John Anthony Copeland, Jr.
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John Anthony Copeland, Jr. (1834-1859), a free black and an abolitionist, was born on August 15, 1834 at Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1842, John Anthony Copeland, Jr. moved north to Oberlin, Ohio. He attended Oberlin College. He got involved in antislavery activities. He was one of the thirty-seven men concerned in the famous Oberlin rescue of John Price, a runaway slave who was about to be retuned to his owner. In 1859, he and his uncle, Lewis Leary, joined the famous white abolitionist, John Brown, in the attack on the Armory in Harpers Ferry, a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. John Brown together with twenty-one followers, sixteen white and five black men including Copeland were able to capture the armory guards of Harper Ferry and controlled the Federal arsenal. The riders were hold up by the Virginia militiamen until a trainload of U.S. marines arrived to apprehend them. Copeland was captured alive along with John Brown, and five others. After a lengthy trial, he was found guilty of treason and murder and sentenced to death by hanging. He was executed at Charles town on December 16, 1859.
His last words were “I am dying for freedom. I could not die for a better cause. I had rather die than be a slave.” During the trial’s period, he was able to impress many of those with whom he came in contact. One of the trial’s attorneys described him as a respectful firm and educated person. Judge Parker stated that Copeland was a free negro and always acted with dignity among all other prisoners.
Just before a few hours from his execution, John Copeland wrote a letter to his family. He explained that he blamed no one but himself about his fate and he shall meet his family in heaven where they will not be parted by the cruel slavery.
[edit] References
- Altman, Susan, Extraordinary Black Americans. Children Press, 1989.
- Barrett, Tracy, Harpers Ferry: the story of John Brown’s raid. Millbrook Press, 1994.
- Glaser, Jason, John Brown Raid on Harpers Ferry. Capstone Press, 2006.
