A Greenwood slave seeks freedom in death

Suicide at the bottom of a well.

by Dale Cox

 

Aerial photograph of Greenwood taken before
Hurricane Michael struck the area.

The census of 1860 shows that half of the more than 10,000 people living in Jackson County were held in slavery by a relatively small percentage of the other half. Most were of African descent, although some Native Americans were among their number.  

A true story of the plight of one of these individuals appeared in the pages of the Florida Whig newspaper in 1853. The man lived on the farm of Dr. Franklin Hart and committed suicide by jumping into a well:

Singular Suicide.- The Florida Whig of the 29th ult. records a remarkable case of suicide by a negro belonging to Dr. Franklin Hart, of Marianna, who precipitated himself, head-foremost, into the well, and was drowned. The circumstances were these: - A few days, probably a week preceding, the negro, pampered by too good treatment, attacked his master, and inflicted considerable injury, and, of course, ran away. On the following Sunday evening, the negro came to the house of a servant belonging to a gentleman of the place, who immediately and faithfully reported his appearance to Dr. Hart, who had him secured. On Monday morning, when asked to step out, which he doubtless concluded was for the purpose of receiving a well-merited chastisement, he threw himself into the well, and, probably stunned by the descent, his own efforts to save himself, though violent, were unavailing, and those from above fruitless, though speedily rendered. [1]

This 1845 drawing depicts the whipping or "paddling" of a
slave in Pensacola, Florida. Library of Congress.

The name of the man who so desperately sought to avoid enslavement and the last is not known. The newspaper writer's statements that the man's attack on Dr. Hart, who held him in bondage, was due to "too good treatment" and that a planned beating was "well-merited" is a reflection of the attitudes held by some in the press in that day.

The man's story reached far beyond his home county or state. The Florida Whig's article about the suicide was picked up by The Liberator, an Abolitionist newspaper published in Boston by William Lloyd Garrison. The publisher was a leader in the religious movement against slavery, and his modest readership included Frederick Douglas. 

In addition to abolitionist sermons and editorials, The Liberator republished news accounts of incidents such as the one involving Dr. Hart to reinforce its crusade against American slavery.

Dr. Hart's home, according to an advertisement he placed five years later, was in Greenwood:

The subscriber offers for sale his Residence in Greenwood, Florida, to which is attached 80 acres of Land, 50 of which are cleared and in a good state of cultivation.

Greenwood is situated in one of the most pleasant, healthy, and populous neighborhoods in the State, 9 miles north of Marianna and 10 miles west of Niel’s landing on the Chattahoochee River, and is a fine location for a Physician or Merchant.

The Dwelling is a good two-story house with 6 rooms and there are on the premises a Storehouse, Physician’s office, a good barn and stables, and all necessary outhouses.

Any person buying and not wishing the land for cultivation could divide it into Lots and sell it at a profit. Apply to

FRANKLIN HART.

Greenwood, Jackson county, Fla.

February 2, 1858 [2]

The burial location of the unfortunate man is not known. Perhaps someday, a marker will tell his story and remind us all that he once lived and died in our community.

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References:

[1]The Liberator, December 2, 1853, page 192.

[2] Columbus Enquirer, February 4, 1858.