The 1834 Mob Attack

This story describes the violent attacks of a white mob on innocent Black people and their property in 1834.

Histories of this mob attack frame it as a race riot around job competition between Irish and Black laborers, as a powder keg of anger that burst unexpectedly. However, the newspaper records immediately after the event reveal a coordinated planned terror attack on the Black community, with particular emphasis not on labor sites, but on homes, churches and halls.

It wasn't just one day, either. Due to the slow response by authorities, the Black community endured 4 days of indiscriminate mob violence, up to and including murder. This included:

  • 2 Black churches attacked, 1 destroyed completely.
  • Over 40 Black owned homes wrecked, with all furniture destroyed, property stolen, and residents attacked.
  • Stephen James was killed.
  • A woman was raped.
  • Another man died trying to swim across the Schuylkill.
  • Hundreds of people lived in the surrounding woods for weeks, afraid to return home.

Other histories of this attack have focused on the perpetrators and their reasons for becoming violent. This history is different. It draws from the local papers and accounts and presents them without academic analysis, just as they occurred.

This history focuses on the people...and what they lost.

August 9, 1834

August 9, 1834. Click to expand.

FORESHADOW

August 11, 1834

August 11, 1834. Click to expand.

APPEAL TO AUTHORITIES

A Fictionalized Version of These Same Events, Exists

A Fictionalized Version of These Same Events, Exists. Click to expand.

These events are hinted in the novel The Garies and Their Friends, written by Frank Webb in 1854. Frank Webb grew up in The Black Metropolis, and he and his friends and family experienced the mob attacks first hand. Mary Maillard suggests that the book is more historical fiction (based on actual events) than a purely fictional novel.

Fight at the Flying Horses Carousel

Fight at the Flying Horses Carousel. Click to expand.

The Flying Horses carousel was located at 7th and South street, and was housed in a wooden temporary structure.

DAY 1: August 12, 1834

DAY 1: August 12, 1834. Click to expand.

A mob of hundreds of young white men and boys assemble at an open lot next to Pennsylvania Hospital.

Thomas Shipley (assumed) Provides Counter-Intelligence

Thomas Shipley (assumed) Provides Counter-Intelligence. Click to expand.

Edward Abdy reported that a white Quaker friend of the Black community infiltrated the mob and provided intelligence about their intentions to local authorities.

The Mob Marches down 7th, Attacking Black People

The Mob Marches down 7th, Attacking Black People. Click to expand.

The mob begins to march down 7th street on the way to the Flying Horses, and begins to indiscriminately attack Black people on the street.

The Mob Tears Down the Flying Horses

The Mob Tears Down the Flying Horses. Click to expand.

The mob destroys the Flying Horses Carousel and Building.

The Mob Attacks the Home of a Black Family

The Mob Attacks the Home of a Black Family. Click to expand.

South Street was the border between what was then called 'City' - North of South Street, and 'Moyamensing' - South of South Street.

White Homes Were Spared

White Homes Were Spared. Click to expand.

White people knew to place candles in their windows to indicate to the mob that their home was occupied by white people.

Bedford Street Attack

Bedford Street Attack. Click to expand.

On Bedford street (now Kater street), the mob proceeds to break windows and doors, to enter into homes, pull people out of their beds, destroy furniture, destroy china, beat up residents, and steal valuable goods.

The Black Community Begins to Defend Itself

The Black Community Begins to Defend Itself. Click to expand.

A battle occurs on South street between 400-500 people. Black men begin to fight the mob.

DAY 2: August 13, 1834

DAY 2: August 13, 1834. Click to expand.

At 11 pm, the mob assembled at 7th and Shippen (Bainbridge).

First African Presbyterian Church is Attacked

First African Presbyterian Church is Attacked. Click to expand.

The mob attacks First African Presbyterian Church, destroying all the windows, and damaging the building.

