The area described in the first chapter of, is located in a rural area of Eastern Pennsylvania. Prior to the Civil War the Underground Railroad activity was hot, and heavy. Several branches of my family came into the area through the Underground Railroad. Some were Free Persons of Color, and others slaves fleeing the south. The communities of free blacks that sprang up, made no differentation between slave, and free.

Their loyalty was put to the test on September 11, 1851, when Edward Gorsuch, a slave owner, showed up at William Parkers home. Gorsuch was looking for his escaped slaves, and word got back to him that William Parker was holding his slaves. According to writings on Gorsuch, he did not believe his slaves would just run away, since he was known as a kind Master. He suspected that a free black, Anthony Johnson, and provoked, and assisted his slaves in running away.

He approached William Parkers house, with a Federal Marshall, and a small possee. He demanded that William Parker return his slaves, who he spotted, as they approached the Parker house. It is not clear whether Gorsuch heard the bell ring, or whether he was too engrossed in proving his point. At some point they realized that they were surrounded, and that is when the shot rang out, and Gorsuch lay mortally wounded. His son, Dickinson, was chased into the woods, and beaten nearly to death. He was saved by one of the black men, who put himself over his wounded body.

The Sheriff, and possee left their charges, after realizing that they were outnumbered. During the encounter, the Marshall attempted to deputize some whites, and they refused sayin they would be no part of the bondage of another human being. The next day, the Federal Marshall came back with a bigger possee, and arrested several whites, and many of the black men in town.

Not only were the men put on trial so was the Fugitive slave law, which allowed Slave Owners to retrieve their slaves from Northern States. The men were all acquited, and included in those acquited was Great-Great Grandfather, Henry Green. Today, Christiana Pennsylvania is an historic town, and honors all of the participants (including Edward and Dickinson Gorsuch), by naming streets after them. The house where the even took place is not an historical mounument.

In Virginia, one of the families chronicled is the Bowdens of Popes Creek. They were Mulatto Indentured Servants to George Washingtons family. Mary (born 1730), and Patty (born 1750), were mother and daughter. They were required by law to serve thirty year indentures. The person who received their indentures were Augustine Washington Senior, and Junior.

Charles and Ambrose Lewis were born in King George County Virginia, sometime around 1758-60 respectively. That is where they were in 1771, when they were forced into an Indenture. The court ruled that they were Mulatto "bastards", and awarded their indentures to a Mr. Buckham. That may be why they were on board the Page Galley when the Revolutionary War broke out. Ambrose stated that he became a Seamen while on the Page Galley, and remained there for a time. He then transferred to a larger ship, the Dragon, which had cannons. Charles and Ambrose served in the Revolutionary War together.

After serving as Seamen, the brothers became soldiers, and fought at the Battle of Camden South Carolina. Ambrose was shot nine times, and Bayonnetted clean through while in service. He was taken aboard a British Prison ship, and held until the end of the War. According to Ambrose, his occupation was a barber, and he was probably a barber aboard the prison ship. After the War, Ambrose and Charles appeared before the House of Representives, and the Virginia Assembly requesting pensions. Ambrose was successful, but Charles died before receiving his pension.

Rawley Pinn, fought at the Siege of Yorktown, with his brother, Robert, and nephews Billy, James, and John. His Nephew, James, was killed at the Siege of Yorktown. All were born in Indiantown, Lancaster County Virginia. Rawley was born about 1742, and his brother Robert about 1740. Their parents were Robert Pinn I, and Margaret(?), who were in Northumberland County in 1733. Robert was taken by the Wicomico Parish Church Wardens for absenting himself from Services. By 1758 Margaret was in Lancaster County, and her children, John Pinn, and Rawley were being apprenticed out.

Within the next twelve years Rawley left the area, and eventually settled in Amherst County. He was a member of the Amherst County Militia, prior to joining the Revolutionary War. He marched to Yorktown with his unit, which joined with Marquis De Lafayettes Unit. They camped at Colonial Williamsburg, and waited for the signal from George Washington. Already fighting with Washington was Robert, Billy, John, and James. They served from Lancaster County Virginia, and their unit was engaged in the battle against, Lord Cornwallis Troops. Once the signal was sounded, Rawley, and his friends, Benjamin Evans, and John Redcross, became a part of an historic Battle. The Siege of Yorktown was one of the deciding battles of the Revolutionary War.

A descendant of Rawley Pinn, Mary Bowden, and Charles Lewis, also fought in an historic unit. He was Samuel Walter Pinn, the Great-Grandson of Rawley Pinn. Samuel Walter Pinn, was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Jackson Pinn. Born in Fredericksburg, he left the area as a child, when his parents fled the area. Robert and Elizabeth were Free Persons of Color, who were active in the Underground Railroad. Sometime around 1853, they left Fredericksburg, and settled in Columbia Pennsylvania.

When the Civil War broke out, Samuel joined the 54th Massachusetts, United States Colored Troops,Company D, out of Lancaster County Pennsylvania. He was commissioned Corporal by, Colonel Robert Shaw, at training camp in Reedville Massachusetts. In his unit were the sons of Frederick Douglass, Charles and Lewis. As the unit fought south they lost many men, but picked up many more. The newly freed slaves were joining the unit in droves. By the end of the war, the men headed north, and camped out at the home of Samuels parents, who were then in Burlington New Jersey. Samuel, and his mother returned to Fredericksburg, where he died of consumption in 1872.

Virginias' Own Creole Population:
Notes and Documents of Free Persons of Color, is 292 pages, Non Fiction, African American History; and contains, Appendix, bibliography, endnotes, and index. It is the documented history of a group labled, "fpc", or Free Persons of Color, by the Fredericksburg Virginia, Free Negro Registry.

NOTES AND DOCUMENTS OF FREE PERSONS OF COLOR NOW AVAILABLE AT: