It is always interesting to me the individual stories that are part of larger historical events. I love learning about the fascinating twists of life that brings diverse people to one historical moment that will remembered forever. Such are the links of several Athol residents to John Brown and the Harper’s Ferry Raid.
First, a refresher: John Brown, an ardent abolitionist, led his raid on the Harpers Ferry Federal Arsenal on Oct. 16, 1859. The raid continued until Oct. 18, when the arsenal building was stormed by Marine troops as well as the Maryland Militia. Ten of Brown’s men were killed, including two of his sons and five men, including John Brown, were captured. Eventually, he was tried and hung on Dec. 2, 1859.
Even before his raid on Harper’s Ferry, John Brown’s links to Athol residents began. Rev. John Newton Mars, a Free African Methodist Preacher who lived in Athol for years, was a preacher for the AME Zion Church, now the Sanders Street Church, in Springfield, beginning in 1849. In the 1840s, John Brown was a member of the same church, leaving Springfield in 1849 as well. Mars was deeply involved in the abolition movement including helping to form the League of Gileadites, a group formed in the wake of the fugitive slave law of 1850, to protect residents from slave catchers. When Brown read of this group forming, he went back to Springfield to assist the group and possibly met with Mars.
Then there was Lysander Spooner. Yes, the same Lysander Spooner I have written about earlier, who protested against the Post Office raising the cost of stamps by opening his own private competing postal service. In 1858, Spooner had also written an anonymous tract entitled, “A Plan for the Abolition of Slavery,” which in part promoted guerilla warfare by Southern slaves and non-slave-holding white residents. It was withdrawn at the request of Brown, who felt it might alert people to his upcoming planned raid. Spooner was also involved in an abortive attempt to free John Brown once he was captured.
George Henry Hoyt, the son of George Hoyt, a wellknown doctor in town and a noted abolitionist, became involved in the case of John Brown and the Harper’s Ferry Raid in his own way. When the family moved to Boston, the younger Hoyt served in a law office and soon became a lawyer himself. After the raid, the younger Hoyt volunteered and was accepted as a lawyer to defend John Brown.
According to Caswell’s History of Athol, “Hoyt had come from Boston traveling night and day to volunteer his services in defense of Brown.” Hoyt soon arrived in Charlestown, Va. Soon after his arrival, the Southern Counsel appointed to defend Brown withdrew, leaving Hoyt alone to defend him, according to the history, until two other lawyers, Messrs. Chilton and Griswold arrived to assist. A letter written by John Brown, while he was imprisoned, to George Henry Hoyt can be seen in Caswell’s history as well.
However, his defense of Brown was not the only reason for him to go to Virginia, according to a book titled “The Good Hater,” by Bill Hoyt (no relation). Hoyt was also sent to Charleston to assess the possibility of an attempt for the escape of John Brown. When Hoyt alerted Brown to the possible escape, though, he was not interested in participating. However, according to Hoyt’s book, the Kansas State Historical Society, as part of their Hinton Collection, does include an original 3-by-5-inch map of the jail that Hoyt drew, which included the location of Brown and his fellow prisoners, the position and height of the jail’s walls and where the jailer’s home was located.
So, once again, like with all historical events, John Brown and his raid is ultimately the story of individuals whose lives came together in what would soon become a memorable historical event.