Riverfront in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

REPLACED

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Freedom Lost

Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 31, 2008

1. Freedom Lost Marker

Inscription. By the late 1700s the institution of slavery was declining in Delaware. A changing economy and the active efforts of Quakers and Methodists had led to the manumission of many slaves and dramatic growth of the state’s free black population. Though Congress outlawed importation of slaves in 1808, demand for slave labor in the expanding states of the Deep South continued to grow. A nefarious criminal element sought to fill this need by kidnapping free blacks for sale into slavery. Such was the case in Delaware, where countless numbers of innocent persons were abducted and sent to the South via secret networks operated by criminal gangs. The Abolition Society of Delaware worked tirelessly against the practice, and many brave men and women, both black and white, actively opposed the gangs. Among these was Wilmington resident Thomas Garrett, the legendary Underground Railroad conductor who dedicated his life to the abolition of slavery after the abduction of a woman employed by his family. Despite the efforts of Garrett and others, and the enactment of harsh punishments for kidnappers, Delaware’s black residents continued to

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live in fear for their safety until the Civil War.

This memorial is dedicated to the victims of this evil enterprise, and those who struggled against it.

Erected 2004 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-128.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the Quakerism series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 44.231′ N, 75° 33.223′ W. Marker was in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It was in Riverfront. It was at the intersection of South Market Street (Business U.S. 13) and South Shipley Street, on the right when traveling south on South Market Street. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Greater Philadelphia.

It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the

Area of Freedom Lost Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 31, 2008

2. Area of Freedom Lost Marker

North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Freedom Lost (a few steps from this marker); The Great Railroad Boom (a few steps from this marker); South Market Street Bridge Dedicated in Honor of Senator John E. Reilly, Sr. (within shouting distance of this marker); South Market Street Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Harriet Tubman (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Garrett (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named The Big Quarterly (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Other markers no longer nearby. South Market Street Bridge (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Big Quarterly (was about 300 feet away but has

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been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker which has different text.

Additional keywords. Human trafficking

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,851 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on March 11, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.