Germantown in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Frances Wright
(1795-1852)
Frances Wright acquired 11 slaves from Nashville and was joined by her sister Camilla and other supporters with strong moral convictions and experience in utopian community living. Physical labor exhausted their strength, however, and exposed them to fevers of the river bottoms. Frances Wright's health broke. She contracted malaria and in 1827 was encouraged to seek the milder climate in Ohio. During her absence Nashoba drifted from its original course of emancipation. She traveled to Europe for her health, returning here in January, 1828. Fighting criticism, waning support and poor health, she left Nashoba to work in New Harmony, another utopian community in Indiana.
In January, 1830, she returned. Ending the experiment, she escorted the Nashoba slaves to New Orleans by flatboat, then sailed with them to Haiti where under Haiti's President they would be given their own land to work.
Erected by Germantown Rotary Club • The Germantown Museum • Shelby County Historical Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.
Location. 35° 5.684′ N, 89° 49.318′ W. Marker is in Germantown, Tennessee, in Shelby County. Marker is at the intersection of Plantation Circle and Deep Valley Drive, in the median on Plantation Circle. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7246 Plantation Cir, Germantown TN 38138, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Germantown Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); S.A. Oakley (approx. 0.8 miles away); Confederate Germantown (approx. 0.8 miles away); Southern Railway (approx. 0.8 miles away); War Comes to Germantown (approx. 0.8 miles away); Germantown Depot (approx. 0.8 miles away); Germantown, Tennessee (approx. 0.8 miles away); Glenn's Grocery and Dr. Seay's Office (1940s) (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Germantown.
Also see . . .
1. Frances Wright ... and Historic Nashoba. She first encountered and developed her abolitionist views during an American tour to promote her first book, and later joined LaFayette on his American tour. (Historic-Memphis.com) (Submitted on June 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Nashoba Community. Wikipedia entry on Wright's commune, which never achieved its goal of forging an egalitarian, interracial community. (Submitted on June 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.