Many Quakers believed that they were to follow four main tenets: Simplicity, Truth, Equality, and Community. Their dedication and commitment to equality and community led many Quakers to become social activists. The women’s rights movement was rooted in the fertile ground of central New York.

Quakers believe that there is something of God in everybody and that each human being is of unique worth. This is why Quakers value all people equally, and oppose anything that may harm or threaten them. Quakers seek religious truth in inner experience, and place great reliance on conscience as the basis of morality.

They were imprisoned and banished by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their books were burned, and most of their property was confiscated. They were imprisoned under terrible conditions, then deported. Some Quakers in New England were only imprisoned or banished.

These testimonies are to integrity, equality, simplicity, community, stewardship of the Earth, and peace.

The abolition campaign in Britain was started by the Society of Friends, known as the Quakers. Quakers believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God. By 1761, Quakers had come to view abolition as a Christian duty and all Quakers, on both sides of the Atlantic, were barred from owning slaves.

Thomas Garrett is best known for his tireless efforts in behalf of the abolition of slavery. His first endeavor started at age twenty-four, by rescuing a kidnapped, free Black woman who was to be sold into slavery in the South. He is credited with helping well over 2,500 fugitive slaves in their journey to freedom.

Built in 1825, the Rankin House was home to abolitionist and Presbyterian minister John Rankin, his wife Jean, and their 13 children. It’s estimated that over 2,000 slaves seeking freedom stayed with the Rankins, sometimes as many as 12 at a time.

Biography: Quaker abolitionist Thomas Garrett, raised on a farm in Upper Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, regularly hid runaway slaves and assisted as many as 3,000 fugitives in their escape.

Thomas Garrett (1789-1871), American abolitionist, openly defied state and Federal statutes by giving aid to fugitive slaves, thus strengthening resistance to proslavery legislation.

Garrett, as his letter indicates, came to care so deeply for Tubman that he was in anguish whenever she was endangered.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. William Still (October 7, 1821 – July 14, 1902) was an African-American abolitionist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Harriet Tubman

The night sky played a role in helping escaping slaves find their way north to freedom. Seated portrait of a young Harriet Tubman, circa 1860s. Traveling under cover of night often offered the best chances of escaping. However, most slaves did not have maps or compasses to guide them.

I don’t know from whence you “heard” that Underground Railroad casualties exceeded those of the Civil War, but given the fact that there were approximately 3,500,000 slaves in the south (and 400,000 in northern states) at the start of the war, and statistics on slaves who escaped vary from 10,000 to 40,000 to 100,000.

A slave would know when there was a safe house because they would have either a lantern or a special made quilt outside their home. Slave owners would be on the lookout for them the whole time. They would have dogs and many people. They would even have posters of them and a prize of money if they did find them.