1
200
7
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/57d7894987aa74e3fbdbebefa3e79c93.jpg
7abc0cb70f82f2a4245d32ffacfc006a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hannah Johnson
Description
An account of the resource
(ca. 1799 - 1883) Hannah Johnson is a Black woman who lived with her husband John in the predominantly white township of Wheatfield, near the village of Tonawanda. Popularly known as "Black" or "Aunt" Hannah, she is a reputed fortune-teller (teacup reader) who is visited by ladies of the area to have their future told. She is also said to have sweets and treats at the ready for the local children who visited often.<br /><br />Her obituary says she was born "in bondage" in Albany around 1800. In 1825 the Erie Canal is completed, and in 1827 slavery is abolished in New York State (after a period of "Gradual Emancipation"). It is believed Hannah came to North Tonawanda about this time. <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/1049">One later writer relays the recollection of an old-timer</a> that Hannah Johnson is part of a "small colony of blacks" that settles along the banks of Tonawanda Creek. According to this account, the blacks' cabins are burned in a raid by locals, and their belongings thrown into the creek. <br /><br />Another account from resident Brenda Fire Flateau maintains:
<blockquote>My Great Grandfather Zaggel was involved with the Underground Railroad. He took in the slave known as "Black Hannah" until her husband caught up with her. She stayed with him and then in the woods across from his farm, which was his property.</blockquote>
Hannah Johnson lives in a cabin near a medicinal sulphur well in the vicinity of present-day South Meadow Drive, close to East Goundry (see maps in this set). The cabin is on the property of Dr. Jesse F. Locke <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72518630/jesse-f-locke">(1810-1861)</a>, the area's first resident physician (two Lockes are <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/1662">noted in the business directory</a> of this 1860 map). Other blacks, some from the south, appear on census reports. An <a href="https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DYZQ-XV2?cc=1401638&wc=95RD-N3D%3A1031313801%2C1034650201%2C1031935201%20:%209%20April%20201">1850 census</a> shows (Farmer) John and Hanna Johanson from NY, black, with Henry Hall from Virginia, Joseph (black, Canada b1812) and Ann Polly (a female "mulatto" from Ireland b1820), and a Stephen Smith (black, Ireland, b1815), all in a frame dwelling. The <a href="https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BPB-86L?cc=1937366&wc=M6GQ-3P6%3A237409601%2C237515901%20:%2022%20May%202014">1855 census</a> shows Hannah hailing from Albany, John from Washington, and a "Henry Hall" from Maryland. Also says each had been in the city for the last 25 years.<br /><br />Jesse Locke dies March 12, 1861. A farmer by the name of John Chadwick takes ownership of the larger property containing the Johnsons' cabin. Some sources say Mr. Chadwick grants them a life-long lease on the property, but the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage report suggests John Jonson already owned at least some portion of land by 1850, perhaps purchasing directly from Dr. Locke. John Johnson dies sometime before 1870. From 1872 to 1882, a John Fonner who lives nearby challenges Hannah's ownership claim in court, and John Chadwick assists her.<br /><br />Hannah dies in 1883 after an illness of two weeks. It is rumored that non-native flowers grow on the site (unusual red trilliums grew during her lifetime). She is buried in Sweeney Cemetery. <br /><br />Hannah leaves an impression on the imagination of the citizenry, as she figures for decades afterward in its ghost tales, and "Black Hannah's Woods" are whispered to be a haunted realm. Her story is resurrected and recast in a poetic and affecting <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/1059">1961 <em>News</em> essay</a> by Elizabeth Wherry. The tale is taken up again in a February 1982 edition of the local historical magazine <em>The Lumber Shover</em>.<br /><br />Although it is not settled, it seems at least possible that Hannah's cabin may have served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for blacks escaping slavery. <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/2014">A document on the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area website</a> (page 192) offers some measured reflections on the subject.<br /><br />A "Hannah Haines" is buried near the Zaggel family in Sweeney Cemetery; A person of the same name is found in the <a href="https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNJ-GFZ8">1865 state</a> and the <a href="https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8G-85?cc=1438024&wc=9227-6TP%3A518819101%2C520055301%2C519325001%20:%2014%20June%202019">1870 U.S. Census</a> living in Wheatfield with a "Brown" family (like her, from Maine and New England). However, her grave gives her death as the 1870s (HJ died in 1883), and the census gives her race as white. Obit in Ton Herald 1877-08-28 spelled "Hannah C. Haynes."
