Portland

12. Secondhand Clothing Store of

Lloyd Scott
13. Mariners’ Church
The church congregation reached
out and ministered to waterfront
workers. The basement of Mariners’
FreedomTrail
Part of the network of Maine Freedom Trails
Lloyd Scott was named as the vice
president of the Portland Union Church served as the location of an
Anti-Slavery Society when it was anti-slavery bookstore and print shop Self Guided Walking Tour
formed in 1842 in the Abyssinian owned by Daniel Colesworthy. In
Church and provided one of the 1836 he printed the book “Light and
signatures on the constitution of the Truth from Ancient and Sacred
Garrisonian Portland Anti-Slavery History” written by Robert Benjamin
Society. The Portland City Directory Lewis, an African American. Lewis’
of 1847 list 44 Exchange Street as book was the first Afro-centric
t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e s t o re . history of the world giving brief
Secondhand clothing was considered biographical sketches of famous
a respectable and profitable people of African descent and "Dedicated to the countless thousands of men and women who fled the
definitions of all terms used at that
profession during the time of the
time to describe a black person. bonds of slavery but were recaptured or died at the hands of their pursuers
Underground Railroad. Many
secondhand clothing dealers kept a before they reached the safe embrace of the Underground Railroad.
supply of warm clothing for fugitives They are not forgotten."
being assisted from the warm south
to the cold of the north, Canada or
Great Britain.
In 1829, a Boston used-clothing
salesman, David Walker, an escaped
captive from North Carolina,
countered the growing pro-slavery
sentiment by publishing his "Appeal
to the Coloured Citizens of the
World.” He circulated the "Appeal"
by stitching it into the clothing of
African American sailors who
patronized his business. The
pamphlet soon found its way to the
south, where it sparked a flurry of
laws forbidding any African
American from learning to read and
made possession of abolitionist
literature a crime punishable by fine,
prison and death. By 1831, Walker's
Appeal had inspired Nat Turner's
Rebellion in Virginia and North Eastern Cemetery Marker
Carolina.

The Portland Freedom Trail offers sincere thanks for the

leadership and financial contributions of the following
supporters:
City of Portland
Davis Family Foundation
Lisa and Leon Gorman
Maine Humanities Council
NAACP Portland Branch
State of Maine
Thomas Family
United Way of Greater Portland www.portlandfreedomtrail.org
Art and design by Daniel Minter
 W
1. Franklin Street Wharf
Portland Freedom Trail

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Casco Bay Lines

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Self Guided Walking Tour 2. Barber Shop of Jacob C.

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Dickson

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243 Fore Street

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3. Hack Stand of Charles H.

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Eastman

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MOUNTFORT L. Pierre

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Home
29 Middle Street

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Eastern Cemetery
4. Abyssinian Church
HA Abyssinian Church 73 Newbury Street
NC
OC
IND K
IA 5. Home of Charles
Thomas Family Home Frederick, Harriet
Fessenden Home
Stephenson Eastman, and
HA Alexander Stephenson

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MP Charles Pierre Hack Stand
SH Corner of Mountfort and

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Newbury Streets

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6. Eastern Cemetery
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Jacob Dickson Barber Shop

Friends Meeting Corner of Congress and
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PE House Mountfort Streets

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7. Home of Elias and

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Franklin Street Wharf

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Elizabeth Widgery
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EX MA Ma
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ine Thomas
OX

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EL AN E St
CO

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Pie Congress Streets
First Parish Church Reuben Ruby Hack Stand r
TE 8. Home of General Samuel
MP Lloyd Scott Clothing Store
C. Fessenden
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31 India Street
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PR • Mariners' Church
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House
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Lincoln Park corner of

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Federal and Pearl Streets

PORTLAND, MAINE 10. Hack Stand of Reuben

Ruby
Corner of Federal and
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ERCIAL
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Temple Streets
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SP

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K 11. First Parish Unitarian
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Universalist Church
425 Congress Street

