Macedonia/Old Jackson Road - A Underground Railroad Trail (3rd in series of 4)

Near this site on the north bank of the Ohio River a ferry landing was once located. Between 1818 and 1852 Burlington was the county seat of Lawrence County, OH and an important riverboat landing. Lawrence County was also directly across the Ohio River from the slave states of Virginia and Kentucky, and it did see runaway slaves cross the river to the "free" state of Ohio.

Stories about the underground railroad want the reader to believe it was white organized and supported, but this was not always true. Since Lawrence County was one of the closest access points from Virginia and it sat at the western end of the James River Turnpike, some Virginia masters who wanted to manumit their property chose to send their former slaves to Lawrence County, Ohio. Life for freed Blacks was very dangerous along the river. Slave catchers roamed about looking for escaped slaves and were not afraid to take any Black back to Virginia or Kentucky.

Freed slaves often received money or land from their old masters and had life a little easier than others, but the Blacks of Lawrence County decided to make a difference in their community. While many moved away from the river, some, ignoring the fate of being re-enslaved, decided to remain near the Ohio River and help runaways escape. They were property owners and accepted into the community as long as they followed the "Black rules". The Black residents of Burlington and Lawrence County made ever effort to be accepted and recognized as members of the community so when runaways appeared isolated neighbors would not raise an alarm. It was a dangerous game they played.

The first part of the Macedonia/Old Jackson Road Trail centered around the Macedonia Church located out on Macedonia Hill north of Burlington. The church was far enough from the river to allow warning of slave catchers and the surrounding forest with numerous cliffs and overhangs offered quick hiding places. Since there was a know Black community, slave catchers might not notice a runaway with a change of clothes from a distance.

Macedonia Church was "organized" as early as 1813, with meetings in members houses. One of the every earliest families was descended from Rosanna Bryant who sold property in Lawrence County in 1818. She was probably manumitted "by location" when her owner took her across the Ohio River about 1810. This family provided several ministers for the church and owned a store on the banks of the Ohio.

The first Providence Antislavery Missionary Baptist Association organized in 1819 with just three member churches. Macedonia was located at Burlington, Big Rock maybe ten miles north of the Ohio River (not located) and Union Baptist Church on the northern edge of Lawrence County at Poke Patch, forty miles distant. The ministers of this association had missionaries who traveled many miles across the frontier. They could discover expected runaways, give directions and even assist when necessary, but they had to appear to the white population as simply ministers guiding their flock.

The easiest way to pass information was through sermons and songs. Although the law required a white person attend any Black meeting, nothing required that person to report information even if he understood. An interesting story in the Old Ironton Register was written about one of the Black men who was so happy he was always singing and whistling. That was certainly a wonderful way to pass information and only fifty years later did anyone connect him to the underground railroad.

The information about an underground railroad operated by Blacks is found in the deeds and court cases, the old newspaper articles and even folk lore about the region.

The very fact that a regional road once connected the Ohio River to Jackson County, Ohio is interesting. That road provides a trail what was forgotten after the county seat moved to Ironton. That Old Jackson Road can still be followed today although it is narrow township roads that may have blocked sections. The old road runs about forty-five miles on the west side of the Symmes Creek watershed and directly north from Burlington to within a half mile of the Union Church at Poke Patch. (see map)

150 Anniversary Booklet and Program for the Macedonia Baptist Church (1984)

Eldridge, Carrie: Freedom Lies Across the River

Federal Censuses 1820 through1900

Griffith, Alva H.: Pittsylvania County, Virginia Register of Free Negroes and Related Documents

Herald Advertiser articles

Highway Map of Lawrence County, Ohio: County Engineer: David Lynd, 1996.

Lawrence County, Ohio Deed Book 1818-1870

Lawrence Register articles and obituaries

Lawrence Tribune articles and obituaries

Pittsylvania County, Virginia Register of Free Negroes and Related Documents

"Providence Antislavery Missionary Baptist Association Minutes," Collections of the American Baptist: Samuel Colgate Historical Library

Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, NY.