Pam Peterson
Slavery was abolished in Massachusetts in 1780, and the importation of enslaved people into the United States became illegal in 1808. But slavery continued in the South, and traders smuggled enslaved people into the United States under foreign flags.
William Lloyd Garrison led the public attack on slavery in his newspaper, The Liberator, and the New England Anti-Slavery Society was formed in 1832. Many chapters were established in towns on the North Shore, including Marblehead. Their focus was to raise consciousness about the evils of slavery and to help enslaved people who had escaped.
As time went on, it became more and more dangerous to hide and help runaways. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made it illegal, punishable by a large fine and prison, to help an escaped enslaved person. It also gave law officers the right to track and capture enslaved people anywhere they found them.
In Marblehead, runaways were often taken to the home of the town’s most well-known abolitionists. Betsy and Simeon Dodge lived at 236 Washington St. Their house still exists and is privately owned.
The Dodges sheltered and helped many runaways, and they arranged for other safe houses in the town. A fellow abolitionist said of the Dodges, “It was much easier in those days to make speeches than to do the work and run the constant risks — which was cheerfully done and bravely borne by the noble Simeon Dodge and his wife, of Marblehead.”
One of the many enslaved people who traveled on the Underground Railroad was Henry “Box” Brown. His story is a tribute to the bravery of both escaping enslaved people and those who helped them.
Henry Brown was born into slavery in Virginia. He was married and had three children. His wife and children were sold to another owner and taken away to North Carolina. He never saw them again.
After that, he decided to escape and came up with an ingenious plan. A large wooden box, 2 feet wide by 3 feet long, was made, and Henry Brown was placed inside it, with one hole for air and some food and supplies.
His box was labeled and taken to the train station where he was shipped from Richmond, Virginia, to anti-slavery supporters in Philadelphia.
Henry “Box” Brown spent 26 hours on his journey. When he was let out of the box, the first thing he did was bow to his rescuers and say, “How do you do, gentlemen?”
His story became famous, and so did Henry. He went on to become a well-known speaker for the Anti-Slavery Society.
In 1875, Henry Brown spoke in Marblehead at the Lyceum Hall. The Marblehead Messenger reported, “He delivered a lecture on his experience with slavery, and his wife, a white lady, recited an essay on the subject.”