E-mail chain (newest first)
From: John J. West
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 11:52 AM
To:
Subject: The Fila in Plantation America
The Portuguese sold both persons from Angola in Louisiana and most
probably the fila, too. The 19th century
citizen Solomon Northup writes of the fila when he was
kidnapped and forced to work the cotton and sugar
of the Louisiana plantations. "The dogs used on Bayou Boeuf are a kind of
blood-hound, but a far more
savage breed than is found in the Northern States. They will attack a
negro, at their master's bidding, and cling to him as the common bull-dog
will cling to a four-footed animal. Frequently their loud bay is heard in
the swamps, and then there is speculation as to what point the runaway
will be overhauled..."
pg. 101 Northup, Solomon
Twelve Years A Slave
Narrative of Solomon Northup: A Citizen of New York, Kidnapped in Washington in 1841,
and Rescued in 1853 From a Cotton Plantation Near the
Red River in Louisiana.
From: David Smith
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 11:04 PM
To:
Subject: UGRR Markings
Are you sure the first word is "Fila" and not "Tila"?
(Not that I would know what that means). Unless Fila
was also a popular name for the dogs, I think it is
unlikely that most slaves would know the scientific
name of a Brazilian dog. Since this word is capital,
I think the line through the middle is decorative or
meant to indicate "T", perhaps, rather than "F."
However, right now, your line of speculation is as
likely as any other. I agree with you, though, that
the face in the middle looks more like a devil than a
dog. You might check to see if any African religious
figures have the name "Tila." Or find an expert in
West African languages.
A quick check of the Internet appears to show that
"tila" means "law" in some Burkina Faso dialects
(wouldn't that meaning be interesting) and that there
is a Tila River in Africa. But nothing conclusive.
Editor's Note: We will look into the word "Tila,"
although these dogs were commonly referred to as "Filas" in
the nineteenth century. A slave who was literate--not entirely
uncommon, particularly in the upper south-- could also know the dog's
breed.
From: Idigroots12060
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 5:19 PM
To: Afrolumens.com
Subject: Chester County Markings-Fila
I live within 3 miles of where these markings have been discovered. I know a family member who previously owned this property. That is how I became aware of this web site and markings.
I am a member of a local historical commission and do property deed research but not for the township in which these markings have been found. I do know the members of the historical commission from this particular township.
Within 5 miles of this property there is another very old village in which one of the houses dates to 1757 and another house dates to about 1822 and yet a third house dates to 1854. There is reason to believe that this village was a stopping point on the Underground Railroad but has not been
researched, discovered, or documented if in fact it did function as a stopping point. Across the river is another larger community known as Sanatoga. I am sure that this area or a few buildings in that area have been documented as Underground Railroad stopping points. This area would be
approximately within 10 miles of this property with the markings.
Each of these places I mentioned, the 5 miles location and then the 10 miles location are two places in which people would move Northwest and crossing the river puts them further North.
It is my belief that the property of these markings is a very likely candidate for the Underground Railroad.
An interested Chester County resident and someone with the passion for history.
From: Gunson, Frank B.
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 10:07 AM
To: 'PSURS'
Subject: RE: underground railroad markings--Follow up
Mr. Nagle,
You certainly do have our permission to publish the photos. I have no
problem with our general location or e-mail being published with them. I
can answer any inquires as time permits. I don't recall if I sent you one
or two photos, so I've attached both for you to select from.
From: Gunson, Frank B.
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 9:08 AM
To: 'PSURS'
Subject: RE: underground railroad markings--Follow up
Mr. Nagle,
The markings were inadvertently covered with paint over the weekend. I'm
sure you can imagine our disappointment to arrive home and find that our
friends had "helped us" finish renovating the room. I have already e-mailed
the paint company to see if there are any options for removal. I will let
you know if we have any success. My wife and I certainly do appreciate the
information you have provided us. I still plan to research the owners of
the home over the winter and if you like I can send you my results.
From: Christopher Densmore
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 7:55 AM
To: PSURS; Gunson, Frank B.
Subject: RE: underground railroad markings--Follow up
>In regard to the location of the house, its use as a stop on the Underground
>Railroad is not only possible, but perhaps likely. Elija Pennypacker's
>White Horse Farm has been described as a "major depot" on the Underground
>Railroad, well known to slave catchers. When slave catchers were near,
>Pennypacker was known to hide fugitives with neighboring farmers and
>residents. Chester County researchers know of at least 80 residents who
>sheltered fugitives on the Underground Railroad-a very large number, which
>increases the likelihood that your home may have been used.
Well, to put that in some perspective, that's 80 out of 70,000 people in
Chester County. Likely that is a very low number-- if you take into
consideration all of the members of those households (both biological
family and hired men and women), members of African-American or
anti-slavery religious denominations, professed abolitionists (in that
area, members of the Schuykill and the Union Anti-Slavery Societies), there
is a much larger potential support network for fugitives, but it is still
clear that those on the URR had to keep their activities secret from most
of their neighbors who may not of approved and some of whom were quite
ready to turn in a fugitive for the reward.
Any luck in identifying who owned the house before 1865?
Christopher Densmore, Curator
Friends Historical Library
Swarthmore College
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399
http://www.swarthmore.edu/library/friends
From: PSURS
Sent: Friday, November 29, 2002 10:44 AM
To: Gunson, Frank B.
