"Having, during the prevalence of the late malignant disorder, had
almost daily opportunities of seeing the conduct of Absalom Jones and
Richard Allan, and the people employed by them to bury their dead,
I with cheerfulness give this testimony of my approbation of their
proceedings, as far as the same came under my notice. The diligence,
attention, and decency of deportment, afforded me at the time much
satisfaction.
Signed,
MATTHEW CLARKSON, Mayor.
Philadelphia, June 23, 1794.
On the capture of Washington by the British forces, it was judged
expedient to fortify, without delay, the principal towns and cities
exposed to similar attacks. The Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia
waited upon three of the principal Colored citizens, namely James
Forten, Bishop Allen, and Absalom Jones, soliciting the aid of
the people of Color in erecting suitable defences for the city.
Accordingly, two thousand five hundred Colored men assembled in the
State House yard, and from thence marched to Gray's ferry, where they
labored for two days, almost without intermission. Their labors were
so faithful and efficient, that a vote of thanks was tendered them by
the committee. A battalion of Colored troops were at the same time
organized in the city, under an officer of the United States army;
and they were on the point of marching to the frontier when peace was
proclaimed.
A Colored man, whom I visited in the hospital, called to see me to-day.
He had just got out. He looked very pitiful. His head was bent down. He
said he could not get it erect, his neck was so injured. He is a very
intelligent man, and can read and write. I will give you his story.
Charles Black, over fifty, resides in Lombard Street. Was at home
with his little boy unconscious of what was transpiring without.
Suddenly, the mob rushed into his room, dragged him down stairs, and
beat him so unmercifully that he would have been killed, had not some
humane individuals interposed and prevented further violence. He was
an impressed seaman on board an English sixty-four gun ship, in the
beginning of the War of 1812. When he heard of the war, he refused
to fight against his country, although he had nine hundred dollars
prize money coming to him from the ship. He was, therefore, placed
in irons, and kept a prisoner on board some time and then sent to the
well known Dartmoor prison. He was exchanged, and shipped for France.
Shortly after he was taken and sent back to Dartmoor--was exchanged
a second time, and succeeded in reaching the United States. He soon
joined the fleet on Lake Champlain, under M'Donough; was with him in
the celebrated battle which gave honor (?) to the American arms. He was
wounded, but never received a pension. His father was in the battle of
Bunker Hill, and his grandfather fought in the old French War.