12. Secondhand Clothing

Store of Lloyd Scott
HIG 44 Exchange Street
H

Maine 13. Mariners' Church

Corner of Fore and
FreedomTrails Moulton Streets

MAINE FREEDOM TRAILS CO-CHAIRS PORTLAND FREEDOM TRAIL ADVISORY BOARD:

PROJECT DIRECTORS Governor John E. Baldacci William Barry, Maine Historical Society
Daniel Minter Victoria Rowell Bishop Steve Coleman, Williams Temple C.O.G.I.C
Rachel Talbot Ross Barbara Croswell, Allen Ave. Unitarian Universalist Church
Wells Staley-Mays HONORARY CHAIRS Nan Cumming, Portland Trails
Dawud Ummah U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe Valerie Cunningham, Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail
Portland Freedom Trail Robert Greene, Historian and Author
P.O. Box 342 U.S. Congressman Tom Allen Rev. Kenneth Lewis, Green Memorial AME Zion Church
Portland, Maine 04112
Mayor Nicholas M. Mavodones, Jr. Rev. Jeff McIlwain, North Star AME Zion Church
(207) 591-9980
June McKenzie, NAACP Portland Branch
www.portlandfreedomtrail.org James Oliver Horton Delene Perley, Allen Ave. Unitarian Universalist Church
info.portlandfreedomtrail.org
 American men providing the best became the first full-time minister of
paying jobs available as stevedores, the church. He served for ten years
long-shore men, and sailors. Before and became the most well-known
1860, up to 30% of the U.S. African American in the State. He
maritime forces were comprised of was an inspirational leader who
African American men. Compared promoted education – serving as
to their white counterparts, black principal of the school sponsored by
men were generally older, more the Abyssinian - employment,
reliable, stable family men who temperance, and offered many fugitive
w e re t h e p i l l a r s o f t h e i r slaves refuge at both the church and
communities and often deeply his home. The Abyssinian was one of
committed to the temperance the few buildings to survive the Great
1.Franklin Street Wharf movement. Fire of 1866 as a result of firefighter
3. Hack Stand of Charles H. L.
It was fairly common for slaves to William Wilberforce Ruby, son of
Pierre
come to Maine traveling as Reuben Ruby, wetting it down. The
Charles H. L. Pierre’s hack
stowaways on vessels from southern church is currently the third oldest
(carriage) stand stood at 29 Middle
ports. Consequently, Portland African American church still standing
Street. I n t h e m i d - 1 8 0 0 s ,
became the center of several hidden in the United States and in the process
professional opportunities for
routes to Canada. In the fall of 1857, of being restored.
freed blacks were limited. Most
Her Majesty's Brig "Albion Cooper" African Americans were hack
loaded with lumbar from Savannah, d r i v e r s , b a r b e r s ,
Georgia docked in the stream mariners/stevedores, domestic
opposite the Franklin Street Wharf. workersor secondhand clothing
The vessel commanded by Captain dealers.
Smith had stopped in Portland two
days after leaving Savannah after 2. Barber Shop of
discovering a runaway slave was Jacob C. Dickson
concealed on the ship. Jacob C. Dickson worked as a
When he arrived in Portland, barber in his own shop which once
Captain Smith consulted Samuel stood at 243 Fore Street. He was
Waterhouse, a clothing dealer on elected as secretary of the Portland
Fore Street. Samuel Waterhouse Union Anti-Slavery Society on June
along with Daniel Fessenden, 1, 1842. Barber shops were 5. Home of Charles Frederick &
Edward P. Banks, Samuel A. Whittier, important centers for the exchange Harriet Stephenson Eastman and
and Charles H.L. Pierre arranged for of information in the operation of Alexander Stephenson
a small mob of anti-slavery the Underground Railroad. The Alexander Stephenson and wife
4.Abyssinian Church
supporters and African American wigs, beards and other facial Louisa Jones Stephenson, originally
T h e A b y s s i n i a n
men to board the ship under the coverings sold could change the from Maryland, were active members
Meetinghouse/Church located at 73-
cover of night to rescue the runaway. appearance of a person. of the black community. Alexander
75 Newbury Street served as the major
They took him to the "head of Cooperating with hack drivers, worked as a hack man and a hotel
hub of the Underground Railroad in
Hancock Street” concealing him secondhand clothing dealers and porter. Louisa was a member of the
Maine and became the social center
until the next morning when he mariners, barbers were essential in Abyssinian Church. Their daughter
for Portland’s African American
could be sent to Canada. moving fugitives to freedom in Harriet was born in Portland and
community. Reuben Ruby, the
The boats running between Canada and England. married Charles Frederick Eastman.
foremost African American anti-
Portland and the Canadian provinces Unfortunately Louisa passed away
slavery activist and Underground
were made use of to help runaways and never lived in the house located
Railroad conductor in Portland,
to their freedom, especially as they on the corner of Mountfort and
purchased the land for the church
were often provided with boat Newbury Streets.
and the funds for the building came
tickets. Sailing vessels were also According to his obituary, Charles
from the black community. When it
able to furnish free passage and Frederick Eastman (1821-1889) was
was built in 1829, it became the first
carried the majority of the a “conductor” on the Underground
passengers that went from Portland. Triangular Trade black congregation in Maine. In 1841,
Railroad and “no man did more for
the pace of the anti-slavery movement
The shipping industry served as and the Maine increased in Maine with the arrival
the poor fugitive then he.” He was a
a primary employer of African barber, secondhand clothing dealer,
Connection of Reverend Amos N. Freeman who

