Jermain Wesley Loguen
Encyclopedia
Jermain Wesley Loguen born Jarm Logue, in slavery, was an African American abolitionist and bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
.
Loguen was born into slavery
in Davidson County, Tennessee
, the son of a white man, David Logue, and a slave named Cherry. At age 21, he successfully escaped bondage on his second attempt, stealing his master's horse and following the Underground Railroad
north, finally crossing into Canada
. Loguen added an "n" to the end of his last name, learned to read, worked various jobs in Canada and New York
, studied at the Oneida Institute in Whitesboro, New York
, opened schools for black children in Utica, New York
and Syracuse, New York
, and married.
Loguen settled in Syracuse, where his house became a major depot (stop) on the Underground Railroad. Loguen was involved in rescuing William Henry, a cooper
and a freed slave. On October 1, 1851, Henry, known as "Jerry" was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Law. The anti-slavery Liberty Party
was holding its state convention in the city, and when word of the arrest spread, several hundred abolitionists broke into the city jail and freed Jerry. The event came to be widely known as the Jerry Rescue
.
Loguen became an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and took the middle name Wesley after John Wesley
, founder of the Methodist movement. He held various church posts and was appointed bishop
in 1868.
Loguen became a popular abolitionist speaker and authored an autobiography
, The Rev. J. W. Loguen, as a Slave and as a Freeman, a Narrative of Real Life (1859). The wife of his former master, Sarah Logue, actually wrote Loguen demanding $1000 compensation. Loguen wrote a scathing reply which was published in The Liberator.
, in 1869. His Wife had died due to when giving birth to their daughter, Amelia. Loguen's other 5 children had all left the house for their own lives at very young ages.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or AME Zion Church, is a historically African-American Christian denomination. It was officially formed in 1821, but operated for a number of years before then....
.
Loguen was born into slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
, the son of a white man, David Logue, and a slave named Cherry. At age 21, he successfully escaped bondage on his second attempt, stealing his master's horse and following the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
north, finally crossing into Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Loguen added an "n" to the end of his last name, learned to read, worked various jobs in Canada and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, studied at the Oneida Institute in Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 3,943 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hugh White, an early settler.The Village of Whitesboro is inside the Town of Whitestown....
, opened schools for black children in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and married.
Loguen settled in Syracuse, where his house became a major depot (stop) on the Underground Railroad. Loguen was involved in rescuing William Henry, a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
and a freed slave. On October 1, 1851, Henry, known as "Jerry" was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Law. The anti-slavery Liberty Party
Liberty Party (1840s)
The Liberty Party was a minor political party in the United States in the 1840s . The party was an early advocate of the abolitionist cause...
was holding its state convention in the city, and when word of the arrest spread, several hundred abolitionists broke into the city jail and freed Jerry. The event came to be widely known as the Jerry Rescue
Jerry Rescue
The Jerry Rescue, on October 1, 1851, involved the daring, public rescue of a fugitive slave who had been arrested the same day, in Syracuse, New York, during the anti-slavery Liberty Party's state convention...
.
Loguen became an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and took the middle name Wesley after John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
, founder of the Methodist movement. He held various church posts and was appointed bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in 1868.
Loguen became a popular abolitionist speaker and authored an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, The Rev. J. W. Loguen, as a Slave and as a Freeman, a Narrative of Real Life (1859). The wife of his former master, Sarah Logue, actually wrote Loguen demanding $1000 compensation. Loguen wrote a scathing reply which was published in The Liberator.
Family
Loguen had six children. His daughter, Amelia, married Lewis Douglass, the son of the famous abolitionist Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
, in 1869. His Wife had died due to when giving birth to their daughter, Amelia. Loguen's other 5 children had all left the house for their own lives at very young ages.
External links
- The Rev. J. W. Loguen, as a Slave and as a Freeman. A Narrative of Real Life. Syracuse, N. Y.: J. G. K. Truair & Co., 1859.