Nationality United States Occupation abolitionist | Name William Chaplin | |
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Known for Liberty Party (United States, 1840) candidate for lieutenant governor of New York, 1846, and governor of New York, 1850; helped organize and finance attempted escape of 77 slaves from Washington, D.C., in the Pearl incident, 1848; arrested in 1850 and briefly jailed for assisting attempted escape of two fugitive slaves from Washington. Spouse(s) Theodosia Gilbert Chaplin (1819–1855) Children Harriet L. "Hattie" Chaplin (1852–1861) Theodosia Chaplin Walton (1855–1905) Parent(s) Rev. Daniel Chaplin (1744–1831)Susanna Prescott Chaplin (1757–1832) Died April 28, 1871, Cortland, New York, United States | ||
William Lawrence Chaplin (October 27, 1796 – April 28, 1871) was a prominent abolitionist in the years before the American Civil War. Known by the title of "General," he was an agent for the New York Anti-Slavery Society.
In 1850 in Washington, DC, Chaplin aided two of the slaves of then congressman Robert Toombs in an attempted escape. The slaves were Lousia and, possibly, Garland H. White. During the pursuit of the escapees, Toombs said that he was more concerned about Lousia than White, as he did not care for White. Both were caught when a posse of six slave catchers chased Chaplin's carriage out of Washington. During the chase, the posse shot into the carriage, wounding the occupants. When they were caught, Chaplin was beaten and held in D.C. for six weeks. Chaplin was bailed by prominent abolitionist Gerrit Smith and others. The money was forfeited, as Chaplin skipped bail and returned to New York.