Guy Beckley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guy Berkley
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| Born | 1803 |
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| Died | December 26, 1847 (aged 43–44) |
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| Occupation | Methodist Episcopal minister, abolitionist, Underground Railroad person | ||||||||||||||
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Guy Beckley (1803–1847) was a brave minister who fought against slavery. He was a Methodist Episcopal minister, a speaker, and a key person in the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom. His home, the Guy Beckley House, was a safe stop on this important journey. Today, his house is part of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. There's even a park named after him, Beckley Park.
Contents
Becoming a Preacher
Guy Beckley was born in Weathersfield, Vermont, in 1803. He grew up attending the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he was 19 years old, he decided to become a preacher.
For nine years, he traveled around as a preacher for the Methodist Church. He started his journey in 1827 in Rochester, Vermont. By 1831, he was officially ordained as an elder in the church.
Fighting Against Slavery
Guy Beckley was a strong voice against slavery. He worked as a paid speaker for the American Anti-Slavery Society. For three years, he traveled across New York and New England, giving talks about why slavery was wrong.
In 1837, he reported that the Society helped 12 enslaved people gain their freedom. Around 1840, he moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. There, he continued to speak out against slavery. He also encouraged people in Washtenaw County, Michigan, to support the Underground Railroad. He was a leader in the Michigan State Anti-Slavery Society.
The Underground Railroad Station
From 1842, Guy Beckley ran a secret station for the Underground Railroad at his home in Ann Arbor. This was a very risky thing to do. Helping enslaved people escape was against the law at the time. If caught, he could face jail time and a large fine.
His house at 1425 Pontiac Trail was specially designed. It had hidden spaces in the second-story closets where people could hide. One person he helped was 16-year-old Caroline Quarlls in 1842. She was guided by a conductor named Lyman Goodnow and was heading to Canada for freedom.
Guy Beckley's brother, Josiah Beckley, and his wife, Minerva, also ran a station nearby. Their farm was at 1709 Pontiac Trail, right next to Guy's 28 acres of land.
Today, Guy Beckley's New England Georgian style house is recognized for its historical importance. It is part of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Newspaper Editor
Guy Beckley was also involved in publishing. From 1841 to 1847, he was the co-editor of a newspaper called The Signal of Liberty. This newspaper used to be known as the Michigan Freeman.
The newspaper shared stories of people who had escaped slavery. For example, it featured stories about people like Robert Coxe, who settled in Adrian, Michigan. It also told tales of those who traveled through Michigan on the Underground Railroad to reach Canada.
Family Life and Passing
Guy Beckley was married twice. His first wife was Caroline Walker. They married on June 8, 1830, in Springfield, Vermont. They had six children together. Sadly, Caroline passed away in 1839.
Around 1839 or 1840, Guy moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his second wife, Phyla, and his eight children. Guy Beckley died at his home in Ann Arbor on December 26, 1847. At that time, his oldest child was 15 years old. His wife, Phyla, passed away three years later.
