High Street District & Bayly House

High Street District and Bayly House. Through Blood and Tears. , One of the oldest buildings in Cambridge, the Caile-Bayly house was built sometime in the mid-18th century. Based on archaeology and analysis by architectural historians, the one-room cabin behind the house appears to have initially functioned as an office or kitchen. In the mid-19th century, it was moved to its current location. Late 19th century artifacts suggest the cabin served as a home for at least some period of time. Due to multiple functions of out buildings with enslaved workers, use of the cabin as seasonal and/or temporary sleeping quarters during the mid-19th century should not be ruled out., On October 17, 1857, Lizzie Amby, a woman enslaved by Dr. Alexander Bayly, left the Bayly House with her husband, Nat and ran off with 13 others from Cambridge. They used safe houses, temporarily stopping to rest and gather supplies and money as they made their way north along the Underground Railroad. At one stop, an abolitionist asked Nat if Lizzie would fight for her freedom; he replied, "I have heard her say he would wade through blood and tears for her freedom." We know that they arrived safely in New York because Nat wrote a letter, dated June 10, 1858, to his mother in Baltimore letting her know they were doing well., Travel back in time on our Augmented Reality/Virtual REality app, and witness Lizzie Amby share her fears and dreams as she prepares to make her escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Download the free app from the Apple or Google Play stores., [Caption:] , Right: When enslaved people ran away, their owners would publish advertisements in the local newspapers. Often large rewards would be offered to make it harder for the fugitive to escape capture. Alexander Bayly placed this ad for the return of Lizzie Amby in the local Democrat newspaper on Oct. 19, 1857. . This historical marker was erected by America's Byways; Maryland Heritage Area Authority. It is in Cambridge in Dorchester County Maryland