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By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007 | |
| | | 1. William L. Chaplin Arrested! Marker | | |
Inscription. On August 8, 1850 a hired carriage was forcibly stopped in the middle of Brookeville Pike (Georgia Avenue) near this spot by a Sheriff's posse from Washington, D.C. and a shoot-out ensued. The carriage was driven by William Chaplin, who was unarmed, and was carrying two men attempting to escape from slavery; Garland White, belonged to Senator Robert Toombs of Georgia, and Allen, belonging to Senator Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia. The posse consisted of six men led by John Goddard who were heavily armed and shot into the carriage after stopping it by ramming a fence rail through the wheel spokes. At least one of the fugitives returned fire before jumping from the carriage and running away. Mr. Chaplin was hauled from the carriage and beaten. Both African-Americans were slightly wounded as was one of the members of the posse. Allen was returned to his owner, and Garland White turned himself in three days later. White later escaped and served as chaplain for the 28th regiment, U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War.
William Chaplin was a leader of the Liberty Party and active in the Albany Vigilance Committee. He had come to Washington from New York four years earlier to take the place of Charles Torrey, an abolitionist and operative on the underground railroad, who died in prison in 1846. Chaplin had been active during that time | | | | 
By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007 | |
| | | 2. William L. Chaplin Arrested! Marker | | |
helping fugitives escape an purchasing slaves in order to free them with money provided by the Vigilance Committee. He arranged the ill-fated flight from Washington, D.C. of 77 enslaved people aboard the ship Pearl in 1848.
Since there was originally some dispute over whether the arrest took place in D.C. or in Maryland, Chaplin was imprisoned in Washington for six weeks and released on $6,000 bond, and was subsequently imprisoned in Maryland for thirteen weeks and released on $19,000 bond on December 24, 1850. The bond money was raised by fellow abolitionists. Chaplin left the area when released, forfeiting the bond, and never came to trial.
Erected by National Underground Railroad - Network to Freedom.
Marker series. This marker is included in the National Underground Railroad - Network To Freedom marker series.
Location. 38° 59.105′ N, 77° 1.583′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Georgia Avenue (at milepost 97) and Blair Road, on the right when traveling north on Georgia Avenue. Click for map. Located at the west entrance to Jesup Blair Park. Marker is in this post office area: Silver Spring MD 20902, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Civil War in Silver Spring (a few steps from this marker); Original Federal Boundary Stone NE 1 (about 500 feet away, in a direct line in District of Columbia); Blair Mansion: Silver Spring / Blair Station Post Office (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Silver Spring (approx. 0.3 miles away); Walt Penney Field (approx. 0.4 miles away); The ‘Mayor’ of Silver Spring (approx. 0.5 miles away); Frank D. Reeves (approx. 0.5 miles away in District of Columbia); Walter Reed Army Medical Center (approx. 0.6 miles away in District of Columbia). Click for a list of all markers in Silver Spring.
More about this marker. The marker displays portraits of William L. Chaplin, Senator Robert Toombs, and Alexander H. Stephens. The lower section of the marker is a depiction of the incident described in the text.
Also see . . . National Underground Railroad - Network to Freedom. The National Park Service coordinates preservation and education efforts through this program. (Submitted on December 4, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page originally submitted on December 4, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,938 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. |
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