Born a slave in Virginia, died a free man at Harpers Ferry – Dangerfield Newby’s story

Dangerfield Newby’s Fatal Mission to Free His Family

Dangerfield Newby had one goal: to free his wife and seven kids from slavery.

Half-free himself by 1858, he worked as an Ohio blacksmith while his family stayed enslaved in Virginia. He sent money, but their owner kept raising the price.

His wife Harriet’s letters grew more urgent: “Buy me soon or somebody else will. ” When legal means failed, Newby joined John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.

On the first morning, he became the first raider killed—shot in the throat with a spike. Townspeople then mutilated his body while Harriet’s letters remained in his pocket.

Today, John Brown’s Fort in West Virginia stands where a man died trying to save his family.

A Mixed-Race Family Shaped Dangerfield Newby’s Early Life

Dangerfield Newby was born around 1820 in Culpeper County, Virginia. His dad Henry owned land, but his mom Elsey lived as a slave owned by neighbor John Fox.

This created a tough family situation under Virginia’s strict slave laws.

Dangerfield grew up as the oldest of 11 kids in a family with Native American, African, and European roots. In a world that valued whiteness, his mixed heritage made life even more complex.

Ohio River Crossing Meant Freedom For Some

Henry Newby moved his family across the Ohio River to Bridgeport in September 1858. This river crossing changed everything, as Ohio law freed slaves who stepped on its soil.

Most of Dangerfield’s brothers and sisters found jobs as workers, servants, barbers, and miners in Ohio. Dangerfield learned blacksmithing and worked throughout Ohio.

Though free in their new home, the family still worried about loved ones stuck in slavery back in Virginia.

His Heart Stayed Behind With His Enslaved Wife

Even though Dangerfield lived free, his heart stayed in Virginia with Harriet Vincent, a house servant owned by Dr. Jesse Jennings in Prince William County.

They had seven children together while Harriet stayed enslaved.

In their letters, they called each other “Dear Husband” and “Your affectionate wife” though laws banned their marriage.

Dangerfield worked on Rappahannock River Canal projects to stay close to his family while saving money for their freedom.

The Cost Of His Family’s Liberty Kept Rising

Between 1858 and 1859, Dangerfield saved $742 from his blacksmith work, making three deposits at the Bank of Ohio.

He made a deal with Dr. Jennings to buy his family’s freedom for $1,500, but Jennings broke his promise and raised the price. Dangerfield took extra work on the Rappahannock River Canal to earn more money.

Meanwhile, Jennings needed cash and threatened to sell Harriet and their children to cotton plantations in the Deep South.

Harriet’s Desperate Words Begged For Rescue

Harriet sent three urgent letters to Dangerfield between April and August 1859.

Her last letter on August 16 shared scary news: “I want you to buy me as soon as possible for if you do not get me somebody else will. ” She warned that “Master is in want of money” and might sell them soon.

Through her troubles, Harriet clung to “one bright hope to cheer me in all my troubles, that is to be with you. ” These words pushed Dangerfield toward a risky plan.

When Legal Methods Failed, Brown Offered Another Way

With no legal way to free his family, Dangerfield joined John Brown at Kennedy Farm in Maryland in August 1859. The farm sat just five miles from Harpers Ferry, where Brown planned his attack.

At 44, Dangerfield became the oldest member of Brown’s small group.

He spent his days hidden in the attic with 21 other men, cleaning rifles and planning the attack on the federal arsenal that Brown hoped would start a slave uprising.

Hidden Away, The Raiders Prepared For Battle

Kennedy Farm served as the base for Brown’s plan to spark a slave rebellion.

Brown’s daughters Annie and Martha acted as lookouts, turning away nosy neighbors who might find the men hiding inside.

Dangerfield carried Harriet’s letters everywhere, asking Brown often when he could write back to her.

Brown kept telling him “Soon, Dangerfield, soon,” but that time never came as the raid got closer and security got tighter.

The Night Attack Started With Early Success

On October 16, 1859, Brown told his men: “Men, get on your arms; we will proceed to the Ferry. ” The 22 raiders walked in double file down a dark country road toward Harpers Ferry.

They quickly took over the federal armory, arsenal, and rifle works with almost no fighting in the night.

Brown told Dangerfield to guard the entrance to the Potomac River bridge, a key spot in their plan to control movement in and out of the town.

Morning Brought Fierce Resistance From Townspeople

As dawn broke on October 17, people of Harpers Ferry fought back after an escaped watchman raised the alarm. Dangerfield shot and killed two townsmen, including George Turner who came from nearby Charles Town.

Local militia surrounded Brown’s men, blocking all escape routes.

Around 10:00 AM, Dangerfield became the first raider killed when someone fired a six-inch railroad spike from his rifle, tearing through Newby’s throat and killing him right away.

The Town’s Vengeance Fell On Newby’s Body

The people of Harpers Ferry unleashed their anger on Dangerfield’s body in the streets. They cut off his ears and private parts as souvenirs and stabbed his body many times with sticks.

They left his remains in the street for a full day while hogs roamed freely, feeding on what was left.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the townspeople “wished that he had a thousand lives, that all of them might be forfeited” for his part in the raid.

His Family’s Fate Matched His Worst Fears

Searchers found Harriet’s desperate letters on Dangerfield’s body, revealing why he joined Brown’s doomed raid.

In early 1860, Harriet and their seven children faced the fate Dangerfield fought to prevent – sale to a Louisiana cotton plantation. The letters became powerful evidence for abolitionists showing slavery’s human cost.

Dangerfield’s body went into an unmarked grave with other raiders, then got moved to John Brown Farm in North Elba, New York in 1899, forty years after his death trying to free his family.

Visiting John Brown’s Fort, West Virginia

John Brown’s Fort is at Shenandoah Street in Arsenal Square, Harpers Ferry. You’ll pay $20 for three days of vehicle access to the 3,500-acre national park.

Take the required shuttle from the visitor center to Lower Town.

The fort is 150 feet from where it originally was – you can see the old spot marked by a stone monument. Park rangers give talks about the raid and Dangerfield Newby’s story along with other exhibits throughout the park.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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• How radical Republicans cornered West Virginia into freeing 18,000 slaves