The economic forces that kept the institution of slavery alive were based on the triangular trade.
Africans were captured, enslaved and transported through the Middle Passage, the route taken from
Africa to the New World - North America, South America and the Caribbean. Slaves worked on plantations
to refine sugar into molasses which was shipped to New England and distilled into rum. The rum
was sent to Africa and traded for slaves. The hub for the triangular trade was Newport, Rhode Island.
In the early 19th century, Americans consumed more rum than they do today. It was common to
have rum with breakfast and to have open barrels of rum in stores as a way to entice customers.
Many referred to rum as "New England tea."
Salted cod was a cheap food source that kept well in the warmer climates of Cuba, South America
and the Caribbean. Maine ship owners supplied salted cod to feed the slaves in exchange for barrels
of molasses. Ship captains would sell the molasses to one of Portland's seven rum distilleries.
 mariner, hack driver and Driver’s were active members of the Daniel Webster, and served in both
taxidermist, preserving rare animals Abyssinian Religious Society. houses of the Massachusetts State
at a museum in his home. As a self- Christopher Christian Manuel (1781- Legislature. He acted as Major General
educated man he also accumulated 1845), an immigrant from Cape Verde, of the Massachusetts (later Maine)
a considerable library. Taking his Africa, was the first elected president militia, was a United States Liberty
wife Harriet’s advice, the Eastman’s of the Portland Union Anti-Slavery Party candidate for Congress, a
helped to sustain the Abyssinian Society. Until November 2006, he candidate for governor of Maine on
Church through rough financial lied buried in an unmarked grave next the anti-slavery ticket, and an early
times. The Eastman’s and the to his wife Sophia Ruby Manuel (1802- supporter of the United States
Stephenson’s are buried in the 1875). Sophia was the sister of Republican Party. Considered a leader
Evergreen Cemetery in Portland. Reuben Ruby, one of the foremost of Maine’s anti-slavery movement,
African American anti-slavery leaders General Fessenden moved to Portland
in Portland. in 1822, and in 1828 declined the
Jannett C. Pear Ruby (1805-1827) presidency of Dartmouth College.
was the first wife of Reuben Ruby. For forty years he stood at the head 10. Hack Stand of Reuben Ruby
She is buried next to their infant son of the bar in Maine. He was an active Reuben Ruby (1798-1878) was the
William Ruby and Sophia Ruby philanthropist. foremost African American anti-
Manuel. Reuben Ruby’s final resting slavery activist and Underground
place is at the Forest City Cemetery In 1832 General Fessenden heard Railroad conductor in Portland. He
in South Portland. William Lloyd Garrison speak at the was one of the founders of the
First Parish Church and immediately Abyssinian Church and funded its
switched his alliance from the acquisition and construction. He was
ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT American Colonization Society to born in Gray, Maine. Reuben Ruby
becoming a staunch supporter of the worked directly with William Lloyd
6. Eastern Cemetery Anti-Slavery Society. He “gave Garrison and supported the start of
This historic nine acre burial escaped bondmen reaching Portland Freedom's Journal, the first black
ground is the resting place of some a hearty welcome at his house…” newspaper in this country. His hack
