"Anti-Slavery Society of Pipe Creek Settlement"Carroll County Times Article for 9 February 1997
By Jay A. Graybeal Slavery was a divisive issue in Ante-bellum America which periodically heated up with western expansion. The Missouri Compromise in 1820, which attempted to settle the question of extending slavery into the lands acquired by the Louisiana Purchase, brought the issue to the forefront again. The residents of Pipe Creek Settlement (Union Bridge) reacted with the formation of two organizations to protect local blacks. Daniel Wolfe described the organizations in his history of Union Bridge published in the Taneytown Carroll Record newspaper in 1894: |
| "At this period (1820) the country was greatly agitated over the institution of slavery. Clay's Compromise Measure aroused a feeling of indignation in the north, and gave a fresh impetus to organized opposition to slavery. This sentiment of opposition found expression in our Pipe Creek settlement. We find in 1826 a meeting was called, and an Anti-Slavery Society organized. The following is a copy of the proceedings had at the first and second meetings.
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Pipe Creek settlement, Frederick county, Md., convened at Pipe Creek meeting-house November 22nd., 1826, for the purpose of forming an
Wm. Haines Esq., was called to the chair, Samuel W. Stratton appointed secretary. The object of the meeting having been stated, a committee of five, consisting of the Rev. Daniel Zollickoffer, William Shepherd, Esq., Samuel W. Stratton, Thomas Wood and David Switzer were appointed to draft a Constitution and code of By-Laws for the government of the society and present them at the next meeting. Then adjourned to meet again on Wednesday December 6th., at one o'clock p.m.
The meeting assembled agreeable to adjournment. Wm. Haines, Esq., was again called to the chair and S. W. Stratton appointed Secretary. The minutes of last meeting were read, and the committee appointed to present the draft of a Constitution &c., reported, that "they have attended to the duties assigned them and herewith present the draft of a Constitution which they humbly conceive adapted to the government of an association of the character we have in contemplation." The Committee also reported a short code of By-laws for the further regulating the conduct of members and the order of transacting business. All of which is respectfully submitted, signed by order of the Committee, D. Zollickoffer, Chairman. The Constitution was then read and adopted with some amendment to the title, and the further consideration of the report of the Committee referred to next meeting. After the Constitution had been signed by all present, the society went into an election for officers - which resulted as follows William Haines Esq., President; William Shepherd, Esq., 1st Vice President; Silas Hibberd, 2nd. Vice President; Samuel W. Stratton, Recording Secretary; Rev. Daniel Zollickofer, Corresponding Secretary; Samuel Cookson, Treasurer; Rev. Daniel Zollickoffer, Wm. P. Farquhar, Evan McKinstry, Ephraim Haines, William Hughes, Standing Committee. Then on motion, "adjourned to meet on Saturday the 3rd. of February next."
Samuel N. Stratton, Secretary.
"Believing that the system of slavery entailed upon us by the early settlers of this country is unjust and oppressive on its subjects; contrary to the principles of universal right as exhibited in the Declaration of Independence, and as practiced upon in the general principles of our government; that it is opposed to righteousness, to common feeling, and to that sacred regard for each other's welfare which the Eternal Author of all being requires shall be exercised by man towards man without regard to shades of complexion, or circumstances of habitation; and moreover, believing that the iniquity of the system, if persisted in will bring upon us the severest chastisements of Heaven; under a conviction of these truths, and for the purpose of co-operating with our fellow citizens in their laudable efforts for the removal of this great evil, we, the undersigned, have formed ourselves into a society, and have agreed to adopt the following rules and regulations for the government thereof." (Here follows the by-laws which consist of 12 articles.) The constitution and by-laws were printed in Baltimore, by Benjamin Lundey, South Calvert St. The document was kindly furnished by Jos. W. Farquhar, a lineal descendant of the pioneer Wm. Farquhar. Of a kindred nature, but less radical was another organization called the PIPE CREEK PROTECTION SOCIETY. The object of this society seemed to be the protection of free colored people against wrongs of any kind, practiced by unprincipled whites. This organization had a printed constitution composed of 12 articles, but no date affixed. It has 22 signatures, as follows: Robert Hatton, Robert Dodds, Solomon Shepherd, Moses Farquhar, John Moore, Jesse Slingluff, Job Haines, Nathan Zimmerman, Joel Pusy, Allen Hibberd, Silas Hibberd, Samuel Cookson, Moses B. Farquhar, Evan McKinstry, Jacob Stem, Wm. Shepherd, Isaac Wright, Wm. P. Farquhar, Henry Willis, Evan Webb, Joseph Wright, Caleb Ogborn. Those who are old enough to remember the intolerant spirit in which slavery was upheld by pro-slavery men, everywhere south of Mason and Dixon's line, will marvel at the boldness of Pipe Creek settlement in arraying itself against the institution. Remember, - Quaker sentiment predominated here, and no one who is acquainted with the Friend's humanitarian principles, need be greatly surprised. As a society, they had emancipated all their slaves as early as 1780. They then set the seal of condemnation upon slavery as a system at war with human nature and the law of God, and hence they championed the cause of human liberty at the peril of their lives." |
| Photo caption: | The Pipe Creek Meeting House near Union Bridge was the site of public meeting on November 22, 1826 to form an Anti-Slavery Society. Historical Society of Carroll County collection. |