Six Penny Creek Community: Difference between revisions

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===1860 Census===
===1860 Census===
The ages listed in parentheses are directly taken from the census and may not be accurate.
====Duffy====
John Duffy (40) resided with the Lynch family and was recorded as being born in Pennsylvania<ref>United States Census, 1860</ref>.
====Jackson (and Johnson)====
Thomas (64), Emeila (25), and Harriet (1) Jackson and Ellen (22) and Elizabeth (1) Johnson lived together. They were all recorded as being born in Pennsylvania<ref>United States Census, 1860</ref>.
====Molson====
James (38), Harriet (24), Anneta (25), Margaret (15), David (10), Mary (8), James (4), and Emma (1month) Molson lived together and were all listed as being born in Pennsylvania. James Molson was a day laborer and Margaret, David, and Mary attended school<ref>United States Census, 1860</ref>.
====Nixon (and Watson)====
John (68) and Dianna (50) Nixon resided with Rosanna Watson (17), the daughter of John and Mary Watson from the 1850 Census. Rosanna Watson was attending school<ref>United States Census, 1860</ref>.


===1870 Census===
===1870 Census===

Revision as of 20:11, 24 November 2020

History

The African-American community at Six Penny Creek was established around 1835[1]. The area was affiliated with the Underground Railroad, and the community was founded in the valley of Six Penny Creek by self-emancipated individuals (escaped slaves) from the south[2].

Iron Production

The location was close to Hopewell and Joanna furnaces[3]. Self-emancipated slaves leaving the south had the opportunity to be housed within the Six Penny Creek community and work at Hopewell Furnace to earn money to aid in their continued journey north[4]. Many of the records that Hopewell Furnace show that some people worked at the furnace for very limited amounts of time, which may be indicative of escaped or freed slaves moving further north[5]. The community grew up near the home of Quaker Elizabeth Scarlet and her son who housed self-emancipated individuals[6] in "Quaker Valley" near Birdsboro[7]. As the community grew, the individuals within Six Penny Creek began to establish themselves as professionals. Some took work as colliers, farmers, stonemasons, laborers, or woodchoppers who worked on Harvesting Wood for charcoal production. Many were involved in the iron production industry. For example, Peter Jones was listed in the 1850 and 1860 Censuses and John Hart in the 1850 Census of Union Township in Berks County, PA[8] and both men were recorded in the nineteenth century Hopewell Furnace journals as cutting cord wood that was then used in the production of charcoal to fuel furnaces[9].

Mt. Frisby African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Six Penny Creek community established Mt. Frisby African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1856[10]. The church was erected on land owned by the Cole family, a notable family in the community. Isaac Cole was a woodcutter at Hopewell Furnace from 1858 to 1883[11]. The church became a station on the Underground Railroad[12]. It was also significant for being the location of the oldest African-American cemetery in Berks County, PA[13]. Several former Hopewell Furnace laborers were buried in the cemetery[14].

Residents

1850 Census

The ages listed in parentheses are directly taken from the census and may not be accurate.

Butter

Charles (75) and Sarah (43) Butter were listed as being born in Pennsylvania. Charles Butter was a laborer. Neither could read nor write[15].

Davis

John Davis (36) resided by himself. He was a laborer who could not read nor write and was listed as being born in Pennsylvania[16].

Dutt

John Dutt (30) was living on the farm of Henry Flannery among six members of the Flannery family and nine other individuals. He was listed as being born in Delaware[17].

Ford

Minty Ford (90) resided by herself. She was listed as being born in Pennsylvania and could not read nor write.

Garret

Matthias Garret (74) resided by himself. He was listed as being born in Pennsylvania and could not read nor write.

Hart (Nixon, Ford, and Lee)

John (65) was living with Levi (19), John (18), and Mary (26) Hart. Also residing with the Hart family were John (60) and Dianna (46) Nixon; Edington (39), Jane (28),George (4), and Henriette (2) Ford; and Washington Lee(60). John Hart, Dianna Nixon, Jane Ford, and Washington Lee could neither read nor write. All of the individuals in the house were listed as being born in Pennsylvania. John Nixon was a forgeman, Edington Ford a brake maker, and Washington Lee a laborer[18]. John Hart was recorded in the nineteenth century Hopewell Furnace journals as cutting cord wood[19].

Hill, Bendigs, Wilson, and Jacobs

Eliza Hill (33), Sarah (28) and Suzanna (5) Bendigs, Anna Maria Wilson (23), and William Jacobs (50) lived in the house of manufacturer Charles Clarigan and his three family members, a gardener, and a young woman. Hill, the Bendigs, Wilson, and Jacobs were all listed as being born in Pennsylvania. William Jacobs could not read nor write. Anna Maria Wilson attended school[20].