Subject: RE: underground railroad markings--Follow up
Dear Mr. Gunson,
Since replying to your original query I have turned up additional
information regarding the fascinating markings on your property. In regard
to the word "fila," I feel that it definitely refers to the canine breed
Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff), a fierce and fearless breed first bred
in Brazil. It was used in that country to guard livestock, hunt jaguars,
jungle warfare, guard plantations, and to track and capture fugitive slaves.
Fila Brasilieiro is a mix of bloodhound and English bulldog, by some
accounts, and is a very large and powerful animal.
Filas are not native to the United States and are even today quite rare here
because of their temperament. They were only bred in this country recently
(within the last twenty years) and even today most breeding stock comes from
Brazil. Filas are very loyal to family, but have an intense distrust of
strangers, and will bite and attack. Filas are even known to keep farmhands
from entering farms in Brazil. For these reasons it is very unlikely that a
Fila was a "farm dog" on this Chester County farm.
It is well documented that slave owners in the United States used dogs to
track and capture runaway slaves. The bloodhound was the most frequently
used dog, not only because of its excellent tracking ability, but because it
would attack and bite the slaves when it captured them. This may seem
contrary to common sense, as we would think a slave holder would not want to
harm his property, but history shows us that quite the opposite is true.
Slaves captured after running away were usually given brutal punishments,
including beatings, brandings, maimings, and whippings. It seems that slave
holders considered this the cost of making an example of runaway slaves.
There existed, in the south, agencies that specialized in "negro dogs," or
dogs specially trained to hunt fugitive slaves. These dogs were sold to
slave holders and slave-trackers, men who made their living tracking and
capturing slaves. While we know that these breeders did not breed Filas, it
is possible that they imported some of these dogs for sale to their clients.
Filas are known to have existed, as imported dogs belonging to the upper
class, in Great Britain during this period. Given the close relationship
between southern planters and British society, and the business relationship
with Brazilian planters, it is not unlikely that the Fila could have made an
appearance on southern plantations. Remember that Brazil was the
destination of choice for southerners who fled the south with their slaves
after the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865.
In regard to the location of the house, its use as a stop on the Underground
Railroad is not only possible, but perhaps likely. Elija Pennypacker's
White Horse Farm has been described as a "major depot" on the Underground
Railroad, well known to slave catchers. When slave catchers were near,
Pennypacker was known to hide fugitives with neighboring farmers and
residents. Chester County researchers know of at least 80 residents who
sheltered fugitives on the Underground Railroad-a very large number, which
increases the likelihood that your home may have been used.
The syntax of the sentence also suggests pidgin English, and does not appear
to be something that would have been written by your average Pennsylvania
farm child or farm hand.
The actual design, despite my earlier assertion that it resembles
Pennsylvania German fraktur in design, is also a mystery. I have no clues
on the design itself. All in all, I would suggest the following actions:
1. Preserve the markings as much as possible until experts can further
examine them.
2. Determine the owners of the property for the period 1840-1865, but
especially 1850-1861, when the Underground Railroad was most active.
3. Research the owners to find any available evidence of abolitionist
activity and/or Underground Railroad activity.
4. Document the history of the markings as you know it-when did you first
discover them, were they covered by other material and for how long, etc.
The object being to isolate as much as possible the time period during which
the markings could have been made.
My feeling is that the markings are special and historically valuable,
however this is based upon conjecture from the circumstantial evidence
outlined above. Proving the validity of these markings will require the
opinions of persons who have studied this type of markings, and who have a
more thorough knowledge of this specific subject. I will continue to keep
my eyes open for further clues, evidence, or any information that may shed
more light on this discovery. Again, thank you for sending the photographs.
George F. Nagle, editor
Afrolumens Project
From: PSURS
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 04:49 AM
To: Gunson, Frank B.
Subject: RE: underground railroad markings
Mr. Gunson,
Are you sure it isn't just a warning to farmhands to avoid the dog? "Fila __ bite the people" seems to refer to a Fila Mastiff, and may simply be a child's play with chalk. Of course the scrollwork is interesting and bears a lot of resemblance to Pennsylvania German fraktur painting, yet it may have more significance as you have indicated. Did your friend give any more clues as to what part of the markings may be significant as regarding the UGRR and in what way? I have forwarded your letter and photo to several associates who have worked in ugrr research for many years. I am hoping that they can provide some sources for further research. I have read about "signs" provided by homeowners to fugitive slaves, such as a white band painted around the chimney (common in York County) and even a white band encircling the first floor of the house. Some researchers cite stories from "oldtimers" that fugitive slaves left "markings" on the walls, without describing them, and in New Jersey, dead trees were inscribed by runaway slaves with drawings of "left legs" and "peg legs" as pictographs for illiterate slaves who would follow, indicating which river to cross, in an area where two rivers met. I don't know of any single source that either discusses or identifies markings, however. Most of the knowledge about this subject is very new and scattered in small references around the country.
If the other researchers turn up nothing, you may wish to contact the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center www.undergroundrailroad.org, or the National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/undergroundrr/contents.htm which are the two largest research groups in this area at this time.
Thanks for sending the photograph. I will get back to you asap with anything that turns up.
George F. Nagle, editor
Afrolumens Project
From: Frank B. Gunson
To: Afrolumens/PSURS
Date: 11/22/02
We have recently purchased a home built in ~1803 and during renovations have
come across some markings that may be associated with the underground
railroad. This is based on the opinion of a woman who has a background in
Victorian literature. Could you give me a resource that I could research
the markings? The home is in Chester County, Pennsylvania, not far from the
White Horse Farm in Schuylkill Township. I have inserted a photo of the
markings. Please let me know if you can provide me further information.
Frank B. Gunson
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