Ocea Thomas of Atlanta, here with a picture of her ancestor, Samuel D. Burris, helped write letters in support of a pardon for Burris. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell on Monday, November 2, pardoned Burris, a free black man and conductor on the Underground Railroad who died in 1863. Burris was convicted of helping slaves escape to freedom in the 1840s.
Ocea Thomas of Atlanta, here with a picture of her ancestor, Samuel D. Burris, helped write letters in support of a pardon for Burris. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell on Monday, November 2, pardoned Burris, a free black man and conductor on the Underground Railroad who died in 1863. Burris was convicted of helping slaves escape to freedom in the 1840s.
John Bazemore/AP
Burris wrote a letter while he was jailed in Dover, Delaware. Eventually, the letter was published in The Liberator, a famous abolitionist newspaper of the day. Burris never took his freedom for granted, writing that "the lowest condition in life, with freedom attending it, is better than the most exalted station under the restricts of slavery."
Burris wrote a letter while he was jailed in Dover, Delaware. Eventually, the letter was published in The Liberator, a famous abolitionist newspaper of the day. Burris never took his freedom for granted, writing that "the lowest condition in life, with freedom attending it, is better than the most exalted station under the restricts of slavery."
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Historian Robin Krawitz (far right), Ocea Thomas (with grandsons) and Robert Seeley (to her right), a descendant of abolitionist Thomas Garrett, and others gather earlier this year near the site of a farm belonging to Quaker John Hunn, who helped in the Underground Railroad.
Historian Robin Krawitz (far right), Ocea Thomas (with grandsons) and Robert Seeley (to her right), a descendant of abolitionist Thomas Garrett, and others gather earlier this year near the site of a farm belonging to Quaker John Hunn, who helped in the Underground Railroad.
Courtesy Ocea Thomas
Ocea Thomas, Robert Seeley and Robin Krawitz attended the April 2015 commemoration in Middletown, Delaware, of a bench and marker in tribute to Burris and John Hunn, who helped shelter a dozen escaped slaves. The bench was a high school senior's class project and is part of the Toni Morrison Society "Bench by the Road Project," which aims to honor "forgotten moments in African-American History."
Ocea Thomas, Robert Seeley and Robin Krawitz attended the April 2015 commemoration in Middletown, Delaware, of a bench and marker in tribute to Burris and John Hunn, who helped shelter a dozen escaped slaves. The bench was a high school senior's class project and is part of the Toni Morrison Society "Bench by the Road Project," which aims to honor "forgotten moments in African-American History."
Courtesy Ocea Thomas
The marker for the bench monument in Middletown, Delaware, details Burris' actions and that of a white abolitionist.
The marker for the bench monument in Middletown, Delaware, details Burris' actions and that of a white abolitionist.
Courtesy Ocea Thomas
The pardon was issued at the Old State House in Dover, which served many purposes. This is where Samuel D. Burris was tried and convicted. He was auctioned on the building's marble steps (which have been replaced).
The pardon was issued at the Old State House in Dover, which served many purposes. This is where Samuel D. Burris was tried and convicted. He was auctioned on the building's marble steps (which have been replaced).
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Samuel Burris was tried in 1847 at the courtroom of the Old State House in Dover. The courtroom was restored in 1976 and now appears as it would have in 1791. The pardon ceremony was held here.
Samuel Burris was tried in 1847 at the courtroom of the Old State House in Dover. The courtroom was restored in 1976 and now appears as it would have in 1791. The pardon ceremony was held here.
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Another view of the Old State House. Burris was jailed for 14 months in a structure nearby. The Georgian-style Old State House is on the city's historic green and houses a museum.
Another view of the Old State House. Burris was jailed for 14 months in a structure nearby. The Georgian-style Old State House is on the city's historic green and houses a museum.
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs