Pages Tagged With: "Thomas Garrett"

Delaware History Connections: Thomas Garrett and Uncle Tom’s Cabin

By Kellie Mullarkey HCA Historic Sites Interpreter Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published on this week in 1852 (March 20th, to be exact). The best-selling novel opened readers’ eyes to the truths of slavery and fueled the abolitionist movement. Most of us are taught that much along the road in grade school, but […]




The Journey: Jail at New Castle Court House, Delaware

The Hawkins family, the Middletown constable and the slave owner’s agent arrived at the New Castle jail at 2:00am, December 6, 1845. The New Castle sheriff, Jacob Caulk, examined the commitment papers declaring them illegal. The Middletown magistrate did not sign and seal the documents; therefore, the sheriff could not legally hold the family in […]




The Journey: Wilmington, Delaware

After receiving permission from the judge, Thomas Garrett procured a wagon and had the family transported to his home in Wilmington. There they joined Samuel Burris and the other freedom seekers, and within a few days escaped over the Delaware state line into Pennsylvania. << Previous Location   Next Location >>




The People: Thomas Garrett

Thomas Garrett, a birthright Quaker, was born August 21, 1789 in Upper Darby, PA. He was an iron merchant by trade. After moving to Wilmington, DE, he married his first wife, Mary Sharpless and the couple had five children. After Mary’s death, he married Rachael Mendenhall and they had one son. Thomas Garrett is best […]