Small Street Residents Defend Their Homes

Small Street Residents Defend Their Homes. Click to expand.

Some Small Street (Kater street) residents decided to stay on and defend their homes.

A Similar Scene in The Garies and Their Friends

A Similar Scene in The Garies and Their Friends. Click to expand.

In The Garies and Their Friends, a fictionalized historical rendition of events in this time period written in 1857, a house is barricaded and the inhabitants defend the house from the mob.

The Homes of Mr. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Moore are Attacked. "They left him but one chair and a stove."

The Homes of Mr. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Moore are Attacked. "They left him but one chair and a stove.". Click to expand.

Near 5th street, 3 Small Street belonging to Mr. Fitzgerald and 5 Small Street belonging to Mrs. Moore had windows and furniture destroyed and property stolen.

Woman Escapes in Night Clothes with Two Children and Seeks Refuge in a School

Woman Escapes in Night Clothes with Two Children and Seeks Refuge in a School. Click to expand.

A woman escapes her home with two children, one of whom was badly injured and bleeding. Having risen from her sleep, she was still in her bedcloths and she burst into a local night school and demanded refuge.

Woman in Mourning 'treated barbarously' in her Home, After Dead Baby Thrown on the Floor

Woman in Mourning 'treated barbarously' in her Home, After Dead Baby Thrown on the Floor. Click to expand.

A woman was in her home. Evidently she had recently experienced deaths in the family because there was a dead man in a coffin, and a dead baby on the bed.

Elderly Woman Hides in a Closet and Recognizes One of Her Attackers

Elderly Woman Hides in a Closet and Recognizes One of Her Attackers. Click to expand.

An elderly woman hid in a closet of her house while she watched the mob destroy everything she owned. She recognized a man she washed for and reported him to authorities.

290, 291 and 292 7th Street Damaged

290, 291 and 292 7th Street Damaged. Click to expand.

Multiple homes owned by Black people (recall that white people placed a white candle in the window to signal to the mob not to attack) are attacked.

Charles Akers Home Attacked

Charles Akers Home Attacked. Click to expand.

All the windows and furniture of Charles Akers' three story brick house were destroyed.

Levin Drake's Shoemaker's Shop Damaged

Levin Drake's Shoemaker's Shop Damaged. Click to expand.

209 Shippen, a two story building had windows and furniture destroyed.

Mr. Butler's Three Story Brick House Damaged

Mr. Butler's Three Story Brick House Damaged. Click to expand.

This home was owned and occupied by Mr. Butler, Mr. Green and two other familes.

217 Shippen, Home of Master Chimney Sweeper John Nicholson, 'treated with uncommon severity'

217 Shippen, Home of Master Chimney Sweeper John Nicholson, 'treated with uncommon severity'. Click to expand.

Here the mob was particularly destructive.

Windows of 7 Homes on Warner's Court Completely Demolished

Windows of 7 Homes on Warner's Court Completely Demolished. Click to expand.

These were substantial 3 story brick homes that were attacked.

The House and Belongings of an Elderly Man who had been Enslaved by George Washington, Destroyed

The House and Belongings of an Elderly Man who had been Enslaved by George Washington, Destroyed. Click to expand.

Daniel Williamson, age 95, watched helplessly as his 2 story house was destroyed.

Stephen James, Beat Almost To Death, While His Family Watches. Dies A Week Later.

Stephen James, Beat Almost To Death, While His Family Watches. Dies A Week Later. . Click to expand.

50 year old Stephen James, who had limited mobility due to a prior injury, was beaten by the mob.

The Homes of Samuel Combigbee and Miles White are Attacked.

The Homes of Samuel Combigbee and Miles White are Attacked.. Click to expand.

More destruction ensued as the mob moved down Baker's Court.

Mr. Moor's House Completely Ravaged "as if to make kindling for wood."

Mr. Moor's House Completely Ravaged "as if to make kindling for wood.". Click to expand.

