Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-09-01
SHADOWS OF THE PAST.

The Akron co. Beacon. has the following
interesting "reminiscences and reflection OF
Abolition days:
Akron lost an interesting and historic per-
sonage in the death OF the aged and we'll
known colored woman, Jane Lennon, yes
terdsy afternoon, about 5 o'clock, at the
residence of Paris Tallmsn, SOB East Mar
ket street. she was fully, if not over, 100
wears of age, and her career has been re-
marksble one, made particularly interest
ing in that she was the sole survivor OF
ali Northern slaves. Prefacing a sketch
of her life, few words regarding the
original abolitionists, in whose work her
destiny was bound up, will be found IN
teressing. In l775 the Pennsylvania Abo-
lition Society was founded, With Benjamin
Franklin its first President. Five years
later it memorialized Congress to devise
means for removing the inconsistency of
SLAYER from the American people" SINH
lar associations were formed IN Connecti-
cut. Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia and New York. The New York
manumission was organized in 1885, with
John Jay as President. This society
brought about the emancipation OF all the
slaves in the Empire State, and the sole
survivor of all those New York slaves,
Jane Lennon land probably the sole sur
vivor of all the slaves ever held in bondage
in the Nortb). has been resident OF
Akron since 1914. The Legislature of New
York in 1917 was induced to adopt an Act
providing for absolute and universal eman-
eipation throughout the Commonwealth, to
take effect July 4, 1927. Thus it came to
pass that Jane, Akron's representative
among the Northern slave population of
DAYS gone by, obtained her freedom. Jane
Lennon was born about l7S6-probably
earlier, though the exact date is not known
in Dutchess county, N. Y. She was
therefore three years older than the Federal
Government. In early childhood she was
sold by her first master to lady, who was
favorably impressed with her brightness,
and who thought she saw in the young girl
the promise OF a faithful and intelligent
slave. James version of this early expert.
ence was that her own mother, also slave,
gave her voluntarily to the visiting lady,
but the first account is probably the more
correct one. She soon passed into other
hands, and was successfully sold to various
persons, until finally she became the prop
erty of wealthy resident of Rensselaer,
vile, Mr.. Lennon, whose name she then
assumed and ever retained. Among re-
minisoences related by her was one con-
corning her master. 1t appears that ne was
| somewhat addicted to intoxicating drink,
and when under it's influence he was
liable to fits of anger. At such times he
| would chastise the faithful servant,
visiting her face with slaps and her
back with beatipgs. But when thus
enraged he would likewise pound his chill
dren and severely scold his wife, so that it
| may be said that Jane was treated as one
of the family. On one occasion, when en-.
gagged in turning tanning mill, Lennon
sought to accelerate her movements by
striking her on the shoulders with an iron
shovel. This was the toughest treatment
she stated she ever received at his hands.
| While in his service she accompanied the
family on winters day ride across the
| ice. bound Hudson river, which seems to
have been taken at some risk OF drowning.
In 1916, when fully 80 years OF age, Jane
was sold by Mr.. Lennon to Gordon W.
Merrick, the father of Mrs. Paris Tallman,
at whose residence she died. With this
final transfer of title to Mr.. Merriok, the
DAYS of Jane Lemons captivity ended and
her experience as a free woman began. Mr..
Merrick was heartily in sympathy with
the movement inaugurated by the' Manu-
mission Society, and the woman, there
fore. was treated and regarded not as
slave, but as a valued domestic, and when
by the terms of the Act OF 1917, July 4,
1927, changed her legal status from slavery
to freedom, it really brought no alteration
in her condition as a member of the 'Mer-
rick household