Jackson

Thomas (45) and Elizabeth Jackson (12) lived together at the time of the 1850 Census. Thomas Jackson could neither read nor write. They were both listed as being born in Pennsylvania[21].

Jones

Peter Jones (43) lived on the farm of Westley and his six person family. He was listed as a laborer born in Pennsylvania who could neither read nor write[22].

Watson

John Watson (35) lived with Mary (25), Roseanna (8), Catharine (4), and John (1). John was listed as a laborer and the entire family was noted as being born in Pennsylvania[23].

1860 Census

The ages listed in parentheses are directly taken from the census and may not be accurate.

Duffy

John Duffy (40) resided with the Lynch family and was recorded as being born in Pennsylvania[24].

Jackson (and Johnson)

Thomas (64), Emeila (25), and Harriet (1) Jackson and Ellen (22) and Elizabeth (1) Johnson lived together. They were all recorded as being born in Pennsylvania[25].

Molson

James (38), Harriet (24), Anneta (25), Margaret (15), David (10), Mary (8), James (4), and Emma (1month) Molson lived together and were all listed as being born in Pennsylvania. James Molson was a day laborer and Margaret, David, and Mary attended school[26].

Nixon (and Watson)

John (68) and Dianna (50) Nixon resided with Rosanna Watson (17), the daughter of John and Mary Watson from the 1850 Census. Rosanna Watson was attending school[27].

1870 Census

Isaac Cole (1825-1890)[28]

Isaac Cole was a woodcutter at Hopewell Furnace from 1858 to 1883[29]. Isaac Cole enlisted in the Union Army in 1864 at forty years of age where he became part of Company H, 22nd Regiment, United States Colored Troops[30]. He was listed in the 1870 Census of Union Township, Berks County, PA as a laborer and as being born in Maryland. He was residing with his wife Annie and six children[31]. In the 1880 Census of Union Township, Isaac Cole was listed as a stone mason, as were two of his sons. He lived with his wife, seven children, and a collier named William Ford[32]. Isaac Cole was involved in preparing for "colored woods camp meetings" in the area[33]. In 1885 a balloon launched from Girard College by Dr. W.H. Hammond of Washington D.D. and aeronaut L.H. King of Philadelphia landed on land owned by Isaac Cole[34]. He passed away on August 21, 1889[35].

1880 Census

1900 Census

Notes

  1. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  2. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  3. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  4. ↑ DCNR 2019
  5. ↑ Walker 1966, 307
  6. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  7. ↑ Claussen 1968
  8. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  9. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  10. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  11. ↑ Crimmins 2018
  12. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  13. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  14. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  15. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  16. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  17. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  18. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  19. ↑ National Park Service 2015
  20. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  21. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  22. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  23. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  24. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  25. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  26. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  27. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  28. ↑ Find a Grave
  29. ↑ Crimmins 2018
  30. ↑ Hebblethwaite 2010
  31. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  32. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  33. ↑ Reading Times 3 September 1882, 4
  34. ↑ Reading Times 14 March 1885, 1
  35. ↑ Reading Times 22 August 1889, 3

References

  • Crimmins, Peter. 2018. Forging a Sense of Hopewell Furnace’s History Through its Citizens and Visitors. WHYY.[1]
  • DCNR. 2019. Stories of Black History in Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.[2]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 November 2020), memorial page for Pvt Isaac Cole (1825–1890), Find a Grave Memorial no. 101121496, citing Mount Frisby Church Graveyard, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by N.D. Scheidt (contributor 47099775)[3].
  • Hebblethwaite, Frank. 2010. “Isaac Cole, 32nd Regiment U.S.C.T.”[4]
  • Claussen, Edmund. 1968. The Underground Railroad. The Mercury, December 4, 1968.[5]
  • National Park Service, Hopewell Furnace. 2015. African-Americans at Hopewell Furnace. National Park Service: U.S. Department of the Interior.[6]
  • Reading Times. 1883. Colored Woods Meeting Near Geigertown, September 3, 1883.[7]
  • Reading Times. 1885. A Balloon Landing Along the Hay Creek, March 14, 1885.[8]
  • Reading Times. 1889. Birdsboro Local News, August 22, 1889.[9]
  • United States Census, 1850, database with images, FamilySearch [10] : 9 April 2016, Pennsylvania > Berks > Union > image 22 of 40; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1860, database with images, FamilySearch [11] : 24 March 2017, Pennsylvania > Berks > Union Township > image 9 of 53; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1870, database with images, FamilySearch [12]1 : 15 June 2019, Pennsylvania > Berks > Union > image 52 of 56; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1880, database with images, FamilySearch [13] : 24 December 2015, Pennsylvania > Berks > Union > ED 68 > image 24 of 31; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.).
  • Walker, Joseph E. 1966. Hopewell Village: A Social and Economic History of an Iron-Making Community. Oxford University Press.
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