Princeton Public Library - African American History

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, PRINCETON, NJ - 1850-1899

*Princeton Press,* Saturday, May 16, 1896:
JAMES C. JOHNSON
One of the characters of Princeton for many years, known equally to citizens and generations of the students and alumni of the College, is Mr. James C. Johnson, lately one of the licensed venders of the College-campus. His wheelbarrow and its contents of fruit have been a familiar sight near the old chapel or on the athletic field and his ready barter with the students has been the source of great amusement. Mr. Johnson has a notable history in connection with the Fugitive Slave law. He was a slave belonging, under the name of James Collins, to Mr. Philip Wallis, of Maryland, and escaped from his master in 1843 and came to Princeton. Here he was recognized by one Thomas, a student in the College from Maryland, and papers were prepared according to law to secure the recovery of the slave. Mr. John F. Hageman and S. Teakle Wallis, Esq., a son of the claimant and a skillful lawyer of Baltimore, supported the claim, and the Hon. William C. Alexander appeared for the defense. A trial by jury was granted by Col. John Lowrey, a Justice of the Peace, and the case was tried at the City Hotel amid intense excitement. The evidence was irresistible and the jury rendered a verdict for the claimant, upon which the Justice made an order handing over the slave to the marshal to be restored to his owner. Meanwhile the public interest was intensified and the fugitive was corraled for the night and the next day in an upper room in the Nassau Hotel while efforts were made to secure the money to purchase his liberty. The price demanded was five hundred and fifty dollars and was paid by Miss Theodoric Provost [Note], a lineal descendant of President Witherspoon, and then living in Princeton, but having formerly lived in the South. The expenses in recovering the fugitive amounted to about one half the price obtained for him. Mr. Johnson became a freeman and has since remained a citizen of Princeton. It is a fact of good credit to him that this redeemed slave upon gaining his liberty applied the wages of his industry as rapidly as received to the payment of the money furnished by Miss Provost. In a few years he cancelled his debt to his generous benefactress and for many years would show with justifiable pride his book in which the price of his ransom was charged on one side and his payments on the other side of the account. Mr. Johnson during more than half a century has been a sober, industrious man, seeking an honest living in Princeton. He is now old and feeble and in his declining years, which must be few, he is in want. Without his suggestion or even knowledge some of our citizens have interested themselves in his present condition, and this article is written to bring his history, worth and need before our readers. We believe that the appeal in his behalf will meet a ready response not only from citizens but from many students and alumni of the College. It is hoped at least to secure funds sufficient to pay the rent of his home for the remainder of his life. Any persons charitably disposed may send their contributions to either the Hon. Augustus Macdonald, Mr. Joseph S. Schanck or Mr. J. W. Fielder, Jr., who have the credit of inaugurating the movement and who will act as a committee in caring for the reception and disbursement of the funds contributed. Note: John F. Hageman, in his History of Princeton and Its Institutions (v. 1, p. 268), identies Mr. Johnson's benefactor as Miss Theodosia Prevost. [Return to text]

Princeton Press, Saturday, May 16, 1896:

JAMES C. JOHNSON

One of the characters of Princeton for many years, known equally to citizens and generations of the students and alumni of the College, is Mr. James C. Johnson, lately one of the licensed venders of the College-campus. His wheelbarrow and its contents of fruit have been a familiar sight near the old chapel or on the athletic field and his ready barter with the students has been the source of great amusement. Mr. Johnson has a notable history in connection with the Fugitive Slave law. He was a slave belonging, under the name of James Collins, to Mr. Philip Wallis, of Maryland, and escaped from his master in 1843 and came to Princeton. Here he was recognized by one Thomas, a student in the College from Maryland, and papers were prepared according to law to secure the recovery of the slave. Mr. John F. Hageman and S. Teakle Wallis, Esq., a son of the claimant and a skillful lawyer of Baltimore, supported the claim, and the Hon. William C. Alexander appeared for the defense. A trial by jury was granted by Col. John Lowrey, a Justice of the Peace, and the case was tried at the City Hotel amid intense excitement. The evidence was irresistible and the jury rendered a verdict for the claimant, upon which the Justice made an order handing over the slave to the marshal to be restored to his owner. Meanwhile the public interest was intensified and the fugitive was corraled for the night and the next day in an upper room in the Nassau Hotel while efforts were made to secure the money to purchase his liberty. The price demanded was five hundred and fifty dollars and was paid by Miss Theodoric Provost [Note], a lineal descendant of President Witherspoon, and then living in Princeton, but having formerly lived in the South. The expenses in recovering the fugitive amounted to about one half the price obtained for him. Mr. Johnson became a freeman and has since remained a citizen of Princeton. It is a fact of good credit to him that this redeemed slave upon gaining his liberty applied the wages of his industry as rapidly as received to the payment of the money furnished by Miss Provost. In a few years he cancelled his debt to his generous benefactress and for many years would show with justifiable pride his book in which the price of his ransom was charged on one side and his payments on the other side of the account. Mr. Johnson during more than half a century has been a sober, industrious man, seeking an honest living in Princeton. He is now old and feeble and in his declining years, which must be few, he is in want. Without his suggestion or even knowledge some of our citizens have interested themselves in his present condition, and this article is written to bring his history, worth and need before our readers. We believe that the appeal in his behalf will meet a ready response not only from citizens but from many students and alumni of the College. It is hoped at least to secure funds sufficient to pay the rent of his home for the remainder of his life. Any persons charitably disposed may send their contributions to either the Hon. Augustus Macdonald, Mr. Joseph S. Schanck or Mr. J. W. Fielder, Jr., who have the credit of inaugurating the movement and who will act as a committee in caring for the reception and disbursement of the funds contributed.

Note: John F. Hageman, in his History of Princeton and Its Institutions (v. 1, p. 268), identies Mr. Johnson's benefactor as Miss Theodosia Prevost. [Return to text]

James Johnson Photo

James Johnson Grave

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