Who's Who in Pennsylvania's Underground Railroad

Africa -- an African American Community
    in Green Township, Franklin County

The community of Africa, or "Little Africa," was located near the town of Greenwood, in Green Township, Franklin County.  Although not an officially recognized town, it was known to local citizens as a "settlement" of free Blacks, and was the largest concentration of African American families in the township.  It was also the third largest African American community in the county, with only Mercersburg and the south ward of Chambersburg having a larger number of families in 1850.  Africa did not experience a long life.  It probably began about 1837, the year that Thaddeus Stevens established his iron furnace at Caledonia.  The furnace employed many African American laborers, and was a refuge for fugitive slaves escaping bondage on the Underground Railroad.  Today the area once called Africa is known as Brownsville and Pond Bank.

Like Mercersburg and Chambersburg, with their well established African American communities, Africa was a haven for fugitive slaves.  In his memoirs "The Underground Railroad Along South Mountain," Hiram E. Wertz, a stationmaster and conductor on the secret operation, described how he would guide groups of fugitives that had arrived from the Shockey family farm near Rouzerville, about eight miles away, to Africa:

A protective watch was set up during the day time against the unwanted arrival of slave catchers.  When night came the band of fugitives was guided further north.  About eight miles away a settlement existed called "Africa."  This area was near the old Caledonia Iron Furnace, and owned by the great champion of abolition, Thaddeus Stevens.  Twenty to twenty-five colored families lived in the vicinity and near the village of Greenwood, located about two miles toward Adams County.  In this latter village was the home of Robert Black, another captain of the Underground Railroad.  He saw to it that the fugitives were cared for, working along with William Hammett, then superintendent of the Caledonia Furnace.  It would have been a pitiful time for any supporters of slavery to venture into this neighborhood with the idea of capturing fugitives. (reproduced in G. Craig Caba, Episodes of Gettysburg and the Underground Railroad, 1998, p. 100-101)
In 1850, the community contained sixteen African American families and several white families.  Ten years later, this same community had fifteen African American families and five or more white families.  By 1860, several of the families changed their reported place of birth from Maryland to Pennsylvania, possibly to avoid troubles from slave catchers or kidnappers.  Wertz, whose Underground Railroad activities spanned the years from 1845 until the Civil War, recalled a community of twenty or twenty-five families, which probably reflected its size at its height, possibly about 1855.  The threat of, and actual invasion by, Confederate forces caused most residents of this remote community to seek safer havens during the war.

Click here for residents, 1850   |    Click here for residents, 1860

Residents and Families of Africa, 1850
  --Head of household in bold, age, sex, race, occupation, value of real estate, place of birth, other data.  All families are listed in the order in which they appear in the census records.

George Roemer, 52, M(ale), B(lack), Farmer, $100 in real estate, born in Maryland, cannot read or write.
Julianna Roemer, 39, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania.
Newman Roemer, 5, M, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Emily P. Roemer, 4, F, B, born in Pennsylvania
Ann A. Roemer, 3, F, B, born in Pennsylvania
Felmane (?) Roemer, nine months, M, B, born in Pennsylvania

Jacob Barns, 40, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, $15 in real estate, born in Pennsylvania.
Margaret Barns, 31, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania.
George Barns, 8, M, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Martha Barns, 4, F, B, born in Pennsylvania.

July Brown, 44, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania, cannot read and write
William Roan, 35, M(ale), B(lack), Barber, born in Pennsylvania.
Rosannah Brown, 22, F, B, born in Pennsylvania.
David Brown, 14, M, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Columbus P. Brown, nine months, M, B, born in Pennsylvania.

William Brown, 25, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, $20 in real estate, born in Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Hannah Brown, 21, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania.
William Brown, 8, M, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Theophilus Brown, 6, M, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Tirpine Brown, 5, M, B, born in Pennsylvania.
William Brown, three months, M, B, born in Pennsylvania.

Cloe Barns, 60, F(emale), B(lack), $20 in real estate, born in Maryland, cannot read and write.
Catherine A. Dodson, 8, F, B, born in Pennsylvania

William Brown, 60, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, $100 in real estate, born in East Indies, cannot read and write.
Rachel Brown, 50, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland.
Esamiah Brown, 15, F, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Andrew Richardson, 40, M(ale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Mary Richardson, 30, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.

Elias Hall, 40, M(ale), B(lack), Teacher, born in Pennsylvania.
Nancy Hall, 25, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania.
John P. Hall, 6, M, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Harriett J. Hall, 3, F, B, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Sophia Hall, 1, F, B, born in Pennsylvania.

Peter Dryden, 30, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, born in Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth Dryden, 20, F(emale), B(lack), born in Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Lydia Dryden, 5, F, B, born in Pennsylvania.
Mary Dryden, 2, F, B, born in Pennsylvania.
George Dryden, four months, M, B, born in Pennsylvania.

George Dryden, 77, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, $30 in real estate, born in Maryland, cannot read and write.
Abbie Dryden, 60, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland, cannot read and write.

John Potts, 30, M(ale), (White), Laborer, born in Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Mary Potts, 28, F(emale), (White), born in Pennsylvania.
Susannah Potts, 9, F, W, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Jacob Potts, 5, M, W, born in Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth Potts, 7, F, W, born in Pennsylvania.
John Potts, 1, M, W, born in Pennsylvania.

Peter Souls, 52, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, born in Maryland, cannot read and write.
Melinda Souls, 49, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland, cannot read and write.
John Souls, 19, M, B, Laborer, born in Maryland.

John Roemer, 19,.M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, born in Maryland.
Lydia Roemer, 40, F(emale), B(lack), $100, in real estate, born in Maryland.

Benjamin Barnett, 85, M(ale), B(lack), Gent(leman), born in Maryland.
Nancy Barnett, 60, F(emale), B(lack), Gent(lewoman), born in Maryland.
Thomas Wills, 16, M, B, Laborer, born in Maryland, attended school within the year.

Ab(raham) Stevenson, 44, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, born in Maryland.
Mary A. Stevenson, 27, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland.
Mary J. Stevenson, 8, F, B, born in Maryland, attended school within the year.
Joseph Stevenson, 6, M, B, born in Maryland, attended school within the year.
William Stevenson, 4, M, B, born in Maryland.
Sarah Stevenson, 1, F, B, born in Maryland.

Dave Ely, 70, M(ale), (White), Laborer, $100 in real estate, born in Maryland.
Matilda Ely, 50, F(emale), (White), born in Maryland.
John Ely, 16, M, W, Laborer, born in Maryland.
Catherine Ely, 18, F, W, born in Maryland.
Elizabeth Carter, 24, F, W, born in Maryland.
John Carter, 4, M, W, born in Maryland, attended school within the year.

John Jordon, 35, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, born in Maryland.
Sarah Jordon, 33, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland.
Christiana Jordon, 4, F, B, born in Maryland.
Washington Jordon, 9, M, B, born in Maryland.
Mary Patterson, 70, F, B, born in Maryland.

Juliana Williams, 50, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland.

James Bradley, 35, M(ale), B(lack), Laborer, born in Maryland.
Elizabeth Bradley, 25, F(emale), B(lack), born in Maryland, attended school within the year.
William Carter, 8, M, White, born in Maryland.

Source:  1850 Census, Green Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, pages 197 and 198.

African American Residents and Families of Africa, 1860
   --Head of household in bold, age, sex, race, occupation, value of real estate, value of personal estate, place of birth, other data.  All families are listed in the order in which they appear in the census records.

