← All Pennsylvania markers

The Liberation of Jane Johnson

Philadelphia County · dedicated 2009 · 211 S Columbus Blvd., Penn's Landing near Walnut St. pedestrian walkway and entrance to Independence

Get directions ↗

In 1855, an enslaved woman and her two sons found freedom, aided by abolitionists William Still, Passmore Williamson, and other Underground Railroad activists. They escaped from their Southern owner while being transported through Philadelphia and settled later in Boston. The incident, which occurred nearby, and Williamson's subsequent imprisonment and famous trial attracted national attention, further intensifying the North-South conflict.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Example

under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

From one family's 77-marker roster

Upload your family tree and TreeAlive finds the markers near where your own ancestors lived.

See your family's markers

Start with a tree file, a FamilySearch sign in, or a WikiTree ID.

Report a problem with this page

The marker isn't at this spotOur pin may be off. If you know where it stands, tell us.I couldn't find the markerWe record what the source recorded. We have not been to look.The sign reads differentlyThat would be an error, and we can pass it to the program.The historical map looks wrongThe period map behind the pin, not the marker itself.Something else

We may pass what you report to the state's marker program. Please don't include personal details.

Marker data: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission via data.pa.gov

More markers nearby

Glomar Explorerunder 1 mi
The Pennsylvania Slave Tradeunder 1 mi
Commodore John Barry (1745-1803)under 1 mi
Tun Tavernunder 1 mi