Everything in the Moor house was destroyed.

12 Homes on Fitzwater Court Attacked

12 Homes on Fitzwater Court Attacked. Click to expand.

12 homes on Fitzwater Court were attacked, windows destroyed, furniture turned into small pieces.

Man Dies Swimming Across the River

Man Dies Swimming Across the River. Click to expand.

Fearing for their lives, a man and his wife, decide to swim with their infant across the Schuylkill river to seek refuge outside of the City. However, the man died swimming across.

Emergency Shelters Set Up in Camden

Emergency Shelters Set Up in Camden. Click to expand.

Hundreds of people fled to Camden and an emergency triage was set up there.

Black Residents flee to The Alms House, or Sleep in the Woods

Black Residents flee to The Alms House, or Sleep in the Woods. Click to expand.

Edward Abdy describes how Black people fled for their lives in fear. Some people lived in woods and fields surrounding the city for weeks after the attack. Others sought refuge in the Alms House though they were initially refused by the mayor. An unidentified "doctor" appealed to the mayor and the mayor let them in.

DAY 3 - August 14, 1834

DAY 3 - August 14, 1834. Click to expand.

On Vernon Street, 9 Homes were Attacked

On Vernon Street, 9 Homes were Attacked. Click to expand.

After the church was torn down, the mob moved to Vernon Street. The furniture and windows of nine homes were destroyed.

August 15, 1834

August 15, 1834. Click to expand.

DAY 4

Prince Hall Hiram Lodge Prepares for Battle

Prince Hall Hiram Lodge Prepares for Battle. Click to expand.

By this point, the Black community had endured 3 days of continued destruction. The mob who had also sent three police to the hospital, were decidedly after Benezet Hall. And this even in the presence of a full blown activation of the Posse Comitatus, which was something like a National Guard response.

August 9, 1834

FORESHADOW

On August, 9, 1834, young Robert Forten was attacked by a mob of approximately 60 white young men "in blue jackets and trousers, and low-crowned straw hats".

August 11, 1834

APPEAL TO AUTHORITIES

James Forten reached out to appeal to the mayor to protect the community.

A Fictionalized Version of These Same Events, Exists

These events are hinted in the novel The Garies and Their Friends, written by Frank Webb in 1854. Frank Webb grew up in The Black Metropolis, and he and his friends and family experienced the mob attacks first hand.  Mary Maillard suggests that the book is more historical fiction  (based on actual events) than a purely fictional novel.

In the  Garies and Their Friends,  a mob attack on this neighborhood, and the events leading up to it, is a major plot point in the book.

Similar to this real life event, the characters of The Garies go to the mayor to ask for protection the day before the events. In this excerpt Mr. Walters, a man similar in stature to James Forten, asked the mayor for assistance.

Fight at the Flying Horses Carousel

The Flying Horses carousel was located at 7th and South street, and was housed in a wooden temporary structure.

On August 11, there was a minor altercation between Black and white patrons of the Flying Horses.

Source: National Gazette and Literary Register, 14 Aug. 1834, p. 2. Readex: America's Historical Newspapers

Flying Circus Broadside courtesy Collection of Barbara Fahs Charles

DAY 1: August 12, 1834

A mob of hundreds of young white men and boys assemble at an open lot next to Pennsylvania Hospital.

They carried sticks, bats and cudgels.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Thomas Shipley (assumed) Provides Counter-Intelligence

Edward Abdy reported that a white Quaker friend of the Black community infiltrated the mob and provided intelligence about their intentions to local authorities.

Note: As Thomas Shipley played a major role in these events and was identified in William Still's Underground Railroad (see below Aug 14) , we make the assumption that this informant is also Thomas Shipley.

The Mob Marches down 7th, Attacking Black People

The mob begins to march down 7th street on the way to the Flying Horses, and begins to indiscriminately attack Black people on the street.

