This article is the third of a three part series reprinting the contents of my paper The Development of Abolitionism in 19th Century Allegany County, New York. The other parts can be found here: Part 1, Part 2.
Here is the last part of the paper:
The abolitionist movement in the county held connections with other elements of moral reform and social activism. Jonathan and Abigail Allen were also involved in matters of temperance, women’s rights, theology, and education. Jonathan held these ideas as part of his distinct semi-theological view of the world. Abigail held her number of reform ideas under a principle of radicalism. William Sorter’s abolitionism was part of his broader involvement in the debates about the heart of Methodism. Asahel Cole was a news writer, one of the earliest teetotalers in the county, a key founder of the Republican Party, and a major developer of agricultural techniques, including inventing the “Underground Irrigation” technique. Joel Wakeman was a temperance activist, early prohibitionist, and prohibitionist writer. In his book, The Mysterious Parchment or the Satanic License, he argues for the legitimacy of state and local laws against alcohol based on the legitimacy of similar laws against slavery. The dynamic of abolitionist thought was a part of residents’ considerations of moral reform and social development.
The abolitionist development in the county was likewise tied to the political developments of the antebellum period. In the gradual emancipation period, a mixture of Federalist and Democratic Republican influences encouraged early elements of political anti-slavery in gradual abolitionism and early free-soilism.. In the 1830’s and 40’s emancipation abolitionism, and free-soilism gained traction. A significant number of freesoiler supporters would go on to become abolitionists in the following decades. The Whig party, which was the main party in the county from the 30’s to early 50’s, and the Barnburner faction of the Democratic Party were host to anti-slavery politicians. In 1839, the anti-slavery Liberty Party was formed in Warsaw, New York (in Wyoming County, which neighbors Allegany). The short lived political party attracted significant attention from people in Allegany County and helped foster anti-slavery political participation in the area.The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, produced outrage from many in Allegany County. The reaction to it caused a significant increase in anti-slavery, pro-underground railroad thought, encouraged a number of members to participate in the Underground Railroad, and lead many community members and local officials to look the other way. In 1854, the towns of Angelica and Friendship were among the earliest areas of organization for the newly emerging Republican Party, and formed the nucleus for the beginning of the state Republican Party. During the Civil War, Allegany County was a significant area of support for the war effort. The Political course of the county was connected with a growing support of abolitionism and opposition to slavery.
Abolitionist involvement with members of the county included activities connected to other areas. A network of Underground Railroad members operating in numerous locations in the county helped move escaped slaves north along the Genesee River to routes leading Rochester and Buffalo.A list compiled by SUNY Buffalo archivist, Christopher Densmore, identifies at least 15 confirmed Underground Railroad activists in the County.They were part of a larger group of unconfirmed and unidentified participants and supporters, which made the operation possible. Calvin Fairbank would operate outside of the county; helping 47 slaves escape, mainly from Kentucky to Ohio. He served two sentences in Kentucky prisons (1844-1849, 1852-1864), totaling 17 years, and received, by his own account, over 35,000 lashes. In the Civil War, the county supplied 3,700 men (nearly a tenth of a population) to the union army. Both Jonathan Allen and Joel Wakeman commanded groups of soldiers. Allegany County and its people took a hands on role in helping to free slaves, defeat the Confederacy, and establish the conditions which would allow for the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteens Amendments.
Abolitionism in Allegany County was developed through an interactive and participatory process. The agency and thinking of the local population joined into abolitionist discourse and activity. This combined with developments in religion, social organization, communication, education, moral reform efforts, and politics to develop Allegany County as a strong area of abolitionism. Local abolitionists, such as Jonathan and Abigail Allen, Calvin Fairbank, Asahel Cole, Joel Wakeman, John Lyle, and William Sorter interacted with and as part of the national abolitionist movement in a mutual and reciprocal relationship. In understanding the development of abolitionism in Allegany County, insight can be gained into intellectual and social elements and work in abolitionist history, into some the workings of abolition within a locality, and part of the relationship of the abolitionist movement in this area to the broader movement.
