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Abolitionist Gerrit Smith’s Birthday Party Planned

February 27, 2014 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Smith, G Sebring 1-2014Stewards for the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark (the Gerrit Smith Estate) invite the public to the annual Gerrit Smith birthday party at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2014 to learn about Peterboro in 1864.

Born in Utica March 6, 1797, Smith came to Peterboro when nine years old and, with the exception of his years at college and in Congress, spent his life in Peterboro managing his land business in order to support his reform initiatives. Smith’s influence connected Peterboro to national issues.

At 2 p.m. Gerrit Smith biographer Norman K. Dann will describe the 1864 activities of abolitionist Gerrit Smith, his family, and his community as they relate to the nation at that time. Dann’s scene setting for 1864 will introduce the Sesquicentennial programs planned in Peterboro in 2014. The program will include Smith’s monetary commitment to the Civil War effort, the donation of his copy of Lincoln’s draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, his role in the development of Lincoln’s Republican Party, his reactions to the Election of 1864, and the letters from his son Greene written immediately after the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg.

The Stewards for the Gerrit Smith Estate, the Cabinet of Freedom members for the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, the Committee for the 22nd Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend, and the Committee for the 5th Annual Peterboro Emancipation Days will present the 2014 Peterboro Heritage Calendar.

Jacob Donovan-Colin, Secretary of the Smithfield Community Association (SCA), will briefly explain the focus and direction of the Association, and recent improvements at the Smithfield Community Center at which the program will be held (5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro, NY), The Stewards will serve refreshments at the closure of the afternoon program. For more information: visit www.gerritsmith.org, e-mail info@gerritsmith.org, or call 315-280-8828.

 

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Filed Under: Events, History, Western NY Tagged With: Abolition, Black History, Civil War, Gerrit Smith Estate, Madison County, Slavery

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  1. Roy Clement Jr says

    February 28, 2014 at 12:15 PM

    According to family legend I’m suppose to be related to Gerrit Smith through my grandmother Effie Jane Bush she was a Smith her father was Joshua Silas Smith as far as I know he was from Liverpool.
    Joshua bought land out on the Seneca River and became a very prosperous farmer the beautiful house he built is still there right on the river just down from Schoolperal Bridge.
    I remember people saying Gerrit Smith owned a place in Oswego might have been a summer home
    supposedly that is where he gave John Brown a check for Brown’s raid on Harper Ferry.

    Roy Clement Jr.

    Reply

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