Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-11-11
Gbe Star auo Cbronille.
MONDAY. NOV. =. 1859


''Old Charley"-anoiher LAST Slave in Peuna.
Under the Emancipation Act of 17S0
slaves we're to be freed at certain time
stated, but many chose to retain the nom
inal relation of servant in families wher
they were well used. "Master has hat
the marrow-and he shall take care of th
dry bones" was an expression frequent
used by them. The argument was, thai
those who had the benefit Of their labor il
their strength, should now support them
in their decrepitude. Often, this dcisiou
which, as a general rule, might be equi
table-was serious burden upon iudivid
uals who had never been responsible aud
never enjoyed the services of those thus
entailed upon them for support.
Almost every week, we see notices Of
the death of the "last slave in the State. y
Yet there may be many Of this class seat
tered over our counties-hid in some cor
ner, yet living, and cared for. On the
I'd day of last month, one such died in
Lewisburg, who was generally known as
"CHARLEY MCCLURE" having been in
the family of the late Capt. Alexander
Mcclure nearly eighty years. lie was pur-
chased at Middletown, at the supposed age
of Is, about 1871, and did not claim his
freedom. The elder Roam Mcclure, his
owner, brought him into Bufaloe Valley
before 1870, when-as several old gentle
men inform us-he was a grown-up man.
With him was brought keen slave girl
named KATE, who took it into her head to
escape into freedom, and was never heard
from again. Charley also undertook the
same thing, but in his ignorance ran South
instead of North-met much worse fare
than at his old home-and when found
by ore of the boys, was glad enough to
return. On their way back through the
Narrows, a thunder storm threatened, and
his young master urged him forward.
Charley was tired, aud begged that be
might ride, and thus both get along faster.
But, once mounted, Charley tried the speed
of the animal, reached the tavern as soon
as possible, and left his master to the ten
der mercies of the storm and the feetness
of his own feet. That trip finished Char
ley's aspirations for freedom.
Never a very profitable servant, Char
ley's glory was in the drum and fife, the
cap and sword, and many who are now
men, when young received their martial
rudimental training under Charley's awk-
ward, semi-fantastic drills, in the times
when military parades made the "greatest
days" in our country. His mother is be-
lieved to have been a native African, but
for half century he knew Of no kindred
in the vide world. He never learned to
read-talked imperfect German and Eng
lish-seemed to have no conception of
Christianity-and from his many singular
customs, the strange words he used, and
his ludicrous observances, he was probably
never freed from the influences of Pagan
superstition.
During his last years be was helpless as
. child, but was we'll cared for, and died
peacefully after a few hours illness of no
particular disease. He had been called ia
hundred gears old" for the last dozen
years, but did not know his own age.
From the best we can learn, he was proba-
bly, from 80 to 95 years old. He was
buried in the Lewisburg Cemetery, in the
family ground in the center of which
stands monument to the Oldest of the
M'Clure's there elaid-avenerable matron,
ofwhom we find the following Obituary in
Kennecy's SunJury and Northumberland
Gazette, for Nov. 1901:
"Departed this life, Wednesday, Nov. a,
1901, after a short illness, in the S0th year oil
her age, Mrs. JEAN MCLunE, of Bufaloe
township, and her remains were inferred the
next day IN the Presbyterian buryins ground
In Lewisburgh. This venerable old lady, like |
the fruitful vine, has left numerous progeny |
10 lament her death, having had IA children,
ITO grandchildren, iis great-grand children,
and greai-great-grand-chi children, amounting |
10 276. Thiry-six of her offspring attended
her funeral. She was Of an amiable, behevo-
lent and friendly disposition, and might truly
be called real Christian, who, having gone /
through her pilgrimage here on earth, might
say with the Apostle, +" For me to- live is
Christ and to die is GAIN
1t would be interesting to state the in-
crease Of her descendants during the 5S
years since her deceasc. We send copies
Of our paper to some Of the family as far
west as California, all of whom Gas we'll as
many old nsighbors and acquaintances) .
sll! be interested With this memorial Of |