West Bradford Township near West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Nathan Simms

1851-1934

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

1. Nathan Simms Marker

Inscription. The slave boy who helped Booth escape the night of Lincoln’s assassination, but told the Union soldiers the next day the direction Booth took, thus aiding in his capture.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Notable Events • War, US Civil.

Location. 39° 56.852′ N, 75° 40.709′ W. Marker is near West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in West Bradford Township. Marker can be reached from Northbrook Road, on the left when traveling south. This marker is at the far south east corner of the Bradford Cemetery at the tree line. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 509 Northbrook Rd, West Chester PA 19382, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Marshallton Historic District (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Marshalton Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Humphry Marshall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martin's Tavern and The Battle of Brandywine (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to The Center House, or Martin's Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tavern Fare (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Humphry Marshall

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Court of Quarter Sessions (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.

Additional commentary.
1. Helping to catch a President Killer:
Nathan Simms was a young slave who lived at the home of Mary Surratt near Washington, DC in 1865. He later moved to Marshallton, Pennsylvania. As Nathan tells it he held the reins of actor John Wilkes Booth's horse while Booth was in Ford's Theatre the night Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. At the time Nathan didn't know what had happened, but the next day when he found out he told the Union solders which way Booth had ridden off, thus aiding in Booth's capture. - See the Lincoln Library website for more information.

— Submitted March 23, 2012, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

2. Simms claim is inaccurate
I don’t know when this marker was placed but the information and claim by Simms is inaccurate. It perpetuates a myth. Simms held Booth’s horse at Mary Surratt’s House, but not at the theatre. That distinction goes to “Peanut

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

2. Nathan Simms Marker

John”, whose real name was Joseph Burroughs. He was a ten-year old boy who was required to testify before the military tribunal at the trial of the conspirators. Several witnesses testified it was indeed Joseph who held the horse. Booth had originally given that job to a set changer in the theatre who waited and waited for Booth to emerge. The play was going from act I to act II, he had to go in and change sets so he handed the horse off to Joseph, who sold peanuts in the theatre. The testimony from the trial is now a available online. Simms claim is also rather odd. If I lived in the Union-held North, I wouldn’t go around telling people I held Booth’s horse at the theatre. His claim to that part of the story is false. Now if he changed his name when he came north, we’ll then maybe it’s possible. We don’t know what happened to Joseph Burroughs. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted May 20, 2020, by Richard Willumsen of Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

Nathan Simms image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Walter F. Price, January 9, 1931

3. Nathan Simms

This photo was taken by architect Walter F. Price during a visit to Marshalton in 1931. Price talked to Simms that day and on February 3, 1931 he sent a letter to President Herbert Hoover relating the meeting included were copies of the photos he had taken the month before.

Sign at Bradford Cemetery entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012

4. Sign at Bradford Cemetery entrance

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2012, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,478 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on December 22, 2012. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 23, 2012, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.