Ohio History Journal

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BEGINNINGS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

BEGINNINGS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

IN OHIO

 

by WILBUR H. SIEBERT

Professor Emeritus of History, Ohio State University

 

The presence of fugitive slaves in Ohio was evidently one

of the reasons for the enactment of the Black Laws by the Gen-

eral Assembly in January 1804. These laws provided that any

one harboring or secreting such "objectionable" intruders, or

obstructing their owners in retaking them should be fined from

$1O to $50 for each offense. It was also provided that the claim-

ant, on making satisfactory proof of ownership of a slave before

a magistrate within Ohio, would be entitled to a warrant direct-

ing the sheriff or constable to arrest and deliver the runaway

to the claimant. Any person attempting to kidnap or remove a

Negro from the State without proving title to the property was

liable, on conviction, to a fine of $1,000, one half for the State

and the other for the informer, the kidnaper being liable also to a

damage suit by the party injured.

This act was followed by another in January 1807, which

was reenacted and reprinted in 1811, 1816, 1824, and 1831, re-

quiring in addition that no Negro or mulatto should be permitted

to migrate into and settle within Ohio without giving, within

twenty days, a bond of $500, with two competent sureties, to

guarantee his good behavior and to pay for his support if unable

to support himself. Any person employing, harboring, or con-

cealing a mulatto or Negro contrary to the provisions of this act

should forfeit not more than $100, one half for the informer and

the other for the use of the poor of the township where he resided.

These laws were not repealed until February 10, 1849.1

It seems that the first authenticated capture and release of a

 

1 Ohio Laws, II, 63-66, reprinted in O. L., VIII, 489-492; Western Reserve His-

torical Society, Collections, Publication No. 101 (Cleveland, 1920), 55-56.

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