The Mob Tears Down the Flying Horses

The mob destroys the Flying Horses Carousel and Building.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

The Mob Attacks the Home of a Black Family

South Street was the border between what was then called 'City' - North of South Street, and 'Moyamensing' - South of South Street.

The mob strategically did not attack homes north of South Street, so that they would not be caught by City police, who were unsympathetic to them. There is indication that the magistrates of Moyamensing were sympathetic to the mob. (See  Brothers, 198 )

This was the first in 40 homes that were wrecked over the course of three days.

Source: National Gazette and Literary Register, 14 Aug. 1834, p. 2. Readex: America's Historical Newspapers

White Homes Were Spared

White people knew to place candles in their windows to indicate to the mob that their home was occupied by white people.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Bedford Street Attack

On Bedford street (now Kater street), the mob proceeds to break windows and doors, to enter into homes, pull people out of their beds, destroy furniture, destroy china, beat up residents, and steal valuable goods.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

The Black Community Begins to Defend Itself

A battle occurs on South street between 400-500 people. Black men begin to fight the mob.

The police arrived and the mob was dispersed.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

DAY 2: August 13, 1834

At 11 pm, the mob assembled at 7th and Shippen (Bainbridge).

This attack was planned to occur at night, after authorities had disbursed, and when most people were sleeping.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

First African Presbyterian Church is Attacked

The mob attacks First African Presbyterian Church, destroying all the windows, and damaging the building.

Source: National Gazette and Literary Register, 14 Aug. 1834, p. 2. Readex: America's Historical Newspapers

Small Street Residents Defend Their Homes

Some Small Street (Kater street) residents decided to stay on and defend their homes.

Source:National Gazette and Literary Register, 15 Aug. 1834, p. 2. Readex: America's Historical Newspapers 

A Similar Scene in The Garies and Their Friends

In The Garies and Their Friends, a fictionalized historical rendition of events in this time period written in 1857, a house is barricaded and the inhabitants defend the house from the mob.

In this scene, Esther pours hot coals onto the mob below.

Garies author Frank Webb may have drawn from real life scenes such as the one on Small street.

The Homes of Mr. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Moore are Attacked. "They left him but one chair and a stove."

Near 5th street, 3 Small Street belonging to Mr. Fitzgerald and 5 Small Street belonging to Mrs. Moore had windows and furniture destroyed and property stolen.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Woman Escapes in Night Clothes with Two Children and Seeks Refuge in a School

A woman escapes her home with two children, one of whom was badly injured and bleeding. Having risen from her sleep, she was still in her bedcloths and she burst into a local night school and demanded refuge.

Source:National Gazette and Literary Register, 15 Aug. 1834, p. 2. Readex: America's Historical Newspapers 

Woman in Mourning 'treated barbarously' in her Home, After Dead Baby Thrown on the Floor

A woman was in her home. Evidently she had recently experienced deaths in the family because there was a dead man in a coffin, and a dead baby on the bed.

The man was thrown from the coffin, the baby thrown on the floor, and the woman 'treated barbarously'.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Elderly Woman Hides in a Closet and Recognizes One of Her Attackers

An elderly woman hid in a closet of her house while she watched the mob destroy everything she owned. She recognized a man she washed for and reported him to authorities.

290, 291 and 292 7th Street Damaged

Multiple homes owned by Black people (recall that white people placed a white candle in the window to signal to the mob not to attack) are attacked.

Furniture and china are destroyed, beds ripped apart and thrown into the streets.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Charles Akers Home Attacked

All the windows and furniture of Charles Akers' three story brick house were destroyed.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Levin Drake's Shoemaker's Shop Damaged

209 Shippen, a two story building had windows and furniture destroyed.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Mr. Butler's Three Story Brick House Damaged

This home was owned and occupied by Mr. Butler, Mr. Green and two other familes.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

217 Shippen, Home of Master Chimney Sweeper John Nicholson, 'treated with uncommon severity'

Here the mob was particularly destructive.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Windows of 7 Homes on Warner's Court Completely Demolished

These were substantial 3 story brick homes that were attacked.

