Black Settlement History in Mercer County
Very early in the settlement of Mercer County, there were black residents, both slave and freemen. Although slavery existed in Mercer County, it was not widespread. Freed slaves, known a "free-men" and the Underground Railroad, played a far greater role in the early history of the County.
The pioneer slave in Mercer County was in Sandy Lake Township in 1801. The pioneer will recorded in Mercer County was that of John Calvin, in 1804, of Salem Township. John Sheakley migrated from Gettysburg, PA, to Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County, in 1804, bringing with him four negro slaves.
In 1811, Richard Travis Sr., (1745-1843) a black "free-man," purchased 150 acres along the shores of Sandy Lake from H. Baldwin, for two dollars. About 1825, Travis established a fugitive slave town, Liberia, on his property. Liberia became a well-known sanctuary for fugitive slaves.
In spite of raids by slave catchers looking for escaped slaves, the community grew over the years. The 1840 Census recorded there were over two dozen non-whites as residents in the area.
In 1842, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states were not required by law to help slave catchers. The effect of this ruling was that reaching Pennsylvania meant reaching freedom. However, the Fugitive Slave Act, passed by the US Congress on September 18, 1850, declared runaway slaves were to be returned to their masters. This law led directly to the abandonment of Liberia; most of the residents moved north to Canada to ensure their freedom. A few stayed in this area, including one man known for selling cigars and whiskey to his neighbors, and a woman known as "Auntie Strange." Joseph Polk (1873 to 1970) was thought to be the last known survivor who lived in Liberia.
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