Halifax in Halifax County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Escape!
The Roanoke River, Halifax, and the Maritime Underground Railroad.
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 27, 2012
1. Escape! Marker
“…the thought of being again made a slave, and of suffering the horrible punishment of a runaway, restrained me. I lay in the woods all day without food. The next evening, I soon found a large pile of excellent apples, from which I supplied myself. The next evening I reached Halifax Court House, and I then knew that I was near Virginia. On the 7th of October, I came to the Roanoke, and crossed it in the midst of a violent storm of rain and thunder. The current ran so furiously that I was carried down with it, and with great difficulty, and in a state of complete exhaustion, reached the opposite shore.” From the Narrative of James Williams, A Slave…, Circa 1838.
Erected 2001 by National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.
Location. 36° 19.911′ N, 77° 35.175′ W. Marker is in Halifax, North Carolina, in Halifax County. Marker is on King Street
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Halifax Runaway Ads (within shouting distance of this marker); Montfort Archaeological Museum (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Sally Billy House (about 700 feet away); Halifax Courthouse (about 800 feet away); Site of First Courthouse (about 800 feet away); The Free Church of Halifax (about 800 feet away); The Market Green (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colonial Punishment (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Halifax.
More about this marker. The background is captioned, "Background top: The Roanoke River Valley from the map of North and South Carolina by Henry Mouzon, 1775." and "Background bottom: Image from Le Monde Illustre (Paris), 1862, as shown on www.slaveryimages.org. sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and the University of Virginia Library."
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 27, 2012
2. Halifax Underground Railroad Trail
Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 608 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on April 29, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 30, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
