Samuel Harper (1842 - 1912)

Born 20 Mar 1842 in Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 8 Apr 1912 at age 70 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kathryn Hogan [send private message]

Escaped to Freedom on the Underground Railroad

Biography

Sam Harper is a part of US Black heritage.

Life in Slavery

Samuel Harper was most likely born into slavery when he arrived in this world on March 20, 1842 in Tennessee, USA.^[1] Not much is known about Sam's early years. Sam was held in slavery by James Lawrence of Vernon County, Missouri. Lawrence was born in Tennessee, and moved to Missouri about 1833. Since Sam was also born in Tennessee, it may be possible Lawrence was Sam's enslaver from birth.

Lawrence died February 1858. His estate was being sold off by his son-in-law, Harvey G. Hicklin to pay debts. Sam and the other enslaved African-Americans held by Lawrence, including Jim Daniels, were worried about being sold into the Deep South.

On December 19, 1858, Jim Daniels was given permission to sell brooms in Kansas. His mission was to seek out John Brown's camp. Jim managed to speak to one of Brown's men, George Gill and get word to the abolitionist.

Life in Canada

In 1861, Sam was living in Windsor, Essex County, Canada West with his wife, Jane. Others in the household were Samuel Hamilton; sister, Malinda Hamilton; niece, Charity Hamilton; brother, Mark Harper; mother, Phillis Harper; and George Washington; and Joseph Duncan.^[2]

In 1911, Sam and Jane were living in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In the household was their daughter, Sarah, as well as the families of four of their grandchildren.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947, digital images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Ancestry.ca [1], entry for Samuel Harper; citing Canada, Ontario, Toronto, Archives of Ontario, MS 935, reel 175, 1912, Essex, Windsor, p556, no. 012397.
2. ↑ “Census of 1861,” Canada West, Essex, Windsor, personal census, District: 01-Essex, Sub-district: Windsor, page 9, line no. 19, Sam Hasperd [sic Harper]; database and digitized microfilm images, FamilySearch (Image 445 of 586)
3. ↑ Canada, Ottawa, Library and Archives Canada. “1911 Census of Canada,” database, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca > Censuses > Census of 1911 : accessed 15 Jun 2016), citing RG 31, microfilm T-20371, Ontario, district: 67-Essex North, sub-district: 43-Windsor, p. 11, family 130, line 19, entry for Samuel Harper (74 yrs).

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #173751698 (accessed 18 July 2023)
  Memorial page for Samuel “Sam” Harper (1842-8 Apr 1912), citing Windsor Grove Cemetery, Windsor, Essex County, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by supertrooper (contributor 48108404).//

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Kathryn Hogan for creating WikiTree profile Harper-2646 through the import of Conway-Hogan Family Tree.ged on Dec 27, 2013.