Margaret Palm facts for kids

Nineteenth century photo of Margaret Palm. She is showing how slave catchers who tried to kidnap her tied her hands.

Margaret Palm (born ca. 1836) was an African-American woman. She lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the middle nineteenth century, with her husband and son. She was a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. She was called "Maggie Bluecoat" for the blue military uniform coat (ca. 1812) she wore while guiding slaves to safety. She always carried a gun to protect herself and her passengers.

Palm was almost taken into slavery. One evening she was suddenly met by two strangers. They tied her hands. They wanted to make her a slave in Maryland. She fought the strangers. Her screams brought others to the scene. She was saved. When she heard the two strangers had returned to Gettysburg, she ran home and got a shotgun.