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Thomas Garrett And Delaware s Underground Railroad
homas Garrett is one of in constant danger so that he had
Delaware’s heroes, and a to be guarded by African-American
shining example of the volunteers. But throughout his
tradition of righteous dissent in trials, Garrett never wavered
America. from his principled stand again
the evils of slavery.
The Underground Railroad’s last
stop in the slave-holding state Though Thomas Garret is today
of Delaware was located on recognized as one of Delaware’s
Shipley Street in Wilmington at most honored citizens, he was in
the home of a Quaker merchant fact born in Upper Darby
named Thomas Garrett. Over 2,700 Pennsylvania in August of 1789.
runaway slaves were given safe Garrett’s parents instilled in
harbor there before making their him a respect for human freedom
way to the free states of at an early age by hiding runaway
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. slaves on the family farm.
Garrett’s passionate commitment When Garrett was a young man a
to the abolition of slavery would family servant was kidnapped and
cost him a great deal over the forced into slavery. Garrett
course of his life. Maryland managed to track the family’s
authorities went so far as to friend and employ down and affect
offer $10,000.00 for his arrest. an escape, but the incident left
In 1848 federal court fines an indelible impression.
bankrupted him, forcing him
accept the charity of his He moved to Wilmington, Delaware
abolitionist friends to stay in in 1822, but his personal
business. convictions and deep commitment
to his Quaker religious beliefs
During the Civil War his life was put him at odds with the state’s
pro-slavery stance. It was only a Garrett continued to fight
few years before Garrett once against inequality even after the
again resumed his efforts to aid end of the Civil War, acting as
escaped slaves. For the next 40 an advocate for the rights of
years he did everything in his former slaves. When the 15th
power to do so. Amendment was passed in 1870,
giving African-Americans the
In 1848 Garrett and fellow right to vote, Garrett was
abolitionist John Hunn were paraded through the streets by
convicted of aiding the Hawkins his grateful supporters. Some
family in their escape from went as far as to refer to him as
slavery in Maryland. The “out Moses”.
sentence, a bank-breaking fine
that would leave both men On January 25th of 1871 Thomas
virtually penniless, was handed Garrett died. His funeral,
down in the New Castle, Delaware attended by friends from all
courthouse by US Chief Justice walks of life, including many he
Roger Taney. aided in their fight for freedom.
Garrett's coffin was borne from
After the sentence was read and shoulder to shoulder to his final
unrepentant Garrett gave an resting place in the cemetery at
impassioned speech so moving that the Wilmington Friends Meeting
even a slave-holding juror House at 4th and West Streets in
offered him his hand, “I say to Quaker Hill.
thee and to all in this court
room, that if anyone knows a
fugitive who wants shelter” he border-color: #FFFFFF;
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About the Author:
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