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Jesse F. Locke and wife, grave in Sweeney Cemetery, photo (Dennis Reed Jr, 2012).jpg
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012
grave
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/1d06d91f9c8e860e11dc13fb7a310526.jpg
7e1a0b58b5bef6159d94ee9acdf4066b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hannah Johnson
Description
An account of the resource
(ca. 1799 - 1883) Hannah Johnson is a Black woman who lived with her husband John in the predominantly white township of Wheatfield, near the village of Tonawanda. Popularly known as "Black" or "Aunt" Hannah, she is a reputed fortune-teller (teacup reader) who is visited by ladies of the area to have their future told. She is also said to have sweets and treats at the ready for the local children who visited often.<br /><br />Her obituary says she was born "in bondage" in Albany around 1800. In 1825 the Erie Canal is completed, and in 1827 slavery is abolished in New York State (after a period of "Gradual Emancipation"). It is believed Hannah came to North Tonawanda about this time. <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/1049">One later writer relays the recollection of an old-timer</a> that Hannah Johnson is part of a "small colony of blacks" that settles along the banks of Tonawanda Creek. According to this account, the blacks' cabins are burned in a raid by locals, and their belongings thrown into the creek. <br /><br />Another account from resident Brenda Fire Flateau maintains:
<blockquote>My Great Grandfather Zaggel was involved with the Underground Railroad. He took in the slave known as "Black Hannah" until her husband caught up with her. She stayed with him and then in the woods across from his farm, which was his property.</blockquote>
Hannah Johnson lives in a cabin near a medicinal sulphur well in the vicinity of present-day South Meadow Drive, close to East Goundry (see maps in this set). The cabin is on the property of Dr. Jesse F. Locke <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72518630/jesse-f-locke">(1810-1861)</a>, the area's first resident physician (two Lockes are <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/1662">noted in the business directory</a> of this 1860 map). Other blacks, some from the south, appear on census reports. An <a href="https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DYZQ-XV2?cc=1401638&wc=95RD-N3D%3A1031313801%2C1034650201%2C1031935201%20:%209%20April%20201">1850 census</a> shows (Farmer) John and Hanna Johanson from NY, black, with Henry Hall from Virginia, Joseph (black, Canada b1812) and Ann Polly (a female "mulatto" from Ireland b1820), and a Stephen Smith (black, Ireland, b1815), all in a frame dwelling. The <a href="https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BPB-86L?cc=1937366&wc=M6GQ-3P6%3A237409601%2C237515901%20:%2022%20May%202014">1855 census</a> shows Hannah hailing from Albany, John from Washington, and a "Henry Hall" from Maryland. Also says each had been in the city for the last 25 years.<br /><br />Jesse Locke dies March 12, 1861. A farmer by the name of John Chadwick takes ownership of the larger property containing the Johnsons' cabin. Some sources say Mr. Chadwick grants them a life-long lease on the property, but the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage report suggests John Jonson already owned at least some portion of land by 1850, perhaps purchasing directly from Dr. Locke. John Johnson dies sometime before 1870. From 1872 to 1882, a John Fonner who lives nearby challenges Hannah's ownership claim in court, and John Chadwick assists her.<br /><br />Hannah dies in 1883 after an illness of two weeks. It is rumored that non-native flowers grow on the site (unusual red trilliums grew during her lifetime). She is buried in Sweeney Cemetery. <br /><br />Hannah leaves an impression on the imagination of the citizenry, as she figures for decades afterward in its ghost tales, and "Black Hannah's Woods" are whispered to be a haunted realm. Her story is resurrected and recast in a poetic and affecting <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/1059">1961 <em>News</em> essay</a> by Elizabeth Wherry. The tale is taken up again in a February 1982 edition of the local historical magazine <em>The Lumber Shover</em>.<br /><br />Although it is not settled, it seems at least possible that Hannah's cabin may have served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for blacks escaping slavery. <a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/2014">A document on the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area website</a> (page 192) offers some measured reflections on the subject.<br /><br />A "Hannah Haines" is buried near the Zaggel family in Sweeney Cemetery; A person of the same name is found in the <a href="https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNJ-GFZ8">1865 state</a> and the <a href="https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6X8G-85?cc=1438024&wc=9227-6TP%3A518819101%2C520055301%2C519325001%20:%2014%20June%202019">1870 U.S. Census</a> living in Wheatfield with a "Brown" family (like her, from Maine and New England). However, her grave gives her death as the 1870s (HJ died in 1883), and the census gives her race as white. Obit in Ton Herald 1877-08-28 spelled "Hannah C. Haynes."
