Anderson, Osborne P. (1830-1872) [Signatures of six of John Brown's supporters]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04463.04 Author/Creator: Anderson, Osborne P. (1830-1872) Place Written: s.l. Type: Signature Date: circa 1859 Pagination: 1 p. ; 17 x 12.5 cm. Order a Copy
Piece of paper with six signatures, reportedly found in Brown's carpetbag. After Brown's capture, soldiers found a carpetbag of his in the farm where the raiders had been living. The bag contained numerous papers written and signed by his Northern supporters, this piece supposedly included among them. John Jr., Jason, and Owen Brown were Brown's sons. Neither John Jr. nor Jason came to Harpers Ferry. Owen participated in the attack, but managed to escape capture. Anderson, one of five African Americans that participated in the raid, also managed to escape, later wrote a book on the events, and served in the Union Army. Hyatt was the President of the National Kansas Committee, and a strong supporter of Brown's. He served three months in jail for refusing to testify before Congress about his relationship with Brown. Arny was a prominent supporter of both Brown and a free Kansas. Later became a member of the Kansas Legislature and then Secretary of the Territory of New Mexico. Arny gave testimony to Congress regarding Brown. If the piece of paper was found in Brown's bag, it must date from 1859 or earlier. And since Brown did not meet Anderson until 1858 it could not have been written earlier then that year. Accompanied by later penciled note describing signers on a separate page.
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