The Underground Railroad on Long Island: Friends In Freedom

by Kathleen G. Velsor

Discover Long Island’s pivotal role in the Underground Railroad and the legacy that lives on today in this fascinating history and visitor’s guide.   From the arrival of the Quakers in the seventeenth century to the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, Long Island played an important role in the Underground Railroad’s work to help enslaved people escape to freedom. Many of the safe houses are still standing today, and this informative volume provides all the information you need to see and explore this little-known chapter in Long Island history.   In Old Westbury, the members of the Westbury Meeting established a major stop on the freedom trail. In Jericho, families helped escaping slaves to freedom from the present-day Maine Maid Inn. Elias Hicks helped free 191 slaves himself and worked to create Underground Railroad safe houses in many northeastern cities. Some formerly enslaved people even established permanent communities across the island

Genres: History, Nonfiction

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2013

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim book, heavy on text and b&w photographs, taught me how much I did not know about my home, Long Island. I had seen many homes with Underground Railroad passages and tunnels, and I had attended some of the meetings in Quaker Meeting Houses that were part of the history. But - I had no idea that slavery was so prevalent on Long Island, or that many Friends actually bought slaves in order to set them free -- after giving them an education and teaching them skills that would help them survive as free people.

Some of the images are unexpectedly stirring, such as a worn, wooden ladder that had been used by rescued slaves to ascend to hiding places. Imagining the hundreds of weary feet brought me to tears. Likewise, some of the stories.

Highly recommended as a chronicle of one small piece of the righteous battle.

[Steven Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting if from Long Island. There are alot of Quaker names and towns to go through. Quakers were a big force moving many slaves to freedom.

[A. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I'm descended from the "Friends" (Quakers) in this book, I have to think it was a good book! ;)
Glad she got into the Old Westbury papers since I'm unable.

[Metzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a short read of the general Quaker involvement with the Underground Railroad. More like an introduction to a bigger work.