An 1837 View of Geneva
(From March 1998 Historical Society Newsletter)
The following description of Geneva was found doing research for Make A Way Somehow. It is from the October 14, 1837 issue of the Colored American, an African American newspaper published in New York City from 1837 to 1842,
For the Colored American
Dear Brother Cornish – I arrived at this place on Thursday last, the 21st instant. On arriving I found, in accordance with my instructions, arrangements made for a meeting for me, during that evening. At half past 7 o’clock, I found the meeting house, owned by the people of color, and in which they hold worship whenever they have separate worship, respectably filled. I addressed them about one hour, in reference to the great cause, and their general interests and improvements; at the close of which I procured some patrons on paper.
The colored population in this place, number about two hundred and fifty, nearly all of the elder of whom are from the south, brought here by their masters as slaves, and retained in slavery for some time afterwards. They are generally in comfortable circumstances, but a plain people, many of them living in their own houses, standing on their own soil.
The state of morals among them is very good and there is felt generally a good deal of interest in reference to their rights and improvements; there has been a march in these things for some time past, which is still kept up and the spirt existing among them is ominous of good.
People stand outside the African-American church building on High Street in the late 1800s.
Monday I took a ride, accompanied by three friends, three miles out of town to dine with aged, intelligent colored farmer, a cultivator of the soil. I found the old gentlemen comfortably situated, his house surrounded with an orchard of fruit trees of various kinds, hanging full. He was formally a slave at the South, was brought here by his master and finally emancipated. He is now an owner of the soil and yet it is said when emancipated they can’t take care of themselves. He formerly lived in Virginia, in the vicinity of Washington and Jefferson, knows a little of their private life and can tell some things he heard from their own lips.
Geneva is a very pleasant town, beautiful situated on the banks of the Seneca Lake; the people are great aristocrats and abolition is almost unknown among them; there are a few, however, who profess to be abolitionists but with five or six exceptions there, abolitionism is not half baked, they need a more thorough going lecturer among them a week to serve as an oven, to rebake their abolition; the whole people however as much opposed to slavery as anybody.
The only beautiful country I have see in my tour, since I left the Hudson, is the vicinity of Geneva. This looks like living, and there is something in the fact of it inviting to a traveler. Fruit here is in great abundance; and of various kinds, especially apples. The trees are bowing down, paying their obeisance to the earth, loaded with apples handing form every twig.
I send you with this, the names of Subscribers, obtained in this place, with their money, to each of which you will please forthwith send the paper.
I leave here tomorrow, in stage for Rochester, where I shall probably spend a week – shall then proceed, as health and weather may permit.
Yours, in bonds for the oppressed
C.B. Ray
Geneva, NY Sept. 27, 1837.
A quite positive description of Geneva and surroundings as well as the people even if void of direct abolition.
Very interesting article. Nice to read the description of Geneva in the early 1800s. Thank for the research and sharing the article.