171:
220:, who was a civil rights advocate, suffragette, and educator. Amelia and William's daughter, Sarah, married William H. Roshier, who also worked for William Rotch Rodman for a number of years. Their daughter Amelia married Daniel B. Davis, a boot and shoe maker. Amelia and William also had a child named Augustus and a daughter, Rebecca G. Piper, born about 1839 who married Moses Olmstead on February 23, 1871. Olmstead, two years her senior, was a clothing dealer from
182:, was married to William Piper (1786–1870), both of whom had been enslaved. Piper, her husband, and four children left Alexandria on a shipping vessel for New Bedford, Massachusetts between 1826 and 1830. Family legend contends that they traveled on a schooner owned by the Rotch family. Generations of the Piper family worked for William Rotch Rodman as ship workers, domestics, and farm hands. New Bedford was a haven for fugitive slaves;
31:
338:, at the request of Patrick Gibson. Betsey Gibson was his concubine and Patrick wanted to have her cared for and educated. Jane and her sister, Helen, were Betsey and Patrick's daughters. Patrick died unexpectedly and his business associate asked that the women were returned to Georgia. Johnson kept the women, realizing that they would return to a life of slavery.
284:, an abolitionist and writer. The Pipers provided housing and helped people transition to a life of freedom. Piper's name, and that of her husband and son Robert, are mentioned in the slave narratives of people who came through New Bedford. She is also mentioned in the anti-slavery newspaper,
239:
ply our needles and fingers, to talk over the wrongs of our countrymen and women in chains, and pray that the time will soon come when every yoke shall be broken—when all oppression, whether it be southern slavery or northern prejudice, shall cease in our land and the
202:
states in 1854 that
William, "in the employ of William R. Rodman for a number of years, and by his integrity and great fidelity to the trusts committed to his charge, has won for himself an honorable name." William, like his wife, was an activist and community leader.
267:
were not returned to slavery. The money was made by selling baked goods, handmade items, and autographs of noted women and men. She was one of the New
Bedford Female Union Society managers. The organization was formed by African-American women to defeat slavery.
197:
for
William Rotch Rodman, who earned his income from the banking and whaling industries. Piper, known for his skill in caring for horses, lived near Rodman and worked for him for decades. The New Bedford
154:, who organized anti-slavery fairs, was a manager of the New Bedford Female Union Society, and was a fundraiser for the abolition of slavery. She and her husband were conductors on the
842:
321:
The Pipers lived at 46 (now 58) Bedford Street, less than two blocks from the
Rodmans on Country Street. Former slaves often became part of the middle class in New Bedford.
216:
in 1839, when he lived at 87 S. Sixth Street, the family home of
William and Amelia. It was sold in 1841. Married to Jane Gibson, Philip and his wife had a daughter
299:
330:
Jane Gibson was a slave who was brought to New
Bedford with her mother, her sister, and her half-siblings in 1834 by her master. They were brought to the home of
206:
Amelia and
William had at least six children. Robert H. Piper (1814–1875) was a mariner from the 1830s through the 1850s, including having worked aboard the ship
210:
in 1841. Robert was also a waiter for Rodman from 1845 and likely into the 1850s. Robert's wife, Alexine, died in 1885. Philip, born about 1820, worked on the
170:
331:
335:
233:
837:
847:
556:
Town and City Clerks of
Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook)
422:
852:
264:
147:
183:
254:
857:
253:
On
January 1, 1840, Piper organized one of the first anti-slavery fairs in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The money was used for the
187:
588:
New
England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Vital Records of New Bedford, Massachusetts to the Year 1850
672:
622:
526:
498:
470:
159:
729:
286:
259:
697:"Rebecca G. Piper, marriage record registered in Boston, February 23, 1871 - parents William and Amelia Piper",
212:
217:
162:
community to coordinate the efforts of others to provide lives of freedom to those who had been enslaved.
134:
827:
647:
442:
305:
The Piper's children and grandchildren also worked to end slavery and vie for equitable civil rights.
832:
771:
179:
155:
76:
48:
601:
224:. Amelia and William were members of the Second Baptist Church and William was a deacon there.
