Amelia Edmonson (b. circa 1789 - d. 1874)
MSA SC 5496-15205
Enslaved, Montgomery County, Maryland
Biography:
Amelia "Milly" Edmonson was born in Maryland about 1789. Milly was an enslaved woman, who was owned by Henry Culver of Montgomery County. Upon his death Amelia and her increase were willed to Henry Culver's daughter, Rebecca Culver. Milly's new mistress was diagnosed as a lunatic, and therefore her affairs were taken care of by her brother in law Francis Valdenar. Amelia was the wife of Paul Edmonson a free black man who resided in the county. Amelia and Paul were the parents of fourteen children: Hamilton, Elizabeth, Mary, Emily, Ephraim, Eliza, John, Richard, Samuel, Henrietta, Josias, Martha, and Eveline. All of the Edmonson children were slaves because children followed the status of their mother. Although Milly was enslaved she was allowed to live at the home of her husband Paul. Paul worked as a farmer while Milly took care of the house. In addition to taking care of the house, Milly continued to work as a seamstress and washerwoman for her mistress.
The Edmonson children were not content with their enslaved status and made various attempts to gain their freedom. Paul and Amelia's eldest son Hamilton ran away from the estate of Henry Culver along with another man named Charles Briscoe in 1832. Hamilton and Briscoe were caught and arrested as a runaways in the Baltimore City and County jail. Hamilton was sold south to New Orleans where he lived out the rest of his life. While in New Orleans he would be of assistance to his siblings, who ran away at a later date.
In 1848 six of the Edmonson children were involved in the attempted slave escape on the Pearl, the most notable of them being Mary and Emily. Amelia was visiting the home of her eldest daughter Elizabeth and her son-in-law John Brent the same night of escape. Paul Edmonson went to New York to ask for money to help free his daughters, who were to be sold south to Louisiana. Paul went to New York to seek out monetary support from the abolitionist in that state and was able to secure finances for the manumission of his son Richard. Although the money was paid Richard was still sent to New Orleans along with the other Edmonson children. Richard was eventually freed and returned to Maryland to his wife and children who were free. Mary and Emily were sent back to Baltimore when there was an outbreak of yellow fever in New Orleans. The two sisters were confined in the jail in Baltimore. Paul's sons John, Ephraim, and Samuel were sold to various owners in Louisiana. Samuel was sent to work in the home of Horace Cammack, which was arranged by Milly's eldest son Hamilton Edmonson Taylor.
Mary and Emily were moved from the Baltimore jail to Washington, D.C. where they would be near their parents farm in Montgomery County. Once in Washington, Emily and Mary were employed in washing and ironing during the day, and imprisoned at night. Bruin worked out an agreement with Paul Edmonson for the gradual purchase of Emily and Mary, for a total of 2250 dollars, stipulating that if the amount was not paid, they would be sent back South. Milly's husband traveled to New York and met with Rev. H. W. Beecher about raising the necessary funds for his daughters' purchase. The money was raised, and the girls' freedom was procured on November 4, 1848, after which time they were educated in New York with the aid of the Brooklyn church.
In 1857 Paul Edmonson sold his tract of land in Montgomery County part of Enster Rectified and Bradfords Rest to Kinsey Dyer for $800. Paul and Amelia moved their family to the District of Columbia, where they lived amongst a large free black population. Milly was no stranger to Washington, DC since most of her children had been hired out in that city before. At this time Amelia's son Ephraim had returned to Washington, DC from Louisiana where he had been enslaved. Ephraim and his wife Mary Jane lived with Amelia and Paul. Paul Edmonson died April 16, 1863 in Washington DC, leaving Amelia widowed. After his death Amelia continued to have family members live with her. Amelia Edmonson died November 4, 1874 in Washington, DC.
Return to Amelia Edmonson's Introductory Page
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