Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)
George Wilmer (b. 1810 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51323
Accomplice to slave flight, Kent County
Biography:
George Wilmer was a slave in Kent
County, Maryland until he was manumitted in 1858 by Eben Welch. He was also purported
to be an active agent in the Underground Railroad, during and after his
servitude. Wilmer was one of eighteen African-American slaves residing on the
Welch farm, near the Sassafras River in the northeastern portion of the county. [1] His master must have allowed relative freedom for Wilmer even as a slave, since he
was able to direct fleeing slaves through Delaware on numerous occasions.
In
an 1855 correspondence, Thomas
Garrett told fellow abolitionist William Still that Wilmer was “a true
man, and forwarder of slaves … some twenty-five within four months.” [2]
He
was also recorded as having visited the Philadelphia office on
September 5, 1856, assisting William Cornish in fleeing from Dorchester
County. [3]
Neither
Welch nor the larger white community ever seemed to suspect Wilmer of
such infractions, as he was not accused in the courts or punished with
extended servitude.
The
slave, then in his late 40’s, was freed by will in 1858, also receiving
a 3 acre plot of land from the apparently benevolent Welch. [4] Wilmer and his wife Margaret chose instead to move to Wilmington Delaware. [5]
The city was a hub of abolitionist activity, and the Wilmer’s lived two
doors down from fellow free black Severn Johnson, who assisted in the
efforts of prominent abolitionist Thoams Garrett. [6][7] It is quite possible that they continued to support fugitive slaves from the Eastern Shore, taking advantage of their improved
position as freemen.
Footnotes -
[2] William Still, The Underground Railroad. (Chicago: Johnson Publishing Company Inc., 1970), p. 638.
[3]Kate Larson, Bound for the Promised Land. Ballantine Books: New York (2004), pp. 342, notes 88-89.
[7] Still, pp. 639-40.
Researched and Written by David Armenti, 2012.
Return to George Wilmer's Introductory Page
|
This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|
© Copyright November 14, 2012 Maryland State Archives ![[4] KENT COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Wills) 1854-1872, Book JF 1, pp. 121](../images/welch_will.gif){kind=link}
