Cecilton in Cecil County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
A Sanctuary of Faith & Freedom
Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 13, 2026
1. Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker
In the decades before the Civil War, African Americans in the Cecilton area gathered quietly to worship in the woods outside town. The congregation, founded by Uncle Perry Hinson and known as "Friendship" was a powerful source of strength and solidarity in an area where many African Americans were enslaved. This faith community was more than a church--it was a vital center on the Underground Railroad. They taught reading, shared knowledge about safe routes north, and quietly aided freedom seekers like Edward Richardson on their courageous journey toward liberty. In doing so, they risked everything to uphold the ideals of freedom, dignity, and faith. After the War, Friendship evolved into Union Bethel AME Church, carrying forward a legacy of hope, resistance, and spiritual leadership. More than 150 years later, this church stands as a testament to the enduring power of community and the pursuit of justice. Today, Union Bethel honors its past and serves the present.
Visit CecilJourneysofCourage.com
(Captions):
This 1794 map by Dennis Griffith highlights the approximate route Edward Richardson followed in pursuit of freedom. (Dennis Griffith, Map of Maryland, 1794. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
Born enslaved in Cecilton, Maryland, Edward Richardson
this page online
Erected by Cecil County.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and the Network to Freedom series lists.
Location. 39° 24.181′ N, 75° 52.244′ W. Marker is in Cecilton, Maryland, in Cecil County. It is on Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 161 Church St, Cecilton MD 21913, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington, on the Eastern Shore, and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Greenfield (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Anchorage (approx. 1½ miles away); St. Francis Xavier Church (approx. 2.1 miles away); Worsell Mannor (approx. 2.3 miles away); Sassafras River (approx. 2.7 miles away); Fort Duffy
Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 13, 2026
2. Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marker - wide view with church in background
Another marker is no longer nearby. Founded on Friendship (was about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . . CecilJourneysofCourage.com. This link was referenced on the marker.
Inequality was painfully evident for those who endured a life of slavery. Escapes were often attempted over and over again in a quest for freedom along the Underground Railroad. Cecil Countys Network to Freedom sites represent stories of those traveling through with passion in their hearts and courage in their souls, to live free and control their own destiny.(Submitted on April 13, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 13, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.
