New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16
THE LAST NORTHERN STA We.
STORY OF HER LIFE IN BONDAGE AND
FREEDOM.

[FRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rElbCSE
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 1o.-A coiored
woman lane Lennon " 10 died few days at Akron,
about 60 years age 1T is clamed the soesurv
or of all Northern The story oi her NE dates
back TO 1873. when the pennsylvania Abolition society
was founded with BENJAMIN Franklin az ts hrat pfesi-
dent Five years later the society meinoralIed Con
es IN devise means for removing the Inconsistency OF
slavery from the American people similar associations
were formed in Connecticut, Rhode Island Mar! ihhu
Delaware, Virginia and NeN-Nork Inc Ne" lurA
Manumssion Society organized In l1ej, win Johh
Jay as president This society brought about the eah
cination Of all tile in the Empire state The late
lane Lennon the sole survivor OF all the NeW-1oIh
sl, es aud probably The sole survivor Of all the
slares held IN bondage the Northern states la lsl1
the Legislature Of NewNoIk was Induced to adopt an
act providing for absolute and universal emancipation
Throughout the Commonwealth. to take eject July
1927 II was by this act that Jane Lennon obtained her
freedom.
she was born about l7si.-probaoly earlier. al
though the exact. date ism known,-in Duichess
County New-York. she was older than the Federal
Government. In early childhood she was sold ~ hrr
first master 10 lady Who ayorably impressed with
her brightness and thought she saW IN The young gir
the promise Of faithful and intelligent slave James
version OF this early experience vas hat her own
oter also slave gave voluntarily 10 the lady. Tut
the account Of her being proaoy the correct one
lane soon passed other hands aud Was successfully
sold To various persons among them wealthy gentle
man named Lennon, residing at Rcnsselhervile. In
lslG when she was about thirty i've years OF age she
gas sold TO Gordon W. MeIrc the father Of Mrs Paris
Talluan AT whose residence she aicd. Win TINS iha
Transfer OF title TO Mr. Merck the day OF Jane Lennon
caufiyity ended, aud her hie free woman began
MIR Hcrrick was heartily In sympathy sith the move
ulcut innuguratcd by Manum-sion society AMI te
woman was there not treated a. slave but a. val
ned domestic. and wnen the act OF l-la cia2en Yer
cral status from slavery freedom u really piokht
no alteration her condition mclnneF OF the Mei-
rick nOusehOlds A. 49,,
she did Tot even know her si.tteri.' tor many
wears earnest persistent efforts we're maze ny mem
hers of lie Merrcf family teach her 10 read bhi ihe
mind oi lie woman could not be brought 10 toe cOmp
heusou of written wOTs. Eith great dhcdity hhe nc
ouircd toerabe familiarity with tho alphabet but
when II came putting letter. together tge tsh was
bcvoud her power accomplish In 1918 tue MeiFlch1
Massilluu. ONO. ANA Tour yt9tH 4htct ti'
To- Akron bringing Win them the faithful servant jane
Her attachment 10 the family, which was strong ahd
incee from beginning. q ba TIE great passion
of her lie when Mr. Mcrflck died some twenty years
ano his deccasc proc reed marked effect on Jane Len
non she never rallied from the shO,N, her nlnu hnu
Lody then showing strong symptoms o acclne Al the
noe of ninety i've she vas able to walk about the house
With lie aid OF a cane, and - ride out IN favorable
weather. She liked have the papers rcad To her htf
fayorte paper beng 1HE NEW-1oLk iEibtN NJ, which
she alwayn called =" IH& ImBu o. Many otitf W"ru-
she was n, yer able 10 pronounce ngGily. she Was
warm hearted afer creature ana bclONcd by ull
WHO knew her. During her illness Mrs. Ianan' WITH
whom she had lives since tue death OF r Mernck MN
lslered 10 her with LOVING care. hhe was .Iahlui
member Of the Episcopal Church.