Lewis Charlton (slave) facts for kids
Lewis Charlton was born into slavery in America in 1814. He lived a challenging but important life, eventually becoming a speaker for the temperance movement in England.
When he was just 14 months old, he suffered a serious injury that affected his feet. In 1842, he gained his freedom. After the American Civil War, he started a school for African American children in Westminster, Maryland. We know about Lewis Charlton's life from books written about him, old census records, and newspaper stories about his lectures. He passed away in Sheffield, England, in 1888.
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Life as a Slave
Lewis Charlton was born in 1814 on a farm in Frederick County, Maryland. His parents were both enslaved. His father was sold to someone in Georgia soon after Lewis was born.
Lewis's first owner was Ignatius Davis. Davis's wife was very cruel to the enslaved people. She would punish them severely. When Lewis was only two weeks old, his mother was forced to leave him alone all day while she worked. For about 14 months, Lewis was left alone for long hours without proper care. One cold day, his feet became badly injured. Because of this injury, he could not start working until he was six years old.
When Lewis was seven, his owner, Davis, died. Lewis was then put up for sale. He remembered his mother crying and showing his injured feet, hoping no one would buy him. But Lewis was sold to a man who wanted to teach him to be a cooper, someone who makes barrels. However, this new owner's wife died, and Lewis was sold again.
His next owner was a tanner, someone who processes animal hides into leather. Lewis had to spread heavy hides and was in danger of falling into large vats. If he fell, he was punished harshly. This happened so often that he couldn't sleep on his back for months. Eventually, this owner's land and Lewis were sold at a public sale.
Lewis's new owner, Mr. Getinger, made him work all day, every day, even Sundays. Before this, Lewis could visit his mother and sister on Sundays. After three years with Getinger, Lewis's legs became stiff from cutting logs in deep snow. Thinking Lewis might die, Getinger sent him back to his mother, who was now free and working as a laundress nearby. Lewis couldn't walk for nine months. Once he could move again, he was sold immediately to James Davis. Lewis was still only 15 years old.
As Davis's slave, Lewis worked in the fields for three years. His legs were often sore and bleeding. Three years later, Charlton was sold to Mr. Richardson. This was the first time he was separated from his sister, with whom he had always stayed. Lewis remained with Richardson until he was 28 years old.
Gaining Freedom
At 28, Lewis Charlton was finally freed by his owner. He wasn't sure what to do next, so he lived with a stonecutter named George Burroughs for a year. Then, Charlton moved to Harford County, Maryland.
Here, he worked for Isaac Rogers, a large iron manufacturer. Lewis found that he was treated almost as badly as when he was enslaved, but he stayed with Rogers for 16 years. After that, he moved to William Gladding's home. He worked as a farmhand for three years, earning $16 a month, which included his housing. Charlton continued working for Gladding until he got married. Gladding owed Lewis $235, but Lewis was never able to get this money, even after trying to sue in court. So, Charlton had to keep working. In 1862, Lewis moved to Westminster, Maryland, where he worked as a mason.
Family Life
Lewis's father was Manuel Charlton. According to one story, Manuel was brought from Africa on a slave ship and sold to Georgia when Lewis was a baby. Another story says both his parents were "born slaves." When Lewis was about 17, his mother, who had remarried after becoming free, moved to Pennsylvania. Not long after, his sister was sold and moved far away. Lewis never heard from either of them again.
Census records show that by 1850, Lewis was married to Mary, and they lived in Harford County, Maryland. They had a daughter, Martha, in 1853, and a son, Edward, in 1856. Later, they moved to Westminster in Carroll County, Maryland. Mary worked as a cook at Western Maryland College after it opened in 1867.
Starting a School for African Americans
After the American Civil War ended, Lewis Charlton, who could not read or write himself, wanted to help educate young African American children in his area. He didn't have enough money to build a school, so he traveled to Baltimore to raise funds. He didn't get much help there.
In 1866, he traveled to Boston to seek support. In Boston, he successfully raised almost $1,000. He also found a teacher named Mr. Whitmore, who was willing to come to Westminster to teach black children. Finally, Charlton was able to establish the first schoolhouse and church for African American people in Westminster.
The school did well for four years. Mr. Whitmore taught for two years, and then a woman named Mary Cleveland taught for another two years. When Charlton's funds ran out, he tried to raise more money but was unsuccessful. In 1870, the school had to close. It wasn't until 1872 that free public schools for African American children were required by law.
These new African American schools were managed by the same county and district boards that already struggled to provide good education for white children. It wasn't until 1955 that schools in Maryland were forced to begin integrating, following the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. The process of integration was not fully completed until 1967, and it had mixed results.
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