Family

Notes
Jno. Jordan, 55, M, M, Day Laborer, $0, $30, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Sarah Jordan, 55, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Wash. Jordan, 21, M, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Christine Jordan, 23, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Mary Jordan, 10, F, M, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Jno. Jordan, 2, M, M, Pennsylvania.		 In the 1850 census, all family members reported Maryland as a place of birth.  In 1860, Pennsylvania is given as place of birth.  Some family members seem to have jumped 20 years in age, instead of 10, indicating recording errors.
Elias Hall, 45, M, M, Teacher C.S., $100, $50, Pennsylvania.
Nancy Hall, 42, F, M, Pennsylvania.
Soph Hall, 11, F, M, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Wm Hall, 8, M, M, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Richd Hall, 6, M, M, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Abigale Hall, 5, F, M, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Elias Hall, 2, M, M, Pennsylvania.
Lenanda Hall, four months, Pennsylvania.		 Children John and Harriet, from the 1850 census, are no longer with the family, but five other children are listed in 1860.  Elias' occupation includes the initials "C.S." which may stand for "Colored School."  The family has acquired real estate, valued at $100, since the 1850 census.
Jno. A. Reomer, 35, M, M, Day Laborer, $100, $50, Pennsylvania.
Sarah J. Reomer, 30, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Sml. Reomer, 5, M, M, Pennsylvania.
John Reomer, 3, M, M, Pennsylvania.
Rach. Reomer, 2, F, M, Pennsylvania.		 It is not clear if this is the same John Roemer enumerated in the 1850 census as a 19-year-old laborer.  It may be the same person, married with a young family.
Sml McDonald, 60, M, M, Day Laborer, $200, $50, Pennsylvania.
Eliz. McDonald, 60, F, M, Pennsylvania.
Marth Key, 22, F, M, Pennsylvania.
Marth L. Key, 4, F, M, Pennsylvania.
James H. Key, 1, M, M, Pennsylvania.		 This family does not appear in this community in the 1850 census.
Pet. Soule, 62, M, B, Day Laborer, $0, $30, Maryland, cannot read and write.
Eliz. Soule, 36, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Mary Soule, 12, F, M, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Jer. Soule, 4, M, M, Pennsylvania.
Pet. Draden, 35, M, B, Day Laborer, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.		 Peter Souls family has completely changed in 1860, possibly indicating a remarriage.  Also, Peter Dryden is living with this family now, the rest of his family no longer with him.
Geo. Reomer, 55, M, B, Farmer, $200, $100, Maryland, cannot read and write.
Julia Reomer, 49,.F, B, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Newman Reomer, 15, M, B, Day Laborer, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Emily J. Reomer, 14, F, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Ann E. Reomer, 10, F, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.		 George Roemer is enumerated as being only 3 years older than in 1850, but other family members are about right.  The infant Felmane (spelling) from 1850 no longer is living with this family.  George Roemer is the only African American resident of this community to report his occupation as farmer instead of a laborer (presumably at the iron works).
Jac. Reagans, 55, M, B, Day Laborer, $50, $30, Pennsylvania.
Marg. Reagans, 35, F, B, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Geo. Reagans, 14, M, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Marth Reagans, 12, F, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Stephen Reagans, 10, M, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Julia Reagans, 8, F, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Hannah Reagans, 6, F, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Cath. Reagans, 4, F, B, Pennsylvania.		 This large family does not appear in the 1850 census in this community.
Wm. Brown, 30, M, B, Day Laborer, $70, $25, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Mary Brown, 22, F, B, Pennsylvania.
Jno Brown, 16, M, B, Day Laborer, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Turpin Brown, 13, M, B, Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.
Geo. Brown, 1, M, B, Pennsylvania.		 Possibly the younger William Brown family that appears in the 1850 census, with a few different children.
Marshal Hunter, 25, M, B, Day Laborer, $70, $25, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Eliza Hunter, 20, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Henry Hunter, 5, M, M, Pennsylvania.
Ferdelia Hunter, 3, F, M, Pennsylvania.
Geo. Hunter, eight months, M, M, Pennsylvania.		 This family does not appear in the 1850 census in this community.
Rach Brown, 50, F, M, Maryland, cannot read and write.
Mary Brown, 36, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Wm Draden, 3, M, M, Pennsylvania.		 Possibly the same Rachel Brown enumerated living with the elderly William Brown in 1850, although the age does not match.
Wm. Brown, 70, M, B, Day Laborer, $300, $30, Battavia, cannot read and write. In 1850 William Brown listed his place of birth as the East Indies.  Batavia is the old name for the city of Jakarta, capital of Indonesia.  Click here for a scholarly history of Batavia with notes on it's enslaved populace.
Wm. Loney, 40, M, M, $0, $5, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Sarah Loney, 38, F, M, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.		 This family does not appear in the 1850 census in this community.
Mary Barnes, 40, F, B, $0, $20, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Cath. Barnes, 16, F, B, Pennsylvania.
Rebec. Barnes, 14, F, B, Pennsylvania.
Mary Barnes, 45, F, B, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.
Bert Lane, 23, M, B, Pennsylvania, cannot read and write.		 This family does not have any obvious connections to the residents named Barnes that appeared in the 1850 census in this community.
Total families: 15 African American families, 5 white families (not listed here).
Source:  1860 Census, Green Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, pages 272 - 274..		 Three of the families indicated as white (by default of not being marked as "mulatto" or "black") have the same surnames as other African American families in this community: Draden and Brown.  It is possible these are African American families that the census taker neglected to properly identify.

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