Paul Edmonson (b. circa 1785 - d. 1863)
MSA SC 5496-15204
Montgomery County, Maryland
Biography:
Paul Edmonson a former slave was born and raised in Montgomery County. Paul was free by at least 1832 when a census was taken of the free negroes living in Maryland. Paul Edmonson married a slave woman named Amelia "Milly", and together they had fourteen children: Hamilton, Samuel, Richard, Eveline, Eliza, John, Martha, Ephraim, Elizabeth, Emily, Henrietta, Mary, Louisa, and Josiah. Paul's wife Amelia was the slave of Rebecca Culver, and therefore their fourteen children were also slaves. Paul purchased a twenty acre farm in Montgomery County from Thomas MacGill in 1835. Edmonson purchased an additional twenty acres from Thomas McCormick in 1847.
Paul and Amelia's eldest son Hamilton ran away from the estate of Henry Culver, father of Rebecca Culver. Hamilton was sold south to New Orleans where he lived out the rest of his life. In 1848 six of the Edmonson children were involved in the attempted slave escape on the Pearl, the most notable of them being Mary and Emily. Paul Edmonson went to New York to ask for money to help free his daughters, who were to be sold south to Louisiana. Paul went to New York to seek out monetary support from the abolitionist in that state. He was able to secure finances for the manumission of his son Richard. Although the money was paid Richard was still sent to New Orleans along with the other Edmonson children. He was eventually freed and returned to Maryland. Mary and Emily were sent back to Baltimore, when there was an outbreak of yellow fever in New Orleans. The two sisters were confined in the jail in Baltimore. Paul's sons John, Ephraim, and Samuel were sold to various owners in Louisiana. Samuel was sent to work in the home of Horace Cammack, which was arranged by his eldest son Hamilton Edmonson Taylor.
In 1850, Paul and Amelia are still living in Montgomery
County, with their daughter Louisa. There were also boarders living with
them, Cesar, Rezin, and Samuel Contee. Paul worked as a farmer while Milly
took care of the house. Paul Edmonson sold his tract of land in Montgomery
County part of Enster Rectified and Bradfords Rest to Kinsey
Dyer in 1857 for $800. By 1860 the Edmonson's had relocated to Washington,
DC to live amongst the large free black population. Paul was no stranger
to Washington, DC since most of his children had been hired out in that
city. At this time Paul and Amelia's son Ephraim had returned to Washington,
DC from Louisiana where he had been enslaved. Ephraim and his wife Mary
Jane lived with Paul and Amelia. Paul Edmonson died April 16, 1863, in
Washington DC.
Return to Paul Edmonson's Introductory Page
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