FINDING PROOF
About the time Dad told me about Livas Anderson, he shared the story of Osborne Perry Anderson. Years later, cousin Saxonia Harris Shadd shared the same story. Although the family connection has not been verified with records, more than one Canadian storyteller has reported the connection.
WHO IS LIVAS ANDERSON?
STATS
Born: About 1785, Perhaps in Maryland
Death: Before 1881, Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Burial: Unknown Location, Ontario
FAMILY LORE
Livas AKA Joseph A. Anderson was never enslaved. He was born about 1785, perhaps in Maryland, and in 1821 he escaped from a ship in Charleston Harbor, SC.
LIFE
Osborne Perry Anderson was born July 17, 1830, in West Fallowfield, Chester, Pennsylvania to free parents of African descent, Vincent Anderson and Sophia Taylor Anderson. His birth was followed by the birth of three brothers named James, John, and Emanuel.
Mr. Anderson was educated at Oberlin College; he was a printer by trade. Sometime after 1850, he left Pennsylvania for Canada. Some believe his venturing to Canada was directly linked to his association with Mary Ann Shadd Cary, who opened a school for African American children in West Chester, PA. Although Mrs. Shadd Cary’s influence may well have been critical in his decision to travel north, he may also have been influenced by Anderson family members already living in the area of Chatham, Ontario. Once in Chatham, Osborne worked for Shadd Cary as a printer of The Provincial Freeman newspaper.
In the spring of 1858, abolitionist John Brown arrived in Chatham for the purpose of holding the Chatham Convention. Osborn Perry Anderson was elected to Brown’s provisional government.2 Mr. Anderson went on to become one of only five men of African descent to accompany John Brown on his fateful raid on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) in October 1859; he was the only one to survive.
In 1861, with the help of friend Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Osborne Anderson wrote "A Voice from Harper's Ferry." His opening sentence says that he wrote the "narrative [to] save from oblivion the facts connected with one of the most important movements of this age, with reference to the overthrow of American slavery.” “A Voice from Harper’s Ferry” stands as the only first-hand account of the Harpers Ferry events written by a member of John Brown’s army.3
Osborne Perry Anderson is reported to have served as a recruiter for the United States Colored Troops in Indiana and Arkansas in 1864, though some believe he may have served under a pseudonym as no documented account of his service has been found.4
Sometime during the 1860s, Mr. Anderson resided in Battle Creek, Michigan. On September 12-13, 1865 he was a delegate representing Battle Creek at the Colored Men’s Convention of the State of Michigan in Detroit.5
Osborne Perry Anderson’s sunset was on the morning of December 11, 1872, when he succumbed to consumption (tuberculosis). At the time of his death, Osborne was at the home of his friend, Mr. A. M. Green, who lived at 14th and C Streets, NW in Washington DC.
WHO IS OSBORNE PERRY ANDERSON?
STATS
Born: 17 July 1830, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Death: 11 December 1872, District of Columbia
Burial: National Harmony Memorial Park Cemetery, Hyattsville, Prince George’s County, Maryland
LIFE
Osborne Perry Anderson was born July 17, 1830, in West Fallowfield, Chester, Pennsylvania to free parents of African descent, Vincent Anderson and Sophia Taylor Anderson. His birth was followed by the birth of three brothers named James, John, and Emanuel.
Mr. Anderson was educated at Oberlin College; he was a printer by trade. Sometime after 1850, he left Pennsylvania for Canada. Some believe his venturing to Canada was directly linked to his association with Mary Ann Shadd Cary, who opened a school for African American children in West Chester, PA. Although Mrs. Shadd Cary’s influence may well have been critical in his decision to travel north, he may also have been influenced by Anderson family members already living in the area of Chatham, Ontario. Once in Chatham, Osborne worked for Shadd Cary as a printer of The Provincial Freeman newspaper.
In the spring of 1858, abolitionist John Brown arrived in Chatham for the purpose of holding the Chatham Convention. Osborn Perry Anderson was elected to Brown’s provisional government.2 Mr. Anderson went on to become one of only five men of African descent to accompany John Brown on his fateful raid on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) in October 1859; he was the only one to survive.
In 1861, with the help of friend Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Osborne Anderson wrote "A Voice from Harper's Ferry." His opening sentence says that he wrote the "narrative [to] save from oblivion the facts connected with one of the most important movements of this age, with reference to the overthrow of American slavery.” “A Voice from Harper’s Ferry” stands as the only first-hand account of the Harpers Ferry events written by a member of John Brown’s army.3
Osborne Perry Anderson is reported to have served as a recruiter for the United States Colored Troops in Indiana and Arkansas in 1864, though some believe he may have served under a pseudonym as no documented account of his service has been found.4
Sometime during the 1860s, Mr. Anderson resided in Battle Creek, Michigan. On September 12-13, 1865 he was a delegate representing Battle Creek at the Colored Men’s Convention of the State of Michigan in Detroit.5
Osborne Perry Anderson’s sunset was on the morning of December 11, 1872, when he succumbed to consumption (tuberculosis). At the time of his death, Osborne was at the home of his friend, Mr. A. M. Green, who lived at 14th and C Streets, NW in Washington DC.
ABOLITIONIST
Osborne Perry Anderson considered the overthrow of American slavery one of the most important movements of this age.1