User:Kat Rankin/1826 Slave Revolt on Ohio River

The 1826 Slave Revolt on the Ohio River refers to an event that took place on September 17, 1826, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, though there are very few accounts all with slight differences in details. The fact remains that, while being taken down a flatboat on the Ohio River, around seventy five slaves, both men and women, revolted against their slave traders, killing five white men. Among the dead were slave traders Edward and Howard Stone, uncle and nephew respectively.

Background
The 1820’s were a turning point in America when regarding slavery, more states started becoming “free states” while others stayed “slave states”. The Missouri Compromise was a law that Congress passed in 1820 that allowed Missouri to remain a slave state and for Maine to outlaw slavery. This also abolished slavery in any state bought in the Louisiana Purchase located north of the 36º 30’ parallel. Though this law would eventually be repealed and declared unconstitutional, this step in the direction of freedom gave hope to enslaved people and was a turning point in inciting revolts like the 1826 Slave Revolt. The tension over the divide of America grew high due to the split in want for free states up north, and the desire for slavery to be upheld in the south. With this the underground railroad started flourishing due to places of freedom being now attainable. This caused many revolts and escapes, along with the captures of these slaves and the brutal consequences they would later receive for trying to run away. In the year 1826, more states started becoming protective and granting few rights to the freed slaves. Specifically, Pennsylvania passed an anti-kidnapping law to protect free African Americans from being taken and sold back into slavery.

The Escaped Slaves and their Recapture
All accounts lead to the conclusion that the slaves were headed to Indiana, in an attempt to escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. However, fifty six of the seventy five slaves were caught and, because of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, were returned to their owners. Of these fifty six slaves, only three actually admitted to participating in the revolt. Five were hung; their names were Jo, Duke, Resin, Stephen, and Wesley. Forty seven out of the fifty six slaves captured were sold, and the remaining few were brought back to Bourbon County. That leaves nineteen successfully escaped slaves; however, their final destination and life following their liberation is unknown or was never recorded.

Although the 75 slaves worked synchronously to kill and beat the men, one slave in particular, Louis, worked against them. Louis was Edward Stone’s body servant who tried to save his owner's life during the revolt. Due to this, Stone’s widow later granted Louis his freedom, which he used to stay in Kentucky on the land and house he was given near the Stone property.

The Five Men Killed
There are many different names used to address the five white slave traders killed aboard the flatboat. Among these men were Edward Stone and his nephew. Edward Stone in particular is known as one of the first slave traders to openly advertise his intention of selling slaves in the Deep South markets. With him and his nephew, David Cobb of Lexington, Kentucky and James Gray were said to be on board that day. The boat stopped in Louisville, Kentucky where a white man named Davis boarded. The boat made it around another 100 miles before the revolt began and these five men were killed and thrown overboard. There are various contradicting details and stories about the revolt that day. The revolt itself was covered up and not written about until years after, causing the details to become construed. To this day there is no one definitive story about how these men were overthrown and these slaves escaped.