Lure of Freedom Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail - Queenstown MD - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

(Inscription under the image in the upper left)
Nathan escaped from jail along with a former slave, Daniel Johns. The town sheriff advertised in the Republican Star for their apprehension.

In April of 1814, British Admiral Cochrane issued a proclamation offering slaves or free blacks service in His Majesty’s armed forces or free passage to settle in a British colony. In August of 1813 Admiral Cockburn had already implemented this when approximately 42 slaves left with the British from Kent Island.
In early 1814 Nathan, a slave of Kent Island land owner Robert Gardner, was imprisoned in Centreville on the suspicion of guiding the British to Queenstown. On February 3, he escaped from jail and was never found, it was presumed he had fled to the British.
“At the request of a member of the inhabitants of this island, I was sent out yesterday to this place by Lt. Col. Thomas Wright for the purpose of proceeding on board Admiral Warren’s ship with a Flag; under an expectation of being able to obtain the release of a great part of the Negroes who left the Island and went on board the Fleet about the time of the inhabitation of the troops,…”
Letter from Major William H. Nicholson to General Winder, recounting his attempt to get back slaves who had escaped to a British ship. September 1, 1813.
After the War of 1812 residents of Kent Island petitioned the Federal Government for recompense claiming that the enslaved individuals listed below escaped to the British, gaining their freedom.
Source: National Archives with assistance from the Maryland State Archives

Group that erected the marker: National Park Service Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Main Street Queenstown, MD United States 21658 URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   08/31/2022 Don.Morfe visited it