George De Baptiste
Date: Wed, 8 May 1996
From: David Herr
Subject: George De Baptiste query
Can anyone provide information and/or refernces about George De Baptiste? I believe he was involved with a form of the underground railroad in New Jersey.
David Herr
Date: Thu, 9 May 1996
From: David Herr
Subject: DeBaptiste query - 2 responses
Patrick Rael writes:
Here's a possibility, gleaned from my own research: A George DeBaptiste participated in the national black convention of 1853 in Rochester. He was from Detroit (listed in federal censuses of '50 and '60), but not much is known about him. If you think this may be the guy, you can check Foner and Walker, eds., _Proceedings of the Black State and National Conventions, 1840-1865_, vol. 1 (which covers Michigan conventions); H.H. Bell, ed., _The National Negro Conventions_ (or something like that); and, probably most helpfully, the index to the microfilm collection _The Black Abolitionist Papers Collection_. DeBaptiste does not appear in the edited cloth-bound volumes of the _Black Abolitionist Papers_.
I'd be very interested to learn of your interest in this little-known black abolitionist; perhaps you could respond privately. If this is the guy, I can provide a little more info.
Patrick Rael
Bowdoin College
prael@polar.bowdoin.edu
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Scot French writes:
You should find references to George De Baptiste in _The Black Abolitionist Papers_ and various secondary works on black abolitionists, such as Benjamin Quarles, _Allies for Freedom: Blacks and John Brown_. The BAP includes a biographical sketch in the footnotes.
De Baptiste is a fascinating figure. For an early historical reference, see _The National Anti-Slavery Standard_, April 9, 1870, "Secret History of the John Brown Raid on Harper's Ferry" (reprinted from the Detroit Post). This article describes a meeting of abolitionists in Detroit in the summer of 1858, during which Brown unveiled his plans for a possible raid on the South. Frederick Douglass, who happened to be lecturing in the city, and "the leading colored people of Detroit and Chatham were present at the meeting. Douglass objected to Brown's plan, which originally was to make raids on single plantations until he had collected a force of about 1,000 slaves, and then swoop down on the large towns and cities, collecting force and material as he progressed. Brown grew wrathy, and asked Douglass if he was a coward, and referred to his success in Kansas as an augury of the Virginia campaign. Mr. Douglass replied that he was not a coward, and would give material aid to the plan if he did not approve of it, or did not go himself.
"George De Baptiste also disapproved of the plan, but proposed a gunpowder plot, in which some fifteen of the largest churches in the South would be blown on a fixed Sunday. Brown objected to the plan on the score of humanity, asserting by his plan not a hundred lives would be lost, the intention being not to shed blood unless it became absolutely necessary. De Baptiste still urged radical measures, declaring that Brown's plan would fail, and perhaps cause the loss of a million lives before the troubles likely to ensue were ended. He cited in support of his position the fact that the Nat Turner insurrection, in 1831, by which fifty-three white lives were lost, had the effect of causing the next Virginia Legislature to consider a bill for the gradual emancipation of the slaves, which bill was lost by only two votes."
I'm no expert on John Brown's conspiracy. Does anyone know whether this account has been verified by historians?
Scot French
University of Virginia
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996
From: Randy Shifflett
Subject: George De Baptist(e)
In my research on Civil War Fredericksburg, Virginia, I have found an important free black De Baptist (without the "e"), including one George De Baptist. In 1829 he was charged with "retailing ardent spirits without a license." As a member of the prominent free black community of Fredericksburg, George D. was the object of considerable white hostility and frequently hauled into court on sundry charges, most of which appear to have been false. You may find additional information in Thomas Field Armstrong's Urban Vision in Virginia: A Comparative Study of Ante-Bellum Fredericksburg and Staunton," UVA Ph.D., 1974; and Ruth Coder Fitzgerald, A DIFFERENT STORY: A BLACK HISTORY OF FREDERICKSBURG..., 1979 (source of above quotation). My work continues on this community in Fredericksburg. I will be happy to share whatever further information develops on the De Baptist family.
Randy Shifflett
Professor of History
Director of Graduate Studies
Virginia Tech
Shifflet@vtvm1.cc.vt.edu
Date: Tue, 14 May 1996
From: Philip Schwarz
Subject: George DeBaptiste
Re the query concerning George DeBaptiste: David Katzman's _Before the Ghetto; Black Detroit in the Nineteenth Century_ has some material on De Baptiste. De Baptiste was also involved in a voting case in Indiana before he moved to Michigan. I can find the citation at home if needed.
Philip J. Schwarz
Department of History
Virginia Commonwealth University
pschwarz@felix.vcu.edu
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