Six trials that changed Underground Railroad history happened in this Delaware courthouse

Garrett and Hunn’s Bankrupting Trial Under Chief Justice Taney

In 1845, the Hawkins family fled Maryland in a snowstorm. Samuel was free, but his wife Emeline and six kids were owned by two different masters.

After being caught and jailed, two brave men stepped in. Thomas Garrett and John Hunn helped the family reach freedom in Pennsylvania.

Three years later, both men stood trial at New Castle Court House, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Taney himself presiding. The jury hit them with crushing fines, but Garrett stood tall.

“Send fugitives to me,” he told the packed room.

The historic New Castle Court House still stands today, telling this powerful story of courage against impossible odds.

A Family Braved a Snowstorm to Escape Slavery

In December 1845, Samuel Hawkins, his wife Emeline, and their six children ran away from Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. Samuel was free, but slave owners held Emeline and the children.

Charles Glanding owned two boys, while Elizabeth Turner owned Emeline and four younger children. Underground Railroad helper Samuel Burris led the family through a harsh winter storm.

They pushed through deep snow and freezing cold, with some family members getting frostbite before reaching safety.

Slave Hunters Cornered the Hawkins at John Hunn’s Farm

The family reached abolitionist John Hunn’s farm near Middletown, Delaware on December 5, 1845. Hunn gave them food, shelter, and care for their frozen limbs.

Their safety didn’t last long. Slave hunters tracked them to Hunn’s property and caught them.

The hunters claimed they could legally take the family under the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act, which let slave owners catch escaped slaves across state lines.

They took the Hawkins family to the New Castle County Jail in chains.

The Sheriff Spotted a Legal Loophole

Sheriff Jacob Caulk looked at the papers the slave hunters brought and found legal problems. He told them they needed proper papers to keep the family locked up.

This surprise challenge from a lawman created an important delay. Caulk stuck to proper legal steps, giving abolitionists time to plan a response.

His focus on legal details created a chance that would soon help the Hawkins family.

Two Abolitionists Rushed to Court with Legal Papers

Thomas Garrett, a Quaker businessman and key Underground Railroad worker in Wilmington, learned about the family’s trouble. He quickly called lawyer John Wales to prepare a writ of habeas corpus.

This legal document forced officials to bring the jailed people before a judge to check if their lockup was legal.

Garrett and Wales gave the writ to Delaware Chief Justice James Booth, fighting the legality of holding the Hawkins family and forcing a court review of their case.

The Judge Made a Bold Declaration About Freedom

Chief Justice Booth looked at the case and found the arrest papers flawed.

He ordered the release of the whole Hawkins family, saying “the presumption was always in favor of freedom. ” This strong statement meant that when facts weren’t clear, courts should choose liberty over slavery.

The courtroom burst into cheers as the family walked free. The slave owners and their helpers were angry but couldn’t stop the judge’s order.

Garrett Rushed the Family to Pennsylvania

After the ruling, Thomas Garrett hired a carriage to take the Hawkins family to his Wilmington store. He gave them supplies, money, and directions to keep moving north.

Garrett then helped the family cross into Pennsylvania, away from Maryland slave laws.

The Hawkins family later settled in the free Black community near Byberry, Pennsylvania, where they built new lives in freedom.

Angry Slave Owners Filed Lawsuits Seeking Revenge

In May 1848, Charles Glanding and Elizabeth Turner sued both Garrett and Hunn under the Fugitive Slave Act. They claimed the abolitionists knowingly helped their “property” escape.

The lawsuits asked for lots of money for the loss of the enslaved people and tried to make an example of the two men.

The slave owners hoped to scare others from helping runaways by ruining these well-known Underground Railroad workers.

A Supreme Court Justice Traveled to Hear the Case

The trials happened at the New Castle Court House with United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in charge.

Taney came to Delaware just for these cases, showing how important they were.

The same judge who later wrote the awful Dred Scott decision in 1857 oversaw six separate trials against Garrett and Hunn.

His presence meant the courts would strictly follow the Fugitive Slave Act, with little sympathy for abolitionist views.

The Verdict Left Two Good Men Bankrupt

The jury ruled against both men in all six trials. They ordered Garrett to pay Glanding $1,000 and Hunn to pay another $1,000.

Turner got $1,500 from Garrett and $1,900 from Hunn. The total fines reached $5,400, a huge amount in 1848.

The penalties broke both men financially. Garrett lost his hardware business and savings, while Hunn lost his farm.

The harsh money punishment aimed to crush their abolitionist work and warn others against similar actions.

Garrett Stood Up and Made a Bold Promise

After hearing the verdict, Thomas Garrett stood and spoke to the packed courtroom with amazing courage. He told everyone: “if anyone knows a fugitive who wants a shelter and a friend, send him to Thomas Garrett.”

Despite losing everything, he publicly promised to continue his Underground Railroad work. The courtroom went quiet at his defiance.

Garrett made it clear that money troubles would not stop his moral commitment to helping people escape slavery.

Their Work Continued Despite the Heavy Price

The trials made Garrett and Hunn heroes in abolitionist circles nationwide.

Friends helped them rebuild their finances, and both men resumed their Underground Railroad activities with even greater determination.

Garrett went on to help an estimated 2,700 enslaved people escape to freedom before his death in 1871. Hunn also continued his work despite the financial setback.

The New Castle Court House trials became a rallying point for the abolitionist movement, highlighting the personal sacrifices made in the fight against slavery.

Visiting New Castle Court House, Delaware

You can visit New Castle Court House for free at 211 Delaware St, where Thomas Garrett and John Hunn faced Chief Justice Roger Taney in the historic 1732 courtroom during their 1848 Underground Railroad trial.

This National Historic Underground Railroad site offers guided tours Wednesday through Saturday at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and Sunday at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm.

Tours meet at the front museum entrance, and calling ahead at 302-323-4453 is recommended.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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