Christiana Incident of 1851: A Detailed Exploration

Episode: Christiana Incident of 1851
Hosts: Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson
Release Date: June 11, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of "Stuff You Missed in History Class," hosts Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson delve into the Christiana Incident of 1851, a pivotal event in the pre-Civil War United States. This incident not only highlighted the intense regional tensions over slavery but also served as a critical legal test of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Holly and Tracy shed light on the lives of those most affected by slavery and the broader societal implications of this confrontation.

Background: Slavery in Mid-19th Century America

The United States in the mid-1850s was a nation deeply divided over the issue of slavery. Holly Fry sets the stage by explaining how the country was splitting into pro-slavery and anti-slavery states, leading to heightened tensions, especially along the borders between these regions.

"This offers a kind of unique snapshot of the US when the country was sorting into states where slavery was upheld and states that had abolished it, and what the resulting discord and racist tension really looked like at the borders between those sides of the conflict in the mid-1850s."
— Holly Fry [02:55]

Key Figures

1. William Parker: An escaped slave who became a central figure in the incident. Born on the Rodown plantation in Maryland, Parker escaped slavery and settled in Christiana, Pennsylvania, where he became an active member of the abolitionist community and formed a mutual protection group to defend fugitive slaves.

   "From the time he was young, William, after having seen his first sale of enslaved people that he had grown up with, plotted an escape."
   — Holly Fry [05:59]

2. Edward Gorsuch: The slaveowner seeking to reclaim his escaped slaves. In 1851, Gorsuch led a posse to Pennsylvania to apprehend four men who had escaped his Maryland plantation.

3. Noah Bully, Nelson Ford, George Hammond, and Joshua Hammond: The four men who escaped from Gorsuch's plantation and sought refuge in Christiana.

The Escape and Pursuit

In 1849, Noah Bully, Nelson Ford, George Hammond, and Joshua Hammond escaped enslavement from Edward Gorsuch's farm in Baltimore County, Maryland. They found sanctuary at William Parker's home in Christiana, Pennsylvania. Parker, along with his wife Eliza Ann Howard, had established a safe haven for fugitive slaves, emphasizing collective protection against kidnappers.

"I was ignorant enough to think that something besides the fact that I was a slave was necessary to exonerate me from blame in running away."
— William Parker [05:59]

However, their sanctuary was short-lived. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 intensified the efforts to capture escaped slaves, granting significant power to slaveholders and imposing severe penalties on those aiding fugitives.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Lester Holt provides a detailed explanation of the Fugitive Slave Act, highlighting its stringent provisions:

"The law clearly stated that the testimony of the apprehended person would not be admitted into evidence and that they could be taken back to the state they ran from, even if they were captured in a state that did not have legal enslavement."
— Lester Holt [17:13]

This legislation not only empowered slaveholders to pursue fugitives across state lines but also criminalized any assistance to escaped slaves, thus fueling resistance and activism in abolitionist communities.

The Christiana Incident: Confrontation at Peter Parker’s Home

On September 9, 1851, Edward Gorsuch arrived in Pennsylvania with a posse to capture the escaped men. The group included Gorsuch's son Dickinson and his nephew Joshua, alongside local men Nathan Nelson, Thomas Pierce, Nicholas Hutchings, and guide William Padgett.

Upon arriving at Parker's home, tensions escalated quickly. Initial demands for the fugitives to surrender were met with resistance. Parker and his family, along with several black men, armed themselves to defend against the slave catchers.

"We must have trouble before we could have peace."
— William Parker [09:31]

As the confrontation intensified, conflicting accounts emerged. Some narratives exaggerated the number of armed black defenders, ranging from 15 to 200, though more realistic estimates suggest a force of two or three dozen.