418:
412:
221:
713:
673:"Behind the Mansions: The Political, Economic, and Social Life of a New Bedford Neighborhood"
623:"Behind the Mansions: The Political, Economic, and Social Life of a New Bedford Neighborhood"
527:"Behind the Mansions: The Political, Economic, and Social Life of a New Bedford Neighborhood"
499:"Behind the Mansions: The Political, Economic, and Social Life of a New Bedford Neighborhood"
471:"Behind the Mansions: The Political, Economic, and Social Life of a New Bedford Neighborhood"
298:
Amelia died on March 10, 1856, in New Bedford. William and Amelia Piper are buried at the
30:
281:
277:
821:
812:
803:
377:
151:
808:
799:
443:"Behind the mansions: Researchers explore 'microcosm of historic New Bedford'"
554:"Philip F Piper and Jane Gibson, June 26, 1846, New Bedford, Massachusetts",
648:"Nathan & Polly Johnson - New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park"
276:
With her husband, Piper helped fugitive slaves attain their freedom, like
245:
Managers of the New Bedford Female Union Society, including Amelia Piper,
174:
William Piper, former slave, abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor
730:"Anti-Slavery Fair article, New Bedford, August 12, 1839, Amelia Piper"
194:
263:, an anti-slavery newspaper. Sometimes funds were used to ensure that
602:"Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery » Riverside Biographies"
186:
and New Bedford sea captains and crew members, who traded along the
759:, Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society.
158:. She worked within the African-American community and the greater
701:, Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society
169:
755:"Amelia Piper, died March 10, 1856, New Bedford, Massachusetts",
586:"Elizabeth Piper, daughter of Philip and Jane Gibson Piper",
257:; to fund abolitionist's speaking tours; and to help support
414:
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself
678:. National Park Service. May 2006. pp. 43, 106
130:
101:
82:
71:
63:
55:
37:
21:
718:. E. Anthony & Sons, Printers. pp. 68–69.
476:. National Park Service. May 2006. pp. 40, 57
382:Lighting the Way, Historic Women of the SouthCoast
573:New Bedford, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1839
237:
843:Abolitionists from New Bedford, Massachusetts
628:. National Park Service. May 2006. p. 16
532:. National Park Service. May 2006. p. 37
504:. National Park Service. May 2006. p. 25
411:Jacobs, Harriet Ann; Jacobs, John S. (2000).
8:
521:
519:
493:
491:
465:
463:
461:
459:
566:
564:
549:
547:
234:Abolitionism in New Bedford, Massachusetts
75:Abolitionist, organizer, conductor on the
29:
18:
417:. Harvard University Press. p. 317.
436:
434:
406:
404:
402:
400:
398:
772:"Cemetery Tour Offers New Perspectives"
351:
314:
757:Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911
715:History of the Churches of New Bedford
699:Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911
371:
369:
367:
365:
363:
361:
359:
357:
355:
184:Slavery ended in Massachusetts in 1783
16:American former slave and abolitionist
7:
441:Marean, Pamela (December 15, 2012).
193:William was a domestic servant and
255:Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society
14:
600:Hennesy, DL. K. Alexander (ed.).
838:People from Alexandria, Virginia
190:, helped people escape slavery.
712:Kelley, Jesse Fillmore (1869).
302:in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
848:African-American abolitionists
770:Hauk, Alexis (June 24, 2010).
1:
736:. August 23, 1839. p. 3
59:1856 (aged 59–60)
853:Underground Railroad people
376:Blake, Lee (May 14, 2018).
874:
231:
160:New Bedford, Massachusetts
94:(before 1820)
178:Amelia J. Piper, born in
28:
858:Fugitive American slaves
336:21 Seventh Street home
251:
218:Elizabeth Piper Ensley
175:
135:Elizabeth Piper Ensley
652:National Park Service
173:
146:(c. 1796–1856) was a
272:Underground Railroad
180:Alexandria, Virginia
156:Underground Railroad
77:Underground Railroad
49:Alexandria, Virginia
571:"Philip F. Piper",
200:Republican Standard
300:Oak Grove Cemetery
176:
424:978-0-674-00271-5
280:, the brother of
222:Norfolk, Virginia
141:
140:
865:
787:
786:
784:
782:
776:SouthCoast Today
767:
761:
760:
