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About Affadilla Moody
"Affadilla Deaver was a conductor on the Underground Railroad in Morgan County, Ohio.
Deaver, whose maiden name was Moody, was born in Lisbon, Maine on February 24, 1808 (also reported as February 22, 1808). In 1817, Deaver's parents, Nathan and Lyda Moody, relocated their family to Morgan County. In August 1828, Affadilla Moody married Reuben Deaver.
The Deavers became active in the Underground Railroad during the late 1820s and the early 1830s. The young couple settled in Deavertown in Morgan County. They opened their home to fugitive slaves, who sought their freedom in either the North or in Canada. On one occasion, as Affadilla Deaver was transporting several slaves from Deavertown to a safe house in Roseville, Ohio, the wagon that Deaver was using became stuck in the mud. Deaver had concealed the runaway slaves under hay and produce in the back of the wagon. Deaver enlisted the aid of four men. The men were known for their pro-slavery sentiments. The men assisted Deaver in freeing the wagon, never realizing that she had the fugitives concealed in the back of the vehicle.
Deaver died on March 11, 1876 in York Township, Ohio."
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Affadilla_Deaver
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Affadilla and her Underground Railroad conductor neighbor Thomas L. Gray are not yet honored by the "Network to Freedom" project of the National Park Service. I'm slowly working on it.
In 1842, while escaping slavery, Frederick Douglass came through Deavertown and was transported to Putnam, Ohio, which at the time was across the Muskingum River from Zanesville, by Thomas L. Gray and four other conductors, almost certainly including Affadilla. Here is the transcript of Thomas Gray's recollections published in the Corning, Ohio newspaper in 1883( https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/siebert/id/5951 ):
Thomas L. Gray's House, one of Refuge.
[Ohio, Morgan County]
Ohio, Deavertown,
Thomas L. Gray]
Then & Now.
Corning Times.
I regret very much that I was not at the Corning meeting, held by Judge Nash of Columbus. I certainly would have enjoyed the meeting with my friends. When the Judge asked whether there were any present that assisted in bearing off to Canada the fugitive slaves, and, if so,to rise, I wish I had been there; for I could have risen as a living witness for that grand and glorious abolition cause.
The men who were identified with the movement for the abolition of human slavery have almost all passed away, and, seemingly, forgotten. But, thanks be to God, they form some of the brightest stars of the heavenly galaxy. How dreary, how dark were those days of the fugitive slave law. For years did we work in the interest of that oppressed but pitiable race, being hunted down by the slave master, and the blood hound. Then God seemed to be behind the stars, and all was dark and gloomy. But things have changed! Human slavery is a thing of the past, the glorious old flag floats peacefully everywhere, and we are a free people.
In those dark years of slavery we stood between master and slave. My house was one of refuge. Often have I heard the midnight rap at my door, and as often responded and bid them welcome. For many long and weary years did they come, not knowing what the end would be, but always trusting in the God that finally gave them their freedom.
The fugitive slave law was very severe, indeed, and I was often afraid of being arrested and severely punished. We traveled together by night, hiding the fugitives where they would be most secure. Most of the slaves that came through here came from Virginia and Kentucky. A few, however, came from the Carolinas.
In 1842 Fred Douglass was in this town. He was then a fugitive slave, 26 years of age. I was one of five that escorted him to Putnam. When he was marshal of the D. C. I wrote him, calling his attention to those dark days. He answered me very promptly.
T. L. Gray.
Deavertown, O., Oct. 1, 1883.
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See an online portrait of her here:
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/ohiopix/search.php?cdmSearch=Women%20...
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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5954782
Six of her sons fought in the Civil War. Five came back alive.
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Affadilla Moody's Timeline
| 1808 |
February 24, 1808
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Lisbon, Lincoln, Maine, United States
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| 1829 |
August 23, 1829
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Deavertown, Morgan, OH
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| 1831 |
February 20, 1831
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Deavertown, Morgan, OH
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| 1832 |
December 11, 1832
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Deavertown, Morgan, OH
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1832
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Morgan, OH
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| 1835 |
1835
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Deavertown, Morgan, OH
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| 1837 |
June 4, 1837
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Deavertown, Morgan, Ohio, United States
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| 1839 |
January 16, 1839
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Deavertown, Morgan, OH
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| 1840 |
1840
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Deavertown, Morgan, OH
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