Contributing Institution
Maine State Archives
Document Type
Text
Identifier
29-184980-F056
Exact Creation Date
3-7-1838
Language
English
Location
Waldo County; Islesboro
Keywords
Atticus; Slavery; Fugitive Slave Laws
Disciplines
History | United States History
Recommended Citation
Payne, John; Dodge, Walter; and Pendleton, Peleg, "1838-03-07 Letter Supporting Captain Daniel Philbrook Against Charge of Slave Stealing by State of Georgia" (1838). Atticus the Slave. 1.
https://digitalmaine.com/atticus_docs/1
Rights Statement
No Copyright - United States. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Description
Letter from respected citizens of Islesboro to the Governor of Maine in support of Captain Philbrook.
Captain Philbrook transported lime from Maine to Georgia. During a stop in Savannah, a young slave named Atticus befriended Philbrook's crew. Once underway back to Maine, Atticus was discovered on board the vessel and the captain declined to turn around. Atticus was caught in Thomaston by his owner, and Georgia marshals were sent to arrest Philbrook and first mate Edward Kellerun for violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. They were unsuccessful, as the crew had conveniently gone fishing out on the Grand Banks.
Georgia demanded extradition and asked Congress and other states for help in forcing Maine to uphold the Constitution and laws regarding fugitives, thus beginning a period of legal wrangling and the development of the abolitionist movement in Maine.