752:
746:
745:
743:
741:
726:
720:
719:
709:
703:
702:
694:
688:
687:
685:
683:
677:
669:
663:
662:
660:
658:
644:
638:
637:
635:
633:
627:
619:
613:
612:
610:
608:
597:
591:
590:
583:
577:
576:
568:
559:
558:
551:
542:
541:
539:
537:
531:
523:
514:
513:
511:
509:
503:
495:
486:
485:
483:
481:
475:
467:
454:
453:
451:
449:
438:
429:
428:
408:
393:
392:
390:
388:
373:
339:
328:
322:
319:
294:Death and legacy
249:
117:Rebecca Olmstead
95:
33:
19:
873:
872:
868:
867:
866:
864:
863:
862:
818:
817:
796:
791:
790:
780:
778:
769:
768:
764:
754:
753:
749:
739:
737:
728:
727:
723:
711:
710:
706:
696:
695:
691:
681:
679:
675:
671:
670:
666:
656:
654:
646:
645:
641:
631:
629:
625:
621:
620:
616:
606:
604:
599:
598:
594:
585:
584:
580:
570:
569:
562:
553:
552:
545:
535:
533:
529:
525:
524:
517:
507:
505:
501:
497:
496:
489:
479:
477:
473:
469:
468:
457:
447:
445:
440:
439:
432:
425:
410:
409:
396:
386:
384:
375:
374:
353:
348:
343:
342:
329:
325:
320:
316:
311:
296:
274:
265:fugitive slaves
250:
244:
236:
230:
168:
137:(granddaughter)
126:
120:Robert H. Piper
97:
93:
89:
51:
46:
44:
43:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
871:
869:
861:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
820:
819:
816:
815:
806:
795:
794:External links
792:
789:
788:
762:
747:
721:
704:
689:
664:
639:
614:
592:
578:
560:
543:
515:
487:
455:
430:
423:
394:
378:"Amelia Piper"
350:
349:
347:
344:
341:
340:
332:Nathan Johnson
323:
313:
312:
310:
307:
295:
292:
282:Harriet Jacobs
278:John S. Jacobs
273:
270:
242:
232:Main article:
229:
226:
188:Atlantic coast
167:
164:
139:
138:
132:
128:
127:
125:
124:
121:
118:
115:
112:
111:Augustus Piper
109:
105:
103:
99:
98:
91:
87:
86:
84:
80:
79:
73:
72:Known for
69:
68:
65:
61:
60:
57:
53:
52:
47:
41:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
870:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
825:
823:
814:
810:
809:William Piper
807:
805:
801:
798:
797:
793:
777:
773:
766:
763:
758:
751:
748:
735:
734:The Liberator
731:
725:
722:
717:
716:
708:
705:
700:
693:
690:
674:
668:
665:
653:
649:
643:
640:
624:
618:
615:
603:
596:
593:
589:
582:
579:
575:, p. 110
574:
567:
565:
561:
557:
550:
548:
544:
528:
522:
520:
516:
500:
494:
492:
488:
472:
466:
464:
462:
460:
456:
444:
437:
435:
431:
426:
420:
416:
415:
407:
405:
403:
401:
399:
395:
383:
379:
372:
370:
368:
366:
364:
362:
360:
358:
356:
352:
345:
337:
333:
327:
324:
318:
315:
308:
306:
303:
301:
293:
291:
289:
288:
287:The Liberator
283:
279:
271:
269:
266:
262:
261:
260:The Liberator
256:
248:
247:The Liberator
241:
235:
227:
225:
223:
219:
215:
214:
213:Rebecca Simms
209:
204:
201:
196:
191:
189:
185:
181:
172:
166:Personal life
165:
163:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
136:
133:
129:
123:Sarah Roshier
122:
119:
116:
113:
110:
107:
106:
104:
100:
88:William Piper
85:
81:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
40:
36:
32:
27:
20:
828:1790s births
813:Find a Grave
804:Find a Grave
800:Amelia Piper
779:. Retrieved
775:
765:
756:
750:
738:. Retrieved
733:
724:
714:
707:
698:
692:
680:. Retrieved
667:
655:. Retrieved
651:
642:
630:. Retrieved
617:
605:. Retrieved
595:
587:
581:
572:
555:
534:. Retrieved
506:. Retrieved
478:. Retrieved
446:. Retrieved
413:
385:. Retrieved
381:
326:
317:
304:
297:
285:
275:
258:
252:
246:
238:
228:Abolitionist
211:
207:
205:
199:
192:
177:
152:abolitionist
148:former slave
144:Amelia Piper
143:
142:
114:Philip Piper
108:Amelia Davis
23:Amelia Piper
833:1856 deaths
64:Nationality
822:Categories
346:References
208:Jefferson
131:Relatives
781:March 4,
740:March 4,
682:March 4,
657:March 4,
632:March 4,
607:March 4,
536:March 4,
508:March 4,
480:March 4,
448:March 4,
387:March 4,
243:—
102:Children
67:American
195:hostler
96:
92:
45:c. 1796
421:
240:world.
83:Spouse
42:Amelia
676:(PDF)
626:(PDF)
530:(PDF)
502:(PDF)
474:(PDF)
309:Notes
90:
783:2020
742:2020
684:2020
659:2020
634:2020
609:2020
538:2020
510:2020
482:2020
450:2020
419:ISBN
389:2020
150:and
56:Died
38:Born
811:at
802:at
334:at
824::
774:.
732:.
650:.
563:^
546:^
518:^
490:^
458:^
433:^
397:^
380:.
354:^
290:.
785:.
744:.
686:.
661:.
636:.
611:.
540:.
512:.
484:.
452:.
427:.
391:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