of Portland’s noted abolitionists who His three sons, Daniel, Rev. Samuel stand was located in front of the Elm
campaigned against slavery, provided Clement and William Pitt, who served Tavern where he maintained one
safe-houses and assisted runaways as a U.S. representative and senator coach. Another coach was maintained
on their journey to freedom. from Maine and as the U.S. Treasury at his home "the second house on
Secretary, followed his example and the east side of Preble Street from the
Elizabeth Widgery Thomas (1779- became anti-slavery and Underground head.”
1861), her husband Elias Thomas 7. Home of Elias and Elizabeth Railroad activists.
(1772-1872) and their daughter Widgery Thomas
Charlotte Thomas (1822-1920) were Located at 53 India Street, the
among the most prominent members Thomas home was known as a safe
of the Portland Anti-Slavery Society house for fugitive slaves. Members of
thought to be formed as early as the Thomas family were prominent
1833. The society, based on the in the Portland Anti-Slavery Society
ideology of William Lloyd Garrison, which also worked to advance
not only worked to abolish slavery women’s rights. They also provided
but also advanced the question of housing for notable abolitionists such
women's rights. Many of the local as Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony,
and national leaders in the women's William Lloyd Garrison, Charles
rights movement got their start in Lenox Remond and Parker Pillsbury.
political organizing and action The home was destroyed by the Great
through participation in the anti- Fire of 1866.
slavery movement. The obituary of 9. Friends (Quaker) 11.First Parish Unitarian
Mrs. Elias Thomas was prominently Meeting House Universalist Church
featured in the July 12, 1861 edition Famous abolitionist William Lloyd In 1832 abolitionist William Lloyd
of the Liberator, William Lloyd Garrison started the Maine anti- Garrison spoke in the church to 2,000
Garrison’s weekly abolition slavery movement in the Meeting people on his first Maine anti-slavery
newspaper published in Boston. House with a speech given in 1832. tour. In 1842 First Parish was the
George Ropes (1809-1842) and his Garrison advocated for “immediate site of a pro-slavery riot when radical
brothers David and Joseph were emancipation without compensation” abolitionist Stephen Symonds Foster
African American conductors on the instead of colonizing freed African was nearly murdered for criticizing
Underground Railroad and activists Americans to Liberia. Two of the first New England’s role in promoting,
in the anti-slavery movement. The pro-slavery riots occurred here - one perpetuating and profiting from
three brothers ran a hardware and in 1836 and another in 1847 - when slavery. A plaque inside the church
crockery store on Middle Street. abolitionists such as Henry Brewster honors church member Prentiss
George lived on the corner of Elm 8. Home of General Samuel C. Stanton, William Lloyd Garrison, Mellen who became the first president
and Oxford Streets. Fessenden Frederick Douglas and Charles Lenox of the Maine Anti-Slavery Society in
Margaret P. Driver (1769-1853) Samuel C. Fessenden (1784 – 1869) Remond attempted to lecture. The 1833.
was born a slave in North Carolina. was an abolitionist, state legislator, Meeting House was not rebuilt after
She was the wife of Blackstone lawyer and a passionate supporter of the Great Fire of 1866.
Driver, the treasurer of the Portland P o rt l a n d ’s A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n
Union Anti-Slavery Society. The community. He studied law with
continued - ☛