Christiana in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Christiana Riot Monument

Detail of Text of East Face of Monument (the presumed front of the obelisk) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Geoff Marsh, March 2, 2008

1. Detail of Text of East Face of Monument (the presumed front of the obelisk)

Inscription. (East Face) In Commemoration of the “Christiana Riot” September 11, 1851, and the Treason Trials Sept. 29 – Dec. 17, 1851.

(North Face) Indicted for Treason
U.S. Circuit Court
E.D. PA.
Aug. 1 1851: 1. Gastiner Hanway
2. Joseph Scarlet
3. Elijah Lewis
4. James Jackson
5. George Williams
6. Jacob Moore
7. George Reed
8. Benjamin Johnson
9. Daniel Caulsberry
10. Alson Pernsley
11. William Brown, 2nd
12. Henry Green
13. Elijah Clark
14. John Holliday
15. William Williams
16. Benj. Pindergrast
17. John Morgan
18. Ezekiel Thompson
19. Thomas Butler
20. Collister Wilson
21. John Jackson
22. William Brown
23. Isaiah Clarkson
24. Henry Sims
25. Charles Hunter
26. Lewis Gates
27. Peter Woods
28. Lewis Clarkson
29. Nelson Carter
30. William Parker
31. John Berry
32. William Berry
33. Samuel Williams
34. Josh Hammond
35. Henry Curtis
36. Wash. Williams
37. William Thomas
38. Nelson Ford

(West Face) Tried Nov. 24, – Dec. 11, 1851, Castner Hanway, “Not Guilty.” He suffered for Freedom.

(South Face) Killed: Edward Gorsuch, he died for Law. Wounded:

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Dickson Gorsuch. father and son of Baltimore Co. Md. Joshua Gorsuch.

Erected 1911.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Abolition & Underground RR. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1864.

Location. 39° 57.321′ N, 75° 59.66′ W. Marker is in Christiana, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. Marker is at the intersection of Green Street and Slokom Avenue on Green Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Christiana PA 17509, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad Bridge at Pine Creek, Circa 1830 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Atglen (approx. 1.2 miles away); Atglen Borough Hall (approx. 1.2 miles away); World War II (approx. 1.3 miles away); East Octoraro #1 Bridge (1910-2020) (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Christiana Riot (approx. 1.6 miles away); Mercer’s Mill Covered Bridge (1880) (approx. 1.8 miles away); Walker House (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Christiana.

Regarding Christiana Riot Monument. In early September 1851 Edward Gorsuch and party from Baltimore County, Maryland, set forth out of Philadelphia where they had obtained papers under the Fugitive Slave Act. The papers permitted them to recapture

East Face (presumed front of monument) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Geoff Marsh, March 2, 2008

2. East Face (presumed front of monument)

Gorsuch’s slaves who had escaped from his farm in 1849 and who were rumored to be living near Christiana, PA. On September 11, 1851 Gorsuch and his party came to a house on Valley Road outside of Christiana, where the escaped slaves were staying at the time with a charismatic, mercurial and sometimes violent African American abolitionist—William Parker. Attempts to present the documents from Philadephia were rebuffed with force and Gorsuch was killed in the ensuing conflict—his son being wounded as well. The events resulted in the Marylanders returning empty-handed and the participants defending the slaves being indicted on treason charges, though only one was tried and he was acquitted. Other charges were brought against other participants (beyond the treason charges) but for the most part they were either acquitted or sentenced to time served.

Also see . . . The Christiana Riot and the Treason Trials of 1851. "The Christiana Riot and the Treason Trials of 1851: An Historical Sketch" by W.U. Hensel consists of over 130 (short) pages of text about the events surrounding September 11, 1851 prepared for the 1911 commemoration of the events. (Submitted on March 2, 2008, by Geoff Marsh of Beltsville, Maryland.)

Photographed By Geoff Marsh, March 2, 2008

3. North Face

Photographed By Geoff Marsh, March 2, 2008

4. West Face

Photographed By Geoff Marsh, March 2, 2008

5. South Face

Christiana Tragedy image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

6. Christiana Tragedy

This engraving appeared in William Still's book The Underground Railroad, published in 1872.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2008, by Geoff Marsh of Beltsville, Maryland. This page has been viewed 5,531 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on May 11, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 2, 2008, by Geoff Marsh of Beltsville, Maryland. 6. submitted on May 11, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.