Notable people · Abolitionist
John Anthony Copeland Jr.
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Copeland's family moved to Oberlin in 1843. He studied in Oberlin's preparatory division and was a leader of the 1858 Oberlin-Wellington Rescue. He was hanged at Charles Town, Virginia, after John Brown's raid.
At a glance
- Born
- 1834-08-15
- Died
- 1859-12-16
- Education
- Oberlin College preparatory department, Oberlin, OH
- Known as
- Abolitionist
- Organizations
- Oberlin College
Life story
John Copeland was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1834 to free parents, one of eight children. In 1843 the family moved to Oberlin, Ohio, to escape persecution.
His father was a carpenter and Methodist preacher, and John learned carpentry. He attended the Oberlin College preparatory department and was known for his clear writing.
In September 1858 he joined in the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue of John Price, a freedom seeker, with his uncles. He was indicted but stayed free.
His uncle Lewis Sheridan Leary recruited him for John Brown's raid in 1859. Captured, he was convicted and hanged at Charles Town on December 16, 1859. Medical students took his body. A cenotaph stands in Oberlin.
Timeline
- 1834-08-15: Born (Raleigh, NC) source
- 1843: Family moves to Oberlin (Oberlin, OH) source
- 1858-09: Oberlin-Wellington Rescue (Wellington, OH) source
- 1859-09: Recruited for Brown's raid by Lewis Sheridan Leary (Oberlin, OH) source
- 1859-10-16: Harpers Ferry raid; captured (Harpers Ferry, VA) source
- 1859-12-16: Hanged (Charles Town, VA) source
- 1865: Cenotaph erected in Westwood Cemetery (moved 1977) (Oberlin, OH) source
What John is known for
- Leader in the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue 1858
- Took part in Harpers Ferry raid 1859
Honors and things named for them
- Cenotaph with Shields Green and Lewis Leary, Oberlin
Family
- father: John Copeland Sr.
- mother: Delilah Evans
- uncle: Lewis Sheridan Leary
Places in Ohio to see
- Martin Luther King Jr. Park (cenotaph) (marker)
17 E Vine St, Oberlin, Lorain County ZIP 44074 · Oberlin · Lorain County · official page
Ohio places
Where John Anthony Copeland Jr. was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Lived: Oberlin, Lorain County ZIP 44074 · Oberlin · Lorain County
- School: Oberlin, Lorain County (Oberlin College preparatory department) ZIP 44074 · Oberlin · Lorain County
Myths and corrections
- Disputed: Wikipedia gives his birth year as 1834, while a BlackPast entry gives 1836.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Wikipedia: John Anthony Copeland Jr. dates, Oberlin 1843, rescue, raid, 1865 cenotaph
- Wikipedia: Oberlin-Wellington Rescue rescue and participants