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37-572: Nathan Johnson may refer to: Nathan Johnson (abolitionist) (1797–1880), African-American abolitionist Nathan Johnson (architect) , (1926–2021), African-American architect in Detroit Nathan Johnson (canoeist) (born 1976), American Olympic canoer Nate Johnson (meteorologist) , American meteorologist Nathan Johnson (musician) (born 1976), film composer, songwriter and music producer Nathan M. Johnson (born 1968), Democratic member of

74-616: A good education. He also ensured that they were aware of events in their family member's lives. Patrick, who had come north regularly for his health, died unexpectedly in December 1837. Expenses for the Gibsons was managed by Patrick's business partner, Edmund Molyneux, who said that he wished to relocate the Gibsons to Jamaica, where slavery became illegal in 1838. Johnson was leery about the arrangement, but Betsey felt she should trust that it would all work out. Townspeople from New Bedford, afraid that

111-695: A major fundraising event. She directed the fair until 1858, when she unilaterally decided to replace the bazaar with the Anti-Slavery Subscription Anniversary. Chapman said that the fair had become passé ; she argued that the Anniversary—an exclusive, invitation-only soirée featuring music, food and speeches—was more au courant and would raise more funds than the bazaar. As described by historian Benjamin Quarles, through these years Chapman and other abolitionists became experienced in using "all

148-506: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Nathan Johnson (abolitionist) The Nathan and Polly Johnson House is on the city's Underground Railroad Tour and has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark . Johnson was born a free person of color or a slave in Philadelphia or Virginia about 1797. His mother was Emely Brown. He claimed to have purchased his freedom and

185-720: Is featured on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail . Throughout her three decades of involvement in the anti-slavery movement, Chapman spent considerable amounts of time outside of the United States, first in Haiti (1841-1842) and later in Paris (1848-1855). In spite of her prolonged absences, she still figured centrally in the Boston movement generally and the Boston bazaar particularly. While abroad, she tenaciously solicited support and contributions for

222-638: The 1830s. She wrote the annual reports of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society (BFASS) and published tracts to raise public awareness. For nearly 20 years, between 1839 and 1858, Chapman edited The Liberty Bell , an annual anti-slavery gift book sold at the Boston Bazaar as part of fundraising. The giftbook was composed of contributions from various notable figures: Longfellow , Emerson , Elizabeth Barrett Browning , Harriet Martineau , and Bayard Taylor , among others, none of whom

259-501: The Boston fairs from elite members of British and European society, such as Lady Byron , Harriet Martineau , Alexis de Tocqueville , Victor Hugo , and Alphonse de Lamartine . When she returned to the U.S. in 1855, " Bloody Kansas " and the rise of the Republican Party brought the issue of slavery to the centre of national debate. It was in this period that Chapman began to manifestly deviate from Garrisonian ideolog, by endorsing

296-622: The Chapmans had a good marriage that was free from ideological and financial strain. During their 12-year marriage, which ended in Henry's death from tuberculosis in 1842, they had four children, one of whom died in early childhood, including: In 1863, except for a passing interest in the AASS, Chapman retired from public life, and for the next two decades, until her death in Weymouth on July 12, 1885, she "savored

333-689: The Gibson family would be returned to slavery, became involved in investigating their legal status after Patrick Gibson's death and the nature of Nathan's intentions. It was determine that Nathan was not at fault and that the Gibsons should remain in New Bedford. See also Amelia Piper , Jane's mother-in-law, and Elizabeth Piper Ensley , Jane's daughter. The Johnsons most famously gave shelter in 1838 to Frederick Douglass when he escaped slavery and his wife Anna Murray-Douglass at their house on 21 Seventh Street. When Frederick Douglass came to New Bedford, he had

370-632: The Johnsons from the 1820s, took possession of the Johnson's properties on Seventh Street and Polly worked to earn the money to buy them back. She owned it again by 1857, when she added an addition to the house. Nathan stayed along the Pacific Coast, living in Oregon and Caribou, British Columbia until the early 1870s. Polly died on November 19, 1871. Her will stipulated that Nathan could have "a maintenance" for

407-460: The Johnsons operated a confectionery and catering shop on Seventh Street. Polly sold free labor candy, meaning that there were no slaves involved in growth or manufacturing of sugar. The shop, located at 23 Seventh Street, sold candy sticks , ginger snaps , spruce gum , John Brown's Bullets, and Jackson Balls. She is said to have acquired some of her skills as a cook in France. Her clients included

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444-686: The Morgans as was Polly's daughter, Rhoda. The family likely lived on Union Street in the Morgan's house, because they did not have their own residence in 1820. Morgan, identified as a wealthy Quaker family for whom the Johnson's worked as domestic servants, helped the Johnsons buy their properties on Seventh Street. Polly made cakes and confections that were purchased by wealthy families of New Bedford by 1836. She made cakes, candy, and ice creams for weddings and parties. They also sold superior quality jellies, spices, fruit, nuts, olives, and refreshments. By 1845,

