Zanesville in Muskingum County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1800

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 2, 2025

1. 1800 Marker

Inscription. Black Mess Johnson an escaped slave from Maryland, is traced to Zanesville by his owner. He has been working for the McIntire Family and John McIntire buys his freedom for $150. Later that year, Black Mess Johnson marries Ann Thompson, an African American servant of the McIntires.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.

Location. 39° 55.904′ N, 82° 0.404′ W. Marker is in Zanesville, Ohio, in Muskingum County. It can be reached from Putnam Avenue north of Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 456 Putnam Ave, Zanesville OH 43701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1801 (here, next to this marker); 1799 (here, next to this marker); 1798 (here, next to this marker); 1802 (here, next to this marker); 1807 (here, next to this marker); 1808 (here, next to this marker); 1814 (here, next to this marker); 1817 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Zanesville.

Additional commentary.
1. About the language in the marker
The language in the marker is outdated.

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If this marker were erected today, the language would likely read that Johnson had either self-emancipated or refer to him as a freedom seeker. Instead of owner, the language would be enslaver.

— Submitted November 15, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 2, 2025

2. 1800 Marker

This marker is part of a timeline established by the Putnam Underground Railroad Interpretive Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 45 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.