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alleged grave of Hannah Johnson, Sweeney Cemetery, photo (NOT her grave), photo (Dennis Reed Jr, 2012.jpg
Description
An account of the resource
Identified by an old-timer as her grave. Not believed to be true.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2012
grave
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/4675f0adc92f6a200fb8962abffddc3a.png
6d4c39bf38788a62a2486733c1934d1a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney Cemetery
Description
An account of the resource
<span>William Dittmar (former curator, Historical Society of the Tonawandas) is quoted in a 7/23/72 Niagara Gazette article as saying the future Sweeney Cemetery appears on an 1837 map under the name "Tonawanda Cemetery," that the move of bodies (necessitated by erosion) from the south side Tonawanda Creek cemetery took place in the 1840s and 1850s, and that it </span><span>is incorporated in 1868 as "Colonel John Sweeney Cemetery."<br /><br /></span>From <em><a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/606">History of Niagara County 1821-1878</a> </em>(1878):
<blockquote>The village has a cemetery, which was organized under the statute, in the year 1868. The incorporators were: Benjamin F. Felton, Garwood L. Judd, Franklin Warren, Hiram Hewell, Selden G. Johnson and John Simpson. Mr. Hewell was the first president, and Mr. Felton the first secretary of the board of organization. At the first meeting of the board of trustees, Mr. Felton presented the corporation with a splendid book for the keeping of the records. Much credit is due to Messrs. Felton,Warren and.Judd for the labor and interest they took in organizing the enterprise. Mr. Judd drew up the articles of association; and being an attorney, obtained the requisite order from court, sanctioning the articles of incorporation, which were duly recorded in the office of the county clerk.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/agenbyte/albums/72157604940790322/">My photos of the cemetry on Flickr.</a></p>
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney Cemetery, photo.png
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018
grave
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/9f01603efd080b292b1e0af8f66f32c3.png
e6d4c76ec5c95d9a83daad6a6a41fd2e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney Cemetery
Description
An account of the resource
<span>William Dittmar (former curator, Historical Society of the Tonawandas) is quoted in a 7/23/72 Niagara Gazette article as saying the future Sweeney Cemetery appears on an 1837 map under the name "Tonawanda Cemetery," that the move of bodies (necessitated by erosion) from the south side Tonawanda Creek cemetery took place in the 1840s and 1850s, and that it </span><span>is incorporated in 1868 as "Colonel John Sweeney Cemetery."<br /><br /></span>From <em><a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/606">History of Niagara County 1821-1878</a> </em>(1878):
<blockquote>The village has a cemetery, which was organized under the statute, in the year 1868. The incorporators were: Benjamin F. Felton, Garwood L. Judd, Franklin Warren, Hiram Hewell, Selden G. Johnson and John Simpson. Mr. Hewell was the first president, and Mr. Felton the first secretary of the board of organization. At the first meeting of the board of trustees, Mr. Felton presented the corporation with a splendid book for the keeping of the records. Much credit is due to Messrs. Felton,Warren and.Judd for the labor and interest they took in organizing the enterprise. Mr. Judd drew up the articles of association; and being an attorney, obtained the requisite order from court, sanctioning the articles of incorporation, which were duly recorded in the office of the county clerk.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/agenbyte/albums/72157604940790322/">My photos of the cemetry on Flickr.</a></p>
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Judd, G.L., photo of grave in Sweeney Cemetery.png
grave
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/4eaa035fc39e9ef5aef726dffd434d93.png
68a9d175cbdd6afbfd278db020c97259
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney Cemetery
Description
An account of the resource
<span>William Dittmar (former curator, Historical Society of the Tonawandas) is quoted in a 7/23/72 Niagara Gazette article as saying the future Sweeney Cemetery appears on an 1837 map under the name "Tonawanda Cemetery," that the move of bodies (necessitated by erosion) from the south side Tonawanda Creek cemetery took place in the 1840s and 1850s, and that it </span><span>is incorporated in 1868 as "Colonel John Sweeney Cemetery."<br /><br /></span>From <em><a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/606">History of Niagara County 1821-1878</a> </em>(1878):