481-565: The Republican party and later by supporting both the American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln 's proposal in 1862 for gradual compensated slave emancipation . Unlike many Garrisonians such as Garrison himself, Chapman gave no indication of being conflicted between the principle of non-coercion and the Civil War's objective of abolishing slavery through violent force. Characteristically, Chapman

518-588: The Texas Senate, lawyer, and Dragon Ball Z dub composer Nathan Johnson, placeholder running mate of Evan McMullin in the 2016 United States presidential election Nathan Johnson, conspirator in the 2008 Barack Obama assassination plot in Denver See also [ edit ] Nathan and Mary (Polly) Johnson properties , named for the abolitionist Nathaniel Johnson (disambiguation) Nate Johnson (disambiguation) [REDACTED] Topics referred to by

555-775: The Westons were not wealthy, they were well connected through her uncle's patronage. She spent several years of her youth living with family in England, where she received a robust education. Weston returned to Boston in 1828 to serve as principal of a newly-founded, socially-progressive girls' high school. She left the field of education two years later to marry. Maria and her husband Henry were both " Garrisonian " abolitionists, meaning that they believed in an "immediate" and uncompromising end to slavery , brought about by "moral suasion" or non-resistance. They rejected all political and institutional coercion—including churches, political parties and

592-482: The abolitionist cause. Polly attended anti-slavery meetings and was well-read about social issues of the time. She was described as "a fair mulatto, always lady-like and pleasant" by Daniel Ricketson of New Bedford, who also remembered seeing her walk arm-in-arm with Maria Weston Chapman following an anti-slavery meeting in Boston, as he walked arm-in-arm with Lucretia Mott . Nathan was politically active in both organizations of African Americans and those involved in

629-405: The abolitionist cause. Since New Bedford was a busy port doing business with southern states, it was a regular place of refuge for people escaping slavery, and Johnson is documented to have sheltered fugitives in his properties. On March 28, 1827, Nathan and 24 people went the house of John Howard. They attacked him and broke his windows, after knocking down his door. A trial was held and Johnson and

666-399: The anti-slavery cause through her husband's family, she quickly and stalwartly took up the cause, enduring pro-slavery mobs, social ridicule, and public attacks on her character. Her sisters, notably Caroline and Anne, were also active abolitionists, though Maria is generally considered to be the most outspoken and active among her family. According to Lee V. Chambers, through their "kin-work",

703-714: The cemetery. Maria Weston Chapman Maria Weston Chapman (July 25, 1806 – July 12, 1885) was an American abolitionist . She was elected to the executive committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1839 and from 1839 until 1842, she served as editor of the anti-slavery journal The Non-Resistant . Maria Weston was born in 1806 in Weymouth, Massachusetts to Captain Warren Richard Weston and Anne ( née Bates) Weston. Eventually she had seven younger siblings—five sisters and two brothers. Though

740-440: The federal government—as agencies for ending slavery. They did, however, support moral coercion that encompassed " come-outerism " and disunion, both of which opposed association with slaveholders. Gerald Sorin writes, "In [Maria's] nonresistance principles and in her 'come-outerism,' she was rigidly dogmatic and self-righteous, believing that 'when one is perfectly right, one neither asks nor needs sympathy.'" Though Chapman came to

777-566: The home of Nathan Johnson at 21 Seventh Street home , at the request of Patrick Gibson, who enslaved them all. Betsey Gibson, aged 34, was his concubine and Patrick wanted to have her and the children cared for and educated. He paid for their education. Seven-year-old Jane and her sister, eleven-year-old Helen, were Betsey and Patrick's daughters. There was also a boy named Toby and about nine-year-old girl named Margaret, which may have been Patrick's daughter or granddaughter. He ensured that they had food, cloth for clothing, and that they were receiving

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814-509: The moral, religious, and political character of the nation, —than nine tenths of the slaveholders in Talbot county Maryland. The couple were in the employ of Charles Waln Morgan , a prominent whaling captain, as domestic servants. Morgan, who had lived in Philadelphia, moved to New Bedford and married Sarah Rodman in June 1819. Polly was employed by the Morgans by late January 1820. Nathan was employed by

851-583: The more political wing of the anti-slavery movement split the AASS and correspondingly the BFASS into two opposing factions. Maria, nicknamed "Captain Chapman" and the "great goddess" by her opponents and " Lady Macbeth " even by her friends, outmaneuvered the opposition. She took control of a resurrected BFASS, which from then on mainly focused on organizing the Boston bazaar as a major fundraiser for abolitionism. The church she attended, Federal Street Church , Unitarian ,

888-494: The others were found not guilty after it was learned that the man was in town to gather information about people who escaped from slavery. In 1832, Nathan represented Massachusetts in Philadelphia at the second annual convention of free people of color. The next year, he was made one of four honorary members. He attended the convention in 1834. At the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society convention of 1840, he