Conflicting Accounts and Media Representation

Early newspaper reports, such as one from the Boston Evening Transcript, painted a dramatic and often inaccurate picture of the incident:

"A fearful fugitive slave riot occurred at Christiana, Lancaster county yesterday morning... The officers were driven from the ground by 80 armed Negroes."
— Narrator [29:45]

However, the actual number of defenders was likely much smaller, and many of the accounts contained significant errors, including misrepresentations of the participants and the nature of the confrontation.

Two weeks later, the New York Times published an account based on the testimony of Dickinson Gorsuch, which further complicated the narrative by alleging a premeditated conspiracy involving both black and white individuals, including Quakers like Kastner Hanway.

"No plea of conscience or regard for divine law will be made by the perpetrators of this outrage."
— Lester Holt [33:36]

The Trial and Legal Proceedings

The aftermath of the incident led to the arrest and trial of Kastner Hanway, Elijah Lewis, Jeremiah Scarlett, and 25 black men on charges of treason and other offenses. The prosecution aimed to portray the defendants as violent insurgents, but their case unraveled due to unreliable witness testimonies and the dubious credibility of key prosecution figures like Deputy Marshal H.H. Klein.

"The jury only deliberated for 15 minutes before coming back with a not guilty verdict for Hanway."
— Holly Fry [40:02]

The swift acquittal of Hanway undermined the prosecution's strategy, leading to the dismissal of all remaining charges by January 1852. The trial's outcome intensified Southern resentment and deepened the sectional divide, contributing to the rising tensions that would eventually culminate in the Civil War.

Aftermath and Long-Term Effects

In the wake of the trial, several key figures found different paths:

• Dickinson Gorsuch, severely injured during the incident, sought reconciliation with the Christiana community and maintained positive relationships until his death in 1882.

• William Parker relocated to Buxton, Canada, where he reunited with his wife Eliza Ann Howard. Their lives in Canada allowed them to live free from the immediate threat of capture.

"He [William Parker] is relocated to Buxton, Canada, and settled there... in 1866, the Atlantic Monthly published his life story in two parts."
— Lester Holt [42:20]

The fate of the four escaped men—Noah Bully, Nelson Ford, George Hammond, and Joshua Hammond—remains uncertain, with speculation suggesting they may have joined Parker in Canada.

Conclusion

The Christiana Incident of 1851 stands as a significant episode in American history, illustrating the fierce resistance against oppressive laws and the lengths to which individuals and communities would go to uphold the principles of freedom and human dignity. Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson effectively unravel the complexities of this event, highlighting the interplay between legal frameworks, personal courage, and societal upheaval that characterized the antebellum United States.

"This story is so ceaselessly interesting to me. I particularly am fascinated by the press coverage."
— Holly Fry [42:38]

By examining both the heroic efforts of individuals like William Parker and the flawed legal endeavors of figures like Edward Gorsuch, the episode provides a nuanced understanding of a nation on the brink of transformation.

Notable Quotes

• "This offer a kind of unique snapshot of the US when the country was sorting into states where slavery was upheld and states that had abolished it..."
  — Holly Fry [02:55]

• "We must have trouble before we could have peace."
  — William Parker [09:31]

• "No plea of conscience or regard for divine law will be made by the perpetrators of this outrage."
  — Lester Holt [33:36]

• "This defendant, gentlemen, is not here through his counsel to defend those sad deeds..."
  — Defense Opening Statement at Hanway's Trial [40:02]

Further Reading and Listening

For those interested in exploring more about the Christiana Incident and its broader implications, Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson recommend tuning into their upcoming series and related episodes:

• Camp Shame: An eight-episode series investigating the dark truths behind Camp Shane, a weight loss camp for kids.
• Criminalia: Hosted by Holly Fry and Maria Tremarchi, focusing on historical true crime cases.
• Betrayal: A deep dive into personal deception and scandal within law enforcement.

Thank you for joining Holly and Tracy in uncovering the intricate layers of the Christiana Incident of 1851. Stay tuned for more fascinating historical narratives on "Stuff You Missed in History Class."