Henry Harry Daugherty (1804-1864)
Former slave; Early settler in Madison County; Farmer in Pin Oak
Township
(Contributor: Donna Williams Whitfield (2nd great-granddaughter;
Levi Daugherty, great-grandfather; Harry R. Daugherty, grandfather;
Alice Daugherty, Grand Aunt.)
Sources: Illinois State Archives Servitude and Emancipation
database; U.S. Census 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860; U.S.
General Land Office records doc #19593; History of Madison County,
Illinois, pg. 448; last will and testament of Harry Daugherty 1864;
and family stories passed down from Daugherty family.
Henry Harry Daugherty was born in March 1804 (Findagrave.com lists
the birthdate as 1808). He was brought into Randolph County,
Illinois, from Kentucky, at the age of 5, with three other slaves –
Jacob, Vilot (mother), and Boaz (believed to be a brother), by Owen
Evans. Harry was indentured to Owen Evans for 30 years, as recorded
January 22, 1810.
The 1820 census for Owen Evans in Union County, Illinois, shows he
owned 1 slave, age 14-25. By 1830, Owen Evans had moved to Tipton
County, Tennessee, where the 1830 census again showed he owned 1
slave, age 24-35.
In 1833, at the age of 29, Harry ran away to Illinois. Owen Evans
placed a runaway slave ad in an Illinois newspaper, offering $50
reward for his return. Below is a transcription of the ad:
$50 Reward
Runaway from subscriber, living in Tipton County, Tennessee, a negro
man slave named Harry. About 21 years of age, 5 ft 11 inches high,
very stout built, with large front teeth and very wide space between
them. (Next sentence illegible) Had on when he left, a blue caselnet
coat and blue ?? pantaloons. He went away on 10 May last, and is
expected to steer to St. Clair County, Illinois, where he has a
mother there. Whoever will apprehend said slave, so that the owner
gets him again, and give information to George Evans, at
Jonesborough, Union County, Illinois, shall receive the above reward
and all lawful charges. July 13, 1833. Owen Evans.
Harry had 6 more years of his indenture to serve, but Owen Evans
listed his age in the ad as 21 years old, trying to add 5 yrs+ to
his indenture. Harry was captured in Illinois, and delivered to
George Evans in Union County. Meanwhile, Mary Cox had won a
judgement against Owen Evans for $400 in Johnson County, Illinois,
and had a judge place an injunction against Owen Evans from removing
Harry from the State.
On December 25, 1835, Harry was emancipated in Union County,
Illinois, and took the surname Dougherty (spelling later changed to
Daugherty). January 8, 1836, Harry requested recordation of his
“Certificate of Freedom” with the Union County circuit clerk. With
certificate in hand, Harry migrated to Madison County, Illinois.
Harry met Harriet Anna Vanderburg (1818-1881), daughter of Samuel
and Louvisia Harriet (Morrison) Vanderburg, and the two were married
October 3, 1837. Together they had twelve children: Joseph L. (d.
1865 Civil War), Jonathan D., Shadrack, Daniel (d. before 1860),
Naomi, Delphia, Violet Ann, Henry Ezekial, Delila, Edward, Elijah
(d. 1884) and Levi (maternal great-grandfather).
On January 1, 1840, Harry purchased 80 acres of land situated in
Township 4N – Range 7 W (Pin Oak Township), Section 22, in Madison
County, Illinois. It is there the couple lived and farmed with their
growing family.
Harry Daugherty died August 1864, and was interred in the Daugherty
Cemetery in Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois. In his will, he
left the real and personal property to his wife, Anna, during her
natural life, and upon her death the real and personal property to
be equally divided among surviving children and heirs. To settle
debts, 25 acres of the land were sold to Blair in 1866. Annie
Daugherty died February 27, 1881, intestate. Son Edward Daugherty
petitioned for letters of administration claiming $200 personal
property. There was a division of the remaining tracts of land to
surviving children.
Present Day – A 27-acre tract of land (1/3 or original 80 acres)
remains in the hands of the Daugherty family. Cousins Jermaine Rider
and Mylin Johnson inherited the farm from their grandfather, Warren
Rider, and great-grandmother Alice Daugherty. Alice is the daughter
of Levi Daugherty, youngest of the 12 Daugherty children. The
Belleville News-Democrat published an article “Slave’s Descendants
preserve ties to freedom,” Sunday, April 9, 2006, pages 1 and 7.
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