925-626: The refined techniques of solicitation" in their fundraising for the cause of abolitionism. In addition to her fair work, between 1835 and 1865, Chapman served on the executive and business committees of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society (MASS), the New England Anti-Slavery Society (NEASS) and the American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS). Through these she was active in the petition campaigns of

962-637: The rest of his life from her estate if he returned to New Bedford within two years of her death. He returned to the town a poor man. In 1873, he lived at 21 Seventh Street, where he asked for money from Gerrit Smith , an abolitionist, using Frederick Douglass's narrative as a means of introduction for his role in providing shelter to the Douglasses. Nathan had a stroke in his house and was taken to his daughter, Mrs. Mary Duff's house, where he died on October 11, 1880. Frederick Douglass, who had seen him between 1873 and three weeks before his death, said that Johnson

999-408: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nathan_Johnson&oldid=1197876331 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

1036-501: The sisters supported each other through family responsibilities in order to take their active public roles. The Chapmans became central figures in the "Boston Clique," which primarily consisted of wealthy and socially prominent supporters of William Lloyd Garrison . In 1835, Chapman assumed the leadership of the Boston Anti-Slavery Bazaar , which had been founded the previous year by Lydia Maria Child and Louisa Loring as

1073-505: The surname Johnson, and Nathan Johnson suggested that he take the surname of Douglas based upon a figure from Walter Scott 's The Lady of the Lake , which Nathan was reading at that time. He may have suggested the spelling of Douglass in recognition of Robert and Grace Douglass , prominent African Americans from Philadelphia. Johnson...lived in a neater house; dined at a better table; took, paid for, and read, more newspapers; better understood

1110-518: The wealthiest African Americans in the city. Nathan followed the Gold Rush to California in 1849, while Polly remained at home and continued her work and provided a safe home to at least one fugitive slave. He had given her power of attorney to manage their affairs in his absence. He was legally declared an insolvent debtor by 1852, perhaps because he carried a heavier mortgage on his property than he could carry. The Rodman family, who were friends of

1147-410: The wealthy families of New Bedford, including that of John Avery Parker and her former employer, Charles W. Morgan. They also had income from real estate investments and a few businesses that Johnson ran in the 1840s. He was the second most wealthy black man of New Bedford in 1849. He owned $ 18,700 (equivalent to $ 541,800 in 2023) in real estate and personal property. In the 1850s, they were among

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1184-527: Was "in many respects a rare man. I do not remember to have met a man more courageous and less ostentatious, more self-respectful and yet more modest." Polly and Nathan Johnson are buried in the old section of the Oak Grove Cemetery of New Bedford. His gravestone states "Freedom for All Mankind". Other family members include their mothers, Emely Brown and Anna Mingo. Patience Durfee and Thomas P. Buchanan and their daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, were buried at

1221-400: Was as resolute and unapologetic in her new beliefs as she had been in her old. Yet, in spite of her newly-expressed confidence in the state, Chapman seemingly felt little responsibility to former slaves once they had been freed. In 1830, Henry Grafton Chapman (1804–1842), a second-generation abolitionist and wealthy Boston merchant; his parents were enthusiastic abolitionists. By all accounts,

1258-458: Was described by Daniel Ricketson as a "tall and dignified in person, and dark in complexion, a marked African of the finest type". He married widowed Mary J. Mingo Durfee, called Polly, in New Bedford on October 24, 1819. Born a free person of color in 1784 of Black and Pocasset Wampanoag ancestry in Fall River, Massachusetts , her parents were Isaac and Ann Mingo. Before she married Johnson, she

1295-695: Was made one of five vice presidents. He became president of the National Convention of Colored People in 1847. [Johnson] has conciliated the respect of the community in which he dwells... by his uniformly upright conduct and modest manners... [and had built up] a very pretty estate, and has found time to attend to the cultivation of his mind. The Johnson's properties were a station on the Underground Railroad. In 1834, an enslaved woman, Betsey Gibson, her daughter Jane, and another daughter and half-siblings were brought to New Bedford. They were brought to

1332-426: Was married and had at least one daughter, Rhoda Durfee. The Johnsons settled in New Bedford. In 1826, the Johnsons lived at 21 Seventh Street in New Bedford. By 1845, the Johnsons had enough success in business that they owned the lot including properties on Seventh Street and an adjacent one (then numbered 23 Seventh Street, but no longer standing) which they used as a shop. In the 1820s, they became involved in

1369-908: Was paid for their contributions aside from a copy of The Liberty Bell . She also served as editor to The Liberator in Garrison's absence, and was on the editorial committee of the National Anti-Slavery Standard , the official mouthpiece of the AASS. Chapman was also a member of the peace organisation, the Non-Resistance Society , which published The Non-Resistant . Chapman was a prolific writer in her own right, publishing Right and Wrong in Massachusetts in 1839 and How Can I Help to Abolish Slavery? in 1855. Aside from these works, she published her poems and essays in abolitionist periodicals. In 1840 divisions between Garrisonians and

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