself lasted three days. Several people gathered around the outside of the Court House. Entrance to the actual courtroom was limited. There were many armed guardsmen and soldiers present.

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Rescue Attempts

Various attempts were made by several people of Boston to rescue Anthony Burns before he even went to trial. One group tried violence and stormed the Court House. Legally, Burns lawyer tried to free him with a writ of replevin. Another attempt was made by Reverend Grimes who tried to purchase Burns’ freedom.

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Return to Virginia

The number of Boston citizens that lined the streets to watch Burns walk to the wharf was approximately 50,000 people

Observers along the way did various things to show their disappointment. Some draped their window in mourning. One man displayed a black coffin. One merchant even displayed the American flag, draped in mourning. When accused by another of disgracing the American flag, the merchant replied, "I am an American, and a native of this city and I declare that my country is eternally disgraced by this city and I declare that my country is eternally disgraced by this day’s proceeding."

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Return to Virginia Continued

In addition to these signs of disapproval, some citizens in the front were pushed into the middle of the street by curious onlookers trying to see what was happening. The military mistaking this as an assault on them, charged on the crowd. This did result in serious injury for some citizens

Finally, however, Burns did make it to the wharf. At 3:20, the steamer left the wharf with Anthony Burns on board, taking him back to Virginia.

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After TrialUpon arriving in Virginia, Burns was put in a jail.

The room he was placed in was only six or eight square feet, accessible only through a trap door. There was no bed or chair, only a small bench fastened to the wall. His hands were in handcuffs and fetters were on his feet. He was prohibited to communicate with other prisoners. He lived in these conditions for four months before Suttle finally decided to sell him

David McDaniel from Rocky Mount, NC purchased Burns for $905.00 and made him a coachman and stable keeper (Stevens 196-99). While here, news reached some of Burns’ friends in Boston who approached Mr. McDaniel with the possibility of buying Burns’ freedom. Mr. McDaniel agreed, met Mr. Grimes, and sold Burns for $1300.00. "From this period he entered upon his career as a citizen of the United States…”