<blockquote>The village has a cemetery, which was organized under the statute, in the year 1868. The incorporators were: Benjamin F. Felton, Garwood L. Judd, Franklin Warren, Hiram Hewell, Selden G. Johnson and John Simpson. Mr. Hewell was the first president, and Mr. Felton the first secretary of the board of organization. At the first meeting of the board of trustees, Mr. Felton presented the corporation with a splendid book for the keeping of the records. Much credit is due to Messrs. Felton,Warren and.Judd for the labor and interest they took in organizing the enterprise. Mr. Judd drew up the articles of association; and being an attorney, obtained the requisite order from court, sanctioning the articles of incorporation, which were duly recorded in the office of the county clerk.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/agenbyte/albums/72157604940790322/">My photos of the cemetry on Flickr.</a></p>
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Johnson, Selden G., photo of grave in Sweeney Cemetery.png
grave
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/8162e70045df1d003b37aab8a52f2c7c.png
f9480dac0286a31f75803c5752392211
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney Cemetery
Description
An account of the resource
<span>William Dittmar (former curator, Historical Society of the Tonawandas) is quoted in a 7/23/72 Niagara Gazette article as saying the future Sweeney Cemetery appears on an 1837 map under the name "Tonawanda Cemetery," that the move of bodies (necessitated by erosion) from the south side Tonawanda Creek cemetery took place in the 1840s and 1850s, and that it </span><span>is incorporated in 1868 as "Colonel John Sweeney Cemetery."<br /><br /></span>From <em><a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/606">History of Niagara County 1821-1878</a> </em>(1878):
<blockquote>The village has a cemetery, which was organized under the statute, in the year 1868. The incorporators were: Benjamin F. Felton, Garwood L. Judd, Franklin Warren, Hiram Hewell, Selden G. Johnson and John Simpson. Mr. Hewell was the first president, and Mr. Felton the first secretary of the board of organization. At the first meeting of the board of trustees, Mr. Felton presented the corporation with a splendid book for the keeping of the records. Much credit is due to Messrs. Felton,Warren and.Judd for the labor and interest they took in organizing the enterprise. Mr. Judd drew up the articles of association; and being an attorney, obtained the requisite order from court, sanctioning the articles of incorporation, which were duly recorded in the office of the county clerk.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/agenbyte/albums/72157604940790322/">My photos of the cemetry on Flickr.</a></p>
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Franklin, Warren, photo of grave in Sweeney Cemetery.png
grave
-
https://nthistory.com/files/original/b64a4dd8d08ae4037fe93d6ddfb05de2.png
c9b9017e87c99c8a4806616c309d4167
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sweeney Cemetery
Description
An account of the resource
<span>William Dittmar (former curator, Historical Society of the Tonawandas) is quoted in a 7/23/72 Niagara Gazette article as saying the future Sweeney Cemetery appears on an 1837 map under the name "Tonawanda Cemetery," that the move of bodies (necessitated by erosion) from the south side Tonawanda Creek cemetery took place in the 1840s and 1850s, and that it </span><span>is incorporated in 1868 as "Colonel John Sweeney Cemetery."<br /><br /></span>From <em><a href="http://www.nthistory.com/items/show/606">History of Niagara County 1821-1878</a> </em>(1878):
<blockquote>The village has a cemetery, which was organized under the statute, in the year 1868. The incorporators were: Benjamin F. Felton, Garwood L. Judd, Franklin Warren, Hiram Hewell, Selden G. Johnson and John Simpson. Mr. Hewell was the first president, and Mr. Felton the first secretary of the board of organization. At the first meeting of the board of trustees, Mr. Felton presented the corporation with a splendid book for the keeping of the records. Much credit is due to Messrs. Felton,Warren and.Judd for the labor and interest they took in organizing the enterprise. Mr. Judd drew up the articles of association; and being an attorney, obtained the requisite order from court, sanctioning the articles of incorporation, which were duly recorded in the office of the county clerk.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/agenbyte/albums/72157604940790322/">My photos of the cemetry on Flickr.</a></p>
Photo
A photographic depiction of a person or place.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Felton, Benjamin, photo of grave in Sweeney Cemetery.png
grave