Philadelphia: no publisher or date listed, other than date of death, 14 Nov. 1873. 8vo, 12pp in paper wraps. Stephen Smith was born into slavery in 1795 in either Lancaster or Dauphin Co., PA or Cecil Co., MD, depending on the source consulted. Some sources then say he was indentured to General Thomas Boude, former Revolutionary War officer in 1801, or sold in 1804, depending on source. In either case, his master was in the lumber business, and it was here Smith learned the business and general entrepreneurial skills. Some sources indicate that he was also paid for his labor, and was able to save $100 to buy his freedom at the age of 21. Other sources indicate that he borrowed $50 to purchase his freedom, while still others indicate that he borrowed the $50 to start his own lumber business, and still others that he had saved said $50. Clearly, because of his indentured status, the details of his early life are in dispute. Even once he obtained his emancipation, the details are a bit fuzzy. He married Harriet Lee later in the same year he obtained his freedom. All agree he was involved in abolition and other civil rights activities. Because of this, he became a target for racist factions, who at various times started riots, burned down his buildings, threatened his life. Because no one would rent a hall to Smith and his anti-slavery society (or other organizations - such as groups formed for support of free blacks), Smith bought or built Pennsylvania Hall, which was burned by a mob in 1842. But what probably made him a target even more than his skin color was his success. He built a coal and lumber business, became involved in real estate, and apparently owned a majority share in the Columbia Bank, but could not be on its various boards because of his race (but he did select the President of the bank). At his death, his will gives his primary residence and all contents to his wife, to pass to a niece and daughter of a friend upon her death. He also gave the five three-story brick houses that sat on the land where his hall had been, to pass after her death to "The Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons." He also set aside cash and specified that any residual properties not mentioned in the will be invested and the interest used to support the home. He also willed houses and land to other family and friends: such as a property in New Jersey to Mary Vidal, a house on Federal Street in Philadelphia to Matilda Locke, a house in Columbia to Anna Davis, etc. It is said that he owned close to 100 properties at his death, surely many in that "residual" category. Many of these were to pass to the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons after the death of the resident (although some did pass to their descendants). One area in which the biographies are surprisingly silent was Smith's actions during the Civil War. One source indicates that with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, Smith, with William Whipper, one of his partners, went to Canada until after the war. Most other sources indicate that he was a major "player" in the Underground Railroad, having property on the PA - MD border across which fleeing slaves could be moved on their way from slaveholding southern states - a far more likely proposition given Smith's other affiliations and real estate interests. In spite of probably hundreds of thousands of dollars given to charities and churches (Smith was also an ordained minister), he died one of the richest men in Philadelphia - black or white. Condition: Vertical fold, handwritten note on front wrap, pencil marks in margins indicating several paragraphs of the will. Moderate toning of folds. Toning of pages light.
Philadelphia: no publisher or date listed, other than date of death, 14 Nov. 1873. 8vo, 12pp in paper wraps. Stephen Smith was born into slavery in 1795 in either Lancaster or Dauphin Co., PA or Cecil Co., MD, depending on the source consulted. Some sources then say he was indentured to General Thomas Boude, former Revolutionary War officer in 1801, or sold in 1804, depending on source. In either case, his master was in the lumber business, and it was here Smith learned the business and general entrepreneurial skills. Some sources indicate that he was also paid for his labor, and was able to save $100 to buy his freedom at the age of 21. Other sources indicate that he borrowed $50 to purchase his freedom, while still others indicate that he borrowed the $50 to start his own lumber business, and still others that he had saved said $50. Clearly, because of his indentured status, the details of his early life are in dispute. Even once he obtained his emancipation, the details are a bit fuzzy. He married Harriet Lee later in the same year he obtained his freedom. All agree he was involved in abolition and other civil rights activities. Because of this, he became a target for racist factions, who at various times started riots, burned down his buildings, threatened his life. Because no one would rent a hall to Smith and his anti-slavery society (or other organizations - such as groups formed for support of free blacks), Smith bought or built Pennsylvania Hall, which was burned by a mob in 1842. But what probably made him a target even more than his skin color was his success. He built a coal and lumber business, became involved in real estate, and apparently owned a majority share in the Columbia Bank, but could not be on its various boards because of his race (but he did select the President of the bank). At his death, his will gives his primary residence and all contents to his wife, to pass to a niece and daughter of a friend upon her death. He also gave the five three-story brick houses that sat on the land where his hall had been, to pass after her death to "The Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons." He also set aside cash and specified that any residual properties not mentioned in the will be invested and the interest used to support the home. He also willed houses and land to other family and friends: such as a property in New Jersey to Mary Vidal, a house on Federal Street in Philadelphia to Matilda Locke, a house in Columbia to Anna Davis, etc. It is said that he owned close to 100 properties at his death, surely many in that "residual" category. Many of these were to pass to the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons after the death of the resident (although some did pass to their descendants). One area in which the biographies are surprisingly silent was Smith's actions during the Civil War. One source indicates that with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, Smith, with William Whipper, one of his partners, went to Canada until after the war. Most other sources indicate that he was a major "player" in the Underground Railroad, having property on the PA - MD border across which fleeing slaves could be moved on their way from slaveholding southern states - a far more likely proposition given Smith's other affiliations and real estate interests. In spite of probably hundreds of thousands of dollars given to charities and churches (Smith was also an ordained minister), he died one of the richest men in Philadelphia - black or white. Condition: Vertical fold, handwritten note on front wrap, pencil marks in margins indicating several paragraphs of the will. Moderate toning of folds. Toning of pages light.
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