Thomas Bayne (Sam Nixon) facts for kids

Thomas Bayne (born around 1824 – died July 5, 1888) was an important African American leader and politician. He was born into slavery and known as "Sam Nixon." He became a dental assistant and helped many enslaved people escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad in Norfolk, Virginia.

After escaping to New Bedford, Massachusetts, he changed his name to Thomas Bayne. When the American Civil War ended, he returned to Norfolk. There, he worked as a dentist and also became a preacher. He was a strong voice for the African American community. He was even chosen to be a delegate for the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868.

Early Life and Escape to Freedom

Thomas Bayne was born enslaved in North Carolina, with the name Samuel Nixon. In 1844, he tried to escape but was caught and sold to Charles F. Martin, a dentist in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Martin saw that Samuel was very smart. He trained him to be his dental assistant. Samuel learned to keep the practice's records and even visit patients at their homes.

While in Norfolk, Samuel married a woman named Edna, and they had a daughter. Because he had some freedom to move around the city, Samuel became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. This meant he helped other enslaved people escape to free states. After about ten years, Samuel worried he might be caught. He decided to escape on a ship heading north, leaving his family behind for their safety.

New Life in Massachusetts

Samuel Nixon got off the ship in Salem, New Jersey. A Quaker woman named Abigail Goodwin helped him. Quakers were a religious group known for helping enslaved people. She helped him get ready for his journey further north.

Even though he was told to go to Canada, Samuel decided to settle in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He arrived there by 1856 and changed his name to Thomas Bayne. He started a successful dental practice. In 1860, the people of New Bedford elected Thomas Bayne to their city council. He had the support of local Republicans and people who supported the temperance movement, which aimed to reduce alcohol use.

Returning to Virginia After the War

By May 1865, after the Civil War ended, Thomas Bayne returned to Norfolk. He found his daughter and sent her to live in Massachusetts. The next month, he gave a speech in Norfolk, arguing that all men, including African Americans, should have the right to vote. However, he did not support women's right to vote, believing their main role was raising children.

In January 1866, Bayne attended the Colored National Convention in Washington, D.C. He served as a vice president for this important meeting. The convention asked Congress not to let the former Confederate states rejoin the United States until African Americans' rights were guaranteed. On February 3, 1866, Bayne spoke to a group in Congress. He described the difficult conditions for African Americans in Virginia after the war. Because of these reports, Congress soon put Virginia under military rule during the Reconstruction era.

On April 17, 1867, Republicans in Richmond met to plan for a new state constitution. They elected Bayne as their convention's vice president. Congress said that Virginia and other former Confederate states could only rejoin the U.S. if they created new constitutions that ended slavery and allowed African Americans to vote.

On October 22, 1867, voters in Norfolk chose Thomas Bayne to represent their city at the upcoming state constitutional convention.

Working on the New Virginia Constitution

The Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 began on December 3, 1867. Thomas Bayne was given important roles on committees. He worked on rules for the convention and on how the government's executive branch would work.

Bayne was one of the most powerful and outspoken African American delegates at the convention. He wanted to prevent former Confederates from voting. He also wanted to tax large land estates more heavily to help break them up. Bayne was also among the few who wanted to integrate public schools, which were a new idea for Virginia. He also supported keeping the Freedmen's Bureau in Virginia, an organization that helped formerly enslaved people.

The convention finished its work on April 17, 1868. They passed a proposed constitution that included a controversial rule to prevent former Confederates from voting.

Later Years and Legacy

In July 1869, Thomas Bayne ran for Congress, but he lost the election. He tried to get the results changed, but Congress did not want to enforce the part of the new constitution that would have prevented former Confederates from voting.

After federal troops left Virginia in early 1870, conservative politicians gained power in Norfolk. Bayne ran for other local offices, but he lost. Another African American leader, Joseph T. Wilson, became more prominent in the community.

Thomas Bayne continued to live in Norfolk. Records from 1870 and 1880 show him living alone.

In July 1887, Bayne wrote his will, leaving his property to his daughter and her children. The next May, he was admitted to a hospital in Petersburg, Virginia. He passed away on July 5, 1888, and was buried at West Point Cemetery in Norfolk.

Today, Thomas Bayne is remembered for his important work. He is mentioned on Norfolk's Underground Railroad walking tour and in the city's self-guided tours. He is also recognized in Pennsylvania for his role in the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia.