Elisha Tyson facts for kids
Elisha Tyson (December 18, 1750 – February 16, 1824) was a wealthy American who cared deeply about helping others. He was a philanthropist, meaning he gave money and time to good causes. He was also a strong supporter of the abolition movement, which worked to end slavery.
Tyson was active in the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. He set up safe houses along the route from Maryland to Pennsylvania. He even bought the freedom of enslaved people at auctions. He also fought against kidnapping, helping to free people who had been wrongly taken and forced into slavery.
Elisha Tyson was a Quaker. Quakers believe in peace and equality for everyone. He attended Quaker meetings throughout his life, first in Pennsylvania and later in Maryland.
When he died, thousands of people, especially African Americans he had helped, followed his casket. This showed how much he was respected and loved. He had ten children. His son Nathan married Martha Ellicott Tyson, who wrote an important book about Benjamin Banneker, a famous African American astronomer. She also helped start Swarthmore College.
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Early Life and Quaker Roots
Elisha Tyson was born on December 18, 1750, in Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania. His parents were Esther Shoemaker and Isaac Tyson. His family belonged to the Abington Friends Meeting House, a Quaker community.
The Tyson family had strong Quaker roots. Elisha's great-grandfather, the first Tyson in America, was one of the first settlers in Pennsylvania. He was a German who became a Quaker after meeting George Fox, a founder of the Quaker religion.
Building a Business and Helping Others
In 1772, Elisha Tyson started a milling business with his brother in Harford County, Maryland. He later moved to Baltimore in 1781. After the American Revolutionary War, he invested in real estate. Even after losing some money, he borrowed more to build a successful mill near Jones Falls. Within a few years, he became a very wealthy man. He was known as a flour miller, trader, and merchant. In 1818, he helped start the Savings Bank of Baltimore.
Even though he was a pacifist (someone who believes in peace and avoids war), he allowed the government to use one of his mills to make bullets during a time of need. He also believed in temperance, meaning he did not allow alcohol to be stored in his warehouses.
Fighting for Freedom and Justice
Elisha Tyson was a community leader and activist. His Quaker beliefs guided him to help people who were treated unfairly. He was a strong supporter of freedom and a generous giver.
Standing Up Against Slavery
Elisha was a vocal supporter of Quaker values, especially their early protests against slavery. In 1789, he helped create the Maryland Society for the Abolition of Slavery. This was the first group in Maryland dedicated to ending slavery. A few years later, he supported the African Academy, which opened the first school for free African Americans in 1797.
The Underground Railroad and Rescues
Tyson actively helped people escape slavery. He provided safe houses along Falls Road Turnpike, which were part of the Underground Railroad. These safe places helped freedom seekers travel to Pennsylvania. He also bought enslaved women and men at auctions in Baltimore and then set them free.
He worked to change laws to help enslaved and free Black people. He convinced slaveholders to free their slaves and helped provide schools and churches for freed Black communities.
Tyson even organized groups of people, sometimes called "Georgia men," to stop kidnappers. These kidnappers would capture Black people, both those who had escaped slavery and those who were already free, and force them into slavery. Tyson helped thousands of kidnapped people gain their freedom through legal cases. He faced threats to his life and home, but he never stopped helping.
One famous story tells how a slave dealer named Austin Woolfolk threatened Tyson with a pistol. Tyson had stepped in when Woolfolk was dragging a Black woman past his house. Tyson calmly opened his shirt and dared the dealer to shoot him. An investigation showed the woman was free and had been kidnapped, and she was set free.
Supporting African Colonization
Tyson also supported the idea of some Black people moving to Africa. He bought farming tools and household items for eleven formerly enslaved people who sailed to Africa in 1823. When Tyson, who was ill, heard they arrived safely in Liberia, he said he was ready to die in peace.
Other Community Efforts
Tyson helped the poor by establishing the Baltimore General Dispensary, which offered free medical care. When the Maryland Penitentiary opened in 1811, Tyson, as a director, made sure there was no racial discrimination.
Around 1810, when he was 60, he rode on horseback to Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a friend. He wanted to meet with Native American leaders to understand their needs. This trip showed his dedication to helping all people.
Family and Legacy
Elisha Tyson built a mansion in Baltimore. He later sold it and built another one on Sharp Street. He even bought four houses across the street for his children. His own house was across from a meeting house for Black people. He also owned a summer house near Falls Road Turnpike.
He married Mary Amos on November 5, 1776. They had eleven children, but five died young. Their children included Isaac, Esther, Lucretia, William, Mary, Nathan, James, two girls named Sarah, Elisha, and Deborah Darby. Mary died in 1813. Tyson then married Margaret Cowman in 1814. They did not have children.
His son Nathan married Martha Ellicott Tyson. Martha wrote the first biography of Benjamin Banneker, a famous African American astronomer. She also helped found Swarthmore College.
Elisha Tyson died on February 16, 1824, in Baltimore. His funeral was one of the largest the city had ever seen, with thousands of Black people following his casket to the Friends Burial Ground. An obituary said that "the wrongs inflicted on Africa's children made a deep and indelible impression on his heart, till its last beat..." Before he died, Tyson wrote a farewell message to the Black people of the United States, which was published in a newspaper.
Images for kids
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Robert Street, Elisha Tyson, 1823, National Portrait Gallery
