We take our name from the 1838 Census of the Black population of Philadelphia; the only known statistical snapshot of educational, economic and social life of nearly 20,000 free Black people in the 19th Century.
There were two additional census taken; one in 1847 and one in 1856.
And today we bring to you some interesting findings from the 1847 census.
Thanks to Swarthmore, we have good scans of 1847. You can see every page - zoom in and out - and evaluate what's there. Often times, we skim over these documents, and unless someone really gets in there to read the details, important information can slip through the cracks. Then our truths become lost, and our history gradually erased.
So it's important, that we as a community read these documents in detail and share what we've learned with our people.
We've only read through the City volume (1 of 4) so far and already we found so many interesting facts that we wanted to highlight them and share them with you.
Dig in! When you open the census page, scan over to the right and start with the 'remarks'. You'll find something fascinating - and let us know in the comments, or on social media.
So here we go...
Fact 1: Some Black People were Banking and Lost Money When the Banks Failed in the Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was an economic crisis brought on by changes in cotton prices. Finding Black banking data this early is difficult, so until we read this source, we didn't know the extent to which Black people in Philadelphia were using the banks.
Now we have evidence that they did. Both Dyott's Bank and the Philadelphia Savings Institution were banks that failed in the Panic of 1837 (Wadwhani, 2006).
These people wanted the census taker to document that they lost their money unfairly, and probably never got it back. They made it clear that their financial fortunes had plummeted, through no fault of their own. Some of them were now in poverty and receiving public aid.
"Public Aid" was free firewood for keeping the house warm, and sometimes a small stipend for groceries.
These people lost money at Dyott's Bank
"Poverty and dirt - lost $100 ($3,800 today) - by Dyotts Bank. Was Free born, but reduced to slavery when a child. Served till 19 years old and then paid $70 before she got freedom"
"Amount of public aid - 2 years wood. Lost $100 ($3,800 today) by Dyotts Bank"
"Lost $200 ($7,600 today) - her all - by Dyott's Bank"
These people lost money at Philadelphia Savings Institution
"Lost $350 ($13,000 today) - by Phil. Savings Institution."
"Lost $700 ($26,000 today) by Phil. Savings Institution"
This person lost money at Schuylkill Bank
"Lost $200 ($7,600) by Schuylkill Bank"
Fact 2: Victims of Mob Attacks Made Sure the Census Takers Documented Their Losses
This Black community was violently attacked by white mobs from 1834-1849. These stories speak to the lasting economic and emotional impact of those attacks, years later. For example, in one story, a family whose belongings on Red Row were lost in a mob attack 12 years earlier, "have not been getting along so well since."
"Twice broken up and lost all - once by a mob and once by having her goods stolen while away at service"
"Were broken up in the red row mob and lost good furniture besides $100 ($3,800 today) in money. Have not been getting along so well since."
"Was burned out about 9 years ago - has not been able since to furnish her house as well as before"
"The orphan boys mother died from a cold taken at the time of the 1st of August riot. The father died since."
Fact 3: There are Many Stories of People Paying For Manumission or Born Free and Still Getting Enslaved or Cheated, and Having to Pay Twice
As we lift the stories out these pages, we are on the path to understanding the monumental steps and huge economic cost Black people took to secure their own freedom. We believe they intentionally let the census taker know their story, so that their descendants would understand their courage and take heart. Note that a few of these stories reference making use of the legal system to sue for freedom.
These people sued for their freedom.
"Paid $225 ($8,600 today) for himself not knowing at the time that he was free born. Afterwards he contested at an expense of $50 and gained his suit.
"The wife was free born but kept as a slave till she was 24 and then sued for and obtained her freedom. The husband declined telling how he obtained his freedom."
"The old lady in this family was free born and bound to Christian Heiss of this city when quite small and was sold by her into Virigina. She was sold several times but afterwards got clear by the intervention of some friends. It cost her $250 ($9,600 today) to carry on the suit which she paid by working it out. She is now old and quite infirm."
These people paid for freedom but got cheated.
"Bargained for his wife for $350 ($13,000 today). But cheated by his master that he paid $800. ($30,000 today) And then had to run away with her."
"On account of being cheated out of the first purchase had to buy himself twice."
"The man was free born but wrongfully sold at 12 and served till 24"
These people were born free but wound up enslaved anyway.
"The wife was born free but reduced to slavery - sold 5 times and then got free by running away."
"Both were free born but wrongfully sold."
These people paid for other people's freedom.
"After being freed by his master he bought his wife for $250 ($9,600 today) and has paid $875 ($33,600 today) for 3 other persons to save them, all within 20 years. He has received back less than $260 ($9,900 today) from those he purchased."
"Has paid for 3 persons in slavery $500 ($19,000 today)"
"Paid $150 ($5,700 today) for son 3 years ago - although legally entitled to his freedom."
This woman was freed but then put back into enslavement.
"Amount of public aid 2 years wood and few groceries. Is now 87. Her master got alarmed at a camp meeting and set all his slaves free but when he got over his fright would have recalled the act. The good was all worked out of her before she got free."
Fact 3: Many People Took in Orphaned and Abandoned Children
"have taken a child neglected by its parents."
"They have one child forsaken by its parents."
Fact 4: Quite a Few People Owned Land In the Other States
"$16,000 ($615,000 today) of the personal property is owned in Georgia."
"Owns property in Indiana worth about $400 ($15,000 today). In N.Jersey - $100 (3,800 today).
"Owns a good farm near Springtown, N. Jersey."
Fact 5: There Were Interracial Marriages and One Polygamous Marriage
"This man has 3 wives - all of whom live with him." (he was also a herb doctor 🤭)
"2 in the family but the wife is a white woman"
"The husband is a white man"
"1 of the men in this family has a white wife."
"2 persons in this family but 1 is white."
Fact 6: Some People Paid Rent at Entertainment Venues to Sell Food and Drink
"$260 - of this is for the rent of bar at the circus."
"Rent of bar in Walnut Street Theatre sixty five dollars week during the season."
Fact 7: The Man Who Remembered Africa
"The man was born in Africa and brought from there a slave at 12 years of age."
Fact 8: Extraordinary Efforts
This woman started to learn to read at age 75.
"About 75 and lame but perseveres in going to S. School and is learning to read in New Testament."
These three people wanted to make sure the census taker knew that they had stopped drinking and were active members of a temperance society.
"The 3 adults in this family are reformed inebriates and belong to the "Mullen Temperance Beneficial Association."
Fact 9: Funny/Interesting Comments and Maybe a Time Traveler?
"Means of living precarious but not utterly outcast."
"Formally carried on the brushmaking business."
"Whoever he may be that owns this property no. 22 deserves the scorn of all honorable minds."
Many Black people were well off. Here we can see generational wealth where a Ms. Harris. presumed to be the daughter of Richard Allen, lives in his house on Spruce street and doesn't have to pay rent.
"Pays no rent - property belongs to father's estate. 1 deaf girl."
"Does nothing."
"Quite Intelligent"
"Supported mostly by her church"
Well...could this be a time traveler?
"Diana Ross"
Educators - How to Use This Information
This is a Primary Source.
There are stories of triumph here - students can understand the efforts Black people took to secure their freedom, including using the court system to sue for their freedom.
Students can learn how Close Reading reveals important information
Students can use the full data on the household, along with some of the facts above, to creatively envision a family’s life in 1847 and bring their existence back to life. Our video explains how.
Statistics students can devise many projects with the tabulated data.
Students can use the inflation calculator to understand how the value of money increases over time.
Everyone in the PAS census has a a clear address. Because the Philadelphia grid for the most part has not changed, it's possible to visit the same street as the people being researched and get a sense for how they lived. In this way students can make geographic mapping real.
Links to See These Stories in the 1847 Census
First - you really should check out the Black Genealogy site at Swarthmore. It has manumissions, records from the alms house and a link to the 1847 census.
The tabulated 1847 data is available here
The 1838 census has a finding aid. We started with the tabulated data from the Philadelphia Social HIstory project and added in volume and page number to make it easy to find your ancestor.
The Swarthmore folks did the same and we have created this finding aid based off of their good work. It has the volume and page number in the last columns. And it has the remarks that are searchable. So you can search for and find any of the stories we have shared with you.
Sources:
Wadhwani, R. Daniel. "Protecting Small Savers: The Political Economy of Economic Security." Journal of Policy History 18, no. 1 (2006): 126-145. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/190883.
Digitized 1847 Census
Tabulated 1847 Data
Our 1847 Finding Aid
Current Value of Money
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