The Nathan and Mary (Polly) Johnson properties are a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

at 17–19 and 21 Seventh Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Originally the building consisted of two structures, one dating to the 1820s and an 1857 house joined with the older one shortly after construction. They have since been restored and now house the New Bedford Historical Society. The two properties are significant for their association with leading members of the

abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The British ...

movement in Massachusetts, and as the only surviving residence in New Bedford (out of three known) of

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became ...

. Nathan and Polly Johnson were free African-Americans who are known to have sheltered escaped slaves using the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. ...

from 1822 on. Both were also successful in local business; Nathan as a

caterer Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio. History of catering The earliest account of major services b ...

and Polly as a

confectioner Confectionery is the art of making confections, which are food items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confectionery is divided into two broad and somewhat overlapping categorie ...

Description

The Johnson properties consist of two buildings, one built as a residence, the other as a Quaker meetinghouse. The meetinghouse, at 17–19 Seventh Street, is a -story wood-frame structure, six bays wide, with a gable roof, and rests on a brick foundation. Built in 1785, it originally stood where the present brick meetinghouse stands, and was moved when the new one was built c. 1823. This building was purchased by Nathan Johnson in 1832 and converted to residential use. Its main entrance is via a pair of doors inside an enclosed porch that projects on the east side (front) of the main block. A two-story ell extends to the west (rear) of the building. The building's interior has woodwork dating to the early 19th century, including a staircase with elaborately turned newel posts. One noteworthy feature of the interior is a trapdoor in the attic, which leads to a large space between the attic and the high ceilings of the first floor. This space has long been theorized to house fugitive slaves, but no evidence has been uncovered to support the idea. The Johnson House, at 21 Seventh Street, appears to be composed of two separate structures which have been joined. The front block is a -story wood-frame structure, three bays wide, with a front-gable roof, and rests on a high brick foundation. It has some Greek Revival styling, including corner pilasters and gable returns, but its entrance porch is a later Victorian style. The entry is an eight-panel door, flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a transom. A basement entrance stands below the center bay of the house. Windows are rectangular sash on the first two levels and at the basement level, and there are a pair of round-arch Italianate windows in the attic level. This block appears to have been built in 1857, when Polly Johnson (in Nathan's absence) sought permission to move the original older house to the back of the lot. The rear ell, estimated to have been built about 1800, is a two-story structure with a steeply pitched roof. A c. 1970s shed-roof addition further extends the house to the west (rear).

History

Nathan Johnson was born a

free person of color In the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, free people of color (French: ''gens de couleur libres''; Spanish: ''gente de color libre'') were primarily people of mixed African, European, and Native American descent who were not ...

in Philadelphia, and married Mary ("Polly") Durfee of New Bedford in 1819. The couple were in the employ of Charles Waln Morgan, a prominent whaling captain, as domestic servants in the 1820s, and were soon involved in the abolitionist cause. By 1845 the Johnsons had enough success in business that they owned the lot including these two buildings and an adjacent one (then numbered 23 Seventh Street, but no longer standing) which they used as a shop. In the 1850s Johnson was one of the wealthiest African Americans in the city. He was politically active in both organizations of African Americans and those involved in the abolitionist cause. Since New Bedford was a busy port doing business with southern states, it was a regular target for fleeing slaves, and Johnson is documented to have sheltered fugitives in his properties. He most famously gave shelter to

, the escaped slave who credits Johnson with giving him the last name by which he is now widely known. Although Douglass lived only a short time at Johnson's home, it is the only one of his three residences in New Bedford to survive. The house at 21 Seventh Street is now the home of the New Bedford Historical Society, and is open for tours by appointment. The two properties were designated a

and listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2000. The properties are also contributing elements to the local County Street Historic District.

References

External links

New Bedford Historical Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Nathan And Mary (Polly), Properties Houses in Bristol County, Massachusetts National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts Houses on the Underground Railroad Frederick Douglass Pre-emancipation African-American history Greek Revival houses in Massachusetts History of Bristol County, Massachusetts Houses completed in 1829 Houses completed in 1857 Buildings and structures in New Bedford, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in New Bedford, Massachusetts Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Massachusetts Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Bristol County, Massachusetts 1829 establishments in Massachusetts *

Description

History

See also

References

External links