The House and Belongings of an Elderly Man who had been Enslaved by George Washington, Destroyed

Daniel Williamson, age 95, watched helplessly as his 2 story house was destroyed.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Stephen James, Beat Almost To Death, While His Family Watches. Dies A Week Later.

50 year old Stephen James, who had limited mobility due to a prior injury, was beaten by the mob.

His wife and two children hid close by. His wife put the children under a wash basin and instructed them to stay quiet and not move, which they did, while their father was beaten.

Stephen James was admitted to the Pennsylvania Hospital on August 14, 1834, where he later died on August 24, 1834.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Source: Pennsylvania Hospital Admittance Records, 1834.

The Homes of Samuel Combigbee and Miles White are Attacked.

More destruction ensued as the mob moved down Baker's Court.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

Mr. Moor's House Completely Ravaged "as if to make kindling for wood."

Everything in the Moor house was destroyed.

Source: Source:  Connecticut Courant (1791-1837) ; Hartford, Conn. [Hartford, Conn]. 25 Aug 1834: 2.

12 Homes on Fitzwater Court Attacked

12 homes on Fitzwater Court were attacked, windows destroyed, furniture turned into small pieces.

Man Dies Swimming Across the River

Fearing for their lives, a man and his wife, decide to swim with their infant across the Schuylkill river to seek refuge outside of the City. However, the man died swimming across.

Emergency Shelters Set Up in Camden

Hundreds of people fled to Camden and an emergency triage was set up there.

Black Residents flee to The Alms House, or Sleep in the Woods

Edward Abdy describes how Black people fled for their lives in fear. Some people lived in woods and fields surrounding the city for weeks after the attack. Others sought refuge in the Alms House though they were initially refused by the mayor. An unidentified "doctor" appealed to the mayor and the mayor let them in.

DAY 3 - August 14, 1834

The next morning, the mob arrived at a Black Methodist Church in Southwark armed with ropes to tear it down.

Source:  Hazard's Register . Vol. I-XVI. January, 1828-December, 1835. v.14 (1834)

On Vernon Street, 9 Homes were Attacked

After the church was torn down, the mob moved to Vernon Street. The furniture and windows of nine homes were destroyed.

August 15, 1834

DAY 4

The final day of mob attacks concluded with the mob amassing outside of Benezet Hall, with the intention to destroy it.

Benezet Hall was an important meeting place for the Black Community for almost 100 years. Over it's history it served as a Prince Hall lodge, the meeting place for beneficial societies, a founding location for literary groups like the Banneker Institute, and a first meeting place for churches.

With it's stature as the location of the 1833 Colored Convention, Benezet Hall was a symbol of Abolitionist organizing as well.

Prince Hall Hiram Lodge Prepares for Battle

By this point, the Black community had endured 3 days of continued destruction. The mob who had also sent three police to the hospital, were decidedly after Benezet Hall. And this even in the presence of a full blown activation of the Posse Comitatus, which was something like a National Guard response.

And Benezet Hall was just north of South street, clearly in the 'City'.

Hiram Lodge members decided to protect Benezet Hall at all costs.

About 100 lodge members armed themselves with guns. A tense standoff ensued on the street outside the hall. There was no trust for the municipal authorities or the police at this juncture.

Trusted white abolitionist Thomas Shipley acted as mediator between the lodge, the mob and the authorities. Because of the regard the Black community held for Shipley, the lodge agreed to stand down as long as Benezet Hall was protected.

Benezet Hall continued to house important Black community gatherings till the end of the 19th century.

Source: William Still,  The Underground Railroad 

Rights and Reproductions

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Credit 1838 Black Metropolis 501c3, Michiko Quinones, Morgan Lloyd

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright 1838 Black Metropolis Inc