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Paul Jennings' Letter


John H. Paynter's Fugitives of the Pearl, published in 1930, is the first source to identify Paul Jennings as one of the people who helped plan the escape aboard the Pearl.  The book asserts that Jennings came back to Webster's house and retrieved the letter he had written before Webster saw it. A transcription of the letter appears in Fugitives of the Pearl, but its authenticity has not been verified.  According to Fugitives of the Pearl, Jennings' letter to Webster read:

Honored Friend,

A deep desire to be of help to my poor people has determined me to take a decided step in that direction. My only regret is that I shall appear ungrateful, in thus leaving with so little ceremony, one who has been uniformly kind and considerate and had rendered each moment of service a benefaction as well as pleasure. From the daily contact with your great personality which it has been mine to enjoy, has been imbibed a respect for moral obligations and the claims of duty. Both of these draw me towards the path I have chosen.

– Jennings







RELATED SUBJECTS

Jennings, Paul
TitleDescription
Dolley Madison's HouseA former slave shows charity toward an impoverished First Lady.
Daniel Webster's HouseA slave plans a daring escape, but has a change of heart...
Paul JenningsPaul Jennings
"Mrs. Madison's Slaves Again"1848 Newspaper article about the Madison's slaves.
Work Agreement between Daniel Webster and Paul JenningsPaul Jennings' 1847 work agreement with Daniel Webster.
Bill of Sale for Paul Jennings from Dolley Madison to Pollard WebbDocument recording Dolley Madison's 1847 sale of Paul Jennings to Pollard Webb.


Freedmen and women
TitleDescription
"Monument of a Crime - Department of Justice Deserts a Fateful Building"Transcription of an 1899 newspaper article about the failure of the Freedman's Bank of the demolition of the building.
Dolley Madison's HouseA former slave shows charity toward an impoverished First Lady.
St John's ChurchFree and enslaved African Americans are married and baptized at the President's parish...
Weddings at St. John's ChurchSelected entries from the St. John's Church marriage register.
"To the Depositors of the Freedmen's Savings and Trust Co."Notice published in the New National Era from Frederick Douglass to depositors of the Freedman's Savings Bank upon the bank's failure.
Elizabeth Keckly (1818-1907)Elizabeth Keckly was born into slavery in 1818. She went on to purchase her own freedom and establish a successful dressmaking business.
Frederick DouglassRevered African American leader.
Emancipation in the President's Neighborhood, 1850Emancipation in the President's Neighborhood, 1850
"Dividends for Freedmen"Transcription of an 1881 newspaper article detailing settlements to be paid to claimants after the Freedman's Bank failure.
Quilt Attributed to Elizabeth KecklyQuilt said to be made by Elizabeth Keckly from scraps of Mary Todd Lincoln's dresses.
Cane given to Frederick Douglass, c. 1885Hand-carved cane with illustrations copied from Douglass’ third autobiography, "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass."


Resistance to Slavery
TitleDescription
Dolley Madison's HouseA former slave shows charity toward an impoverished First Lady.
Daniel Webster's HouseA slave plans a daring escape, but has a change of heart...
Ewell HouseBuying, selling, and resisting.
Charlotte DupuyCharlotte Dupuy, an enslaved woman who sued her owner Henry Clay for her freedom.
Frederick DouglassRevered African American leader.
Paul JenningsPaul Jennings
Bill of Sale for Charlotte Dupuy to Henry ClayBill of Sale for Charlotte Dupuy from James Condon to Henry Clay.
Charlotte Dupuy's PetitionLetter written by Robert Beale on behalf of Charlotte Dupuy petitioning the Judges to summon Henry Clay to court.
First page of a letter from Henry Clay to his agent in Washington, Philip Fendall, regarding Charlotte Dupuy's petition for freedomLetter written written by Henry Clay to his agent in Washington, Philip Fendall, regarding Charlotte Dupuy's bid for freedom.


Daniel Webster's House
TitleDescription
Daniel Webster's HouseA slave plans a daring escape, but has a change of heart...
Paul JenningsPaul Jennings
Work Agreement between Daniel Webster and Paul JenningsPaul Jennings' 1847 work agreement with Daniel Webster.




RELATED WEBSITES

http://www.whitehousehistory.org/08/subs/whitehousehistory_a.html "The Washington of Paul Jennings, White House Slave, Free Man, and Conspirator for Freedom" by G. Franklin Edwards & Michael R. Winston. Scroll to last link of the bottom of the page for a pdf of this article.

http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/jennings/menu.html An electronic edition of Paul Jennings’ 1865 Memoir “A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison”