Charles Nalle was born in Stevensburg, Virginia in 1821 into slavery. At the age of 16, he was given to a Virginia plantation owner, Blucher Hansbrough. Nalle and another enslaved man, Jim Banks, made their escape from the plantation in October 1858 during an auction.[1]
Plaque in downtown Troy at the intersection of State St. and 1st St.
Helped by the Underground Railroad, Nalle settled in Troy, New York where he worked as a coachman and groom for the wife of a wealthy Rensselaer man, Uri Gilbert, in Troy at the time.[2] On April 27, 1860, Nalle was turned in to the local authorities. According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, he was arrested and slated to be sent back to slavery in Virginia. As word got out, a large crowd gathered around the Mutual Building in Troy where he was being held.[2][3][4] Nalle managed to escape across the Hudson River to West Troy (modern-day Watervliet) during a clash between authorities and the crowd which included Harriet Tubman,[5] but the authorities were waiting for him on the other side and once again arrested him. Another clash occurred in West Troy, and during this time locals raised enough money for Nalle to be freed. His freedom was bought for 650 U.S dollars.[2][6]
Nalle spent most of the Civil War in Troy.[2] He had several children with his wife, Kitty.[7] He died in 1875 in Washington D.C. of heart disease.[2]
Legacyedit
The events surrounding Nalle are recognized and commemorated by both the Watervliet Historical Society and the Rensselaer Historical Society. In 2010, Watervliet celebrated the 150th anniversary of the rescue of Nalle.[6][8]
Referencesedit
^"Charles Nalle". Underground Railroad History Project.
^ abcdeChristianson, Scott. (2010). Freeing Charles: The Struggle to Free a Slave on the Eve of the Civil War, University of Illinois Press. ISBN978-0-252-03439-8.
^Hobson, Janell (2014). "Harriet Tubman: A Legacy of Resistance". Meridians. Duke University Press. 12 (2): 1–8. doi:10.2979/meridians.12.2.123. JSTOR 10.2979/meridians.12.2.1. S2CID 142488055.
^ ab(PDF). watervilet.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
^"Walkabout: The Rescue of Charles Nalle — A Troy Story, Part 3". www.brownstoner.com. 25 March 2014.
^"A Fugitive Slave Rescued: Paintings of Charles Nalle". newyorkalmanack.com. 22 February 2010.
December 14, 2023
charles, nalle, born, stevensburg, virginia, 1821, into, slavery, given, virginia, plantation, owner, blucher, hansbrough, nalle, another, enslaved, banks, made, their, escape, from, plantation, october, 1858, during, auction, plaque, downtown, troy, intersect. Charles Nalle was born in Stevensburg Virginia in 1821 into slavery At the age of 16 he was given to a Virginia plantation owner Blucher Hansbrough Nalle and another enslaved man Jim Banks made their escape from the plantation in October 1858 during an auction 1 Plaque in downtown Troy at the intersection of State St and 1st St Helped by the Underground Railroad Nalle settled in Troy New York where he worked as a coachman and groom for the wife of a wealthy Rensselaer man Uri Gilbert in Troy at the time 2 On April 27 1860 Nalle was turned in to the local authorities According to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 he was arrested and slated to be sent back to slavery in Virginia As word got out a large crowd gathered around the Mutual Building in Troy where he was being held 2 3 4 Nalle managed to escape across the Hudson River to West Troy modern day Watervliet during a clash between authorities and the crowd which included Harriet Tubman 5 but the authorities were waiting for him on the other side and once again arrested him Another clash occurred in West Troy and during this time locals raised enough money for Nalle to be freed His freedom was bought for 650 U S dollars 2 6 Nalle spent most of the Civil War in Troy 2 He had several children with his wife Kitty 7 He died in 1875 in Washington D C of heart disease 2 Legacy editThe events surrounding Nalle are recognized and commemorated by both the Watervliet Historical Society and the Rensselaer Historical Society In 2010 Watervliet celebrated the 150th anniversary of the rescue of Nalle 6 8 References edit Charles Nalle Underground Railroad History Project a b c d e Christianson Scott 2010 Freeing Charles The Struggle to Free a Slave on the Eve of the Civil War University of Illinois Press ISBN 978 0 252 03439 8 Troy Daily Times April 30 1860 New York Tribune May 5 1860 Hobson Janell 2014 Harriet Tubman A Legacy of Resistance Meridians Duke University Press 12 2 1 8 doi 10 2979 meridians 12 2 123 JSTOR 10 2979 meridians 12 2 1 S2CID 142488055 a b Watervliet Historical Society hosts 150th Commemoration of Fugitive Slave Escape PDF watervilet com Archived from the original PDF on 2020 04 10 Retrieved 2020 04 10 Walkabout The Rescue of Charles Nalle A Troy Story Part 3 www brownstoner com 25 March 2014 A Fugitive Slave Rescued Paintings of Charles Nalle newyorkalmanack com 22 February 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Nalle amp oldid 1187014436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
