Nancy Hilborn

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 Between the years of 1840 and 1860 more than American slaves that were brought over from Africa came to Canada to seek freedom.  They suffered whipping, beatings, and being forced to obey.  Most of them escaped with out their masters knowing, however if they were caught they could be wipped, beaten or killed.  Some of the escapees would walk around 1327 km to get to freedom.  Those who helped slaves escape were known as conductors. Slaves were known as cargo and safe places to stop were called stations. ing&hl=en&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei =hHUqUaOtNLKE0QGOmYGgBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw =1366&bih=541#imgrc=aJyvCuCSoTWHMM%3A%3B3E- jzNFJAiKt6M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblackloyalist.com% 252Fcanadiandigitalcollection%252Fpics%252Fescape.jpg% 3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblackloyalist.com%252Fcanadian digitalcollection%252Fstory%252Frevolution%252Fescape.h tm%3B250%3B313

 Many slaves followed quilts to escape.  These quilts would be displayed on fences, clothesline or in windows.  These quilts held many codes known only to slaves and people who were willing to help the slaves escape. m/_AmILpRyS6fU/SSXP6Fgq1zI/AAAAAAAACWA/6grRtZYhf94/s 400/Large%2BUnderground%2BRailroad%2Bquilt%2B2.jpg&imgre furl= underground-railroad- quilt.html&h=400&w=387&sz=52&tbnid=6TKMxFaNr5ud4M:&t bnh=90&tbnw=87&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dunderground%2Brailr oad%2Bquilts%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=undergr ound+railroad+quilts&usg=__uvIASCSx59eYCs01VaPPq7DTC1Y =&docid=EsW7L- Pb8xK4IM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CHgqUdv5K6m10AHumIG4Cg&sqi =2&ved=0CDEQ9QEwAQ&dur=294 For further reading: lish/multiculturalism/blac k/under_rail.asp lish/multiculturalism/blac k/under_rail.asp

quilting.com/images/JacobsLadder.jpg&imgrefurl= quilting.com/Jacobsladderquiltblock.html&h=297&w=300&sz=26&tbnid=joHuSztsqXfz0M:&t bnh=90&tbnw=91&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djacob's%2Bladder%2Bquilt%2Bblock%26tbm%3Disch %26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=jacob's+ladder+quilt+block&usg=__zVS1yyqokVHXTocuZPSxjmwA hQA=&docid=R_1paroLZZDwDM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8HgqUYnvK- Ww0AGd24DwCA&sqi=2&ved=0CEoQ9QEwBQ&dur=923  This quilt block has alternating patterns of light and dark colours. To slaves, this would show the direction that they were to head.

A359CA359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=jnkqUYLgNYq10AHDsYG4BA&sqi=2&ved=0C CwQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=TH__EMb7G8tvXM%3A%3Bo6j- fySTRAE8RM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hartcottagequilts.com%252Fmonkeywrench.jpg%3Bhttp %253A%252F%252Fugrrquilt.hartcottagequilts.com%252Frr4.htm%3B217%3B209  The first quilt displayed.  A signal to any slaves that were going to escape that it was time for them to pack the thinks they would need. Things like tools for determining direction, food, a few coins, being alter ect.

AAAAAAAeg/U4wp9oEbg3I/s1600/Wagon%2BWheel%2B002.jpg&imgrefurl= world.blogspot.com/2010/11/underground-railroad-sampler- quilt.html&h=469&w=480&sz=59&tbnid=miBzz9xqGN0sWM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=92&prev=/search%3F q%3Dwagon%2Bwheel%2Bquilt%2Bblock%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=wagon+wheel+qui lt+block&usg=__ZIqgfoW9F5OoZTU6QK3tHFmi6uw=&docid=Fc6G1ZkhzS3GFM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Rn sqUfGTMPCA0AGw9oCICQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQ9QEwAw&dur=274  The second quilt to be displayed.  Wagons with hidden compartments were used quite a bit to get runaways across the boarder and into Canada.  The message of this quilt was to pack what they needed, as if they were packing a wagon. They would have to think about space, weight, and if it what they were packing was essential for survival.

m=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=O3wqUbuzM8jM0wGvvICIBA&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1366&bi h=541#imgrc=aVQpQ6zbpOFJLM%3A%3Bp5R7Iu4SopmRPM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi2.photobucke t.com%252Falbums%252Fy48%252Fesso%252Fbp9.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpenelopewaits.com %252Fpenny%252F%253Fp%253D205%3B639%3B619  Third quilt used to help prepare slaves to journey towards Canada  Slaves were told by this quilt to follow the trail of a bear’s or wild animal’s footprints  This is because animal foot prints would lead to the best path over the mountains.  Wild animal’s footprints would also show slaves which way to food and water.

A359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=LX0qUZ2HBJCp0AGxrICgBg&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQsAQ &biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=UJRtVIS5965P1M%3A%3BesEDjbdFMGr_YM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fs ocrafty.squidoo.com%252Ffiles%252F2012%252F05%252FCrossroads-Quilt-Block-Photo x298.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fsocrafty.squidoo.com%252Fsewing%252Fquilting- sewing%252Fcrossroads-quilt-block%3B300%3B298  Fourth quilt in the code  Once fugitives had made it safely across the mountains, this quilt would tell them to travel to the crossroads or a city were they would find protection.  The main crossroads were Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan.  Cleveland was known as “Hope”, and Detroit was known as “Midnight”

A359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=W34qUe3LJse- 0QHz6YDoCA&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=Sgodn9eEjZ4MjM%3A%3BYuaZ6 e_T7SH4_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F4.bp.blogspot.com%252F_YZIpJ8QeLEY%252FTM_0QkSwzLI%25 2FAAAAAAAABO0%252FY2ejETQ660c%252Fs1600%252Flog%252Bcabin%252Bsample.jpg%3Bhttp%25 3A%252F%252Fbrownowls-members.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F11%252Flog-cabin-quilt-block- adelaide.html%3B1231%3B1214  Fifth quilt in the secret code  This block could have indicated that there was once a specific log cabin in Cleveland that was a safe house for slaves, but researchers have never uncovered it.  This block could have also directed escapees to build a log cabin to weather out the winter or rest in a “free” area.  The usual center colour of the block is either red or yellow. Red, symbolizing the fire of the cabin. Yellow representing a light in the wilderness.

=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=mIEqUfWnKaLH0QHHxoCoCw&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih =541#imgrc=b48ZCG5T9PHtJM%3A%3BEvz5jF3zrH4b_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.popularpatc hwork.com%252Fsites%252F4%252Fimages%252Fmember_albums%252F982%252Fbow%252520tie% block% a.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.popularpatchwork.com%252Fforums%2 52Fpostings.asp%253Fth%253D42815%2526p%253D79%3B768%3B769  The sixth quilt to be displayed on fences.  When slave would first escape they would were clothes that would eventually become tattered and torn.  Free blacks would meet runaways in safe places like church or caves and give them fresh clothing  When this pattern is turned on its side, an hourglass is created. This symbolizes time well managed, to the Africans it also mean you are among friends.

source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=TIQqUbq2JvG- 0QGY0IHACg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=lhhY8bdzQ-87dM%3A%3BEsW7L- Pb8xK4IM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F_AmILpRyS6fU%252FSSXP6RwF7rI%252 FAAAAAAAACWI%252FMm4UMrlG9Qo%252Fs400%252FLarge%252Bquilt%252Bflying%252Bgeese%252 Bblock.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftreadlequilts.blogspot.com%252F2008%252F11%252Flarge- underground-railroad-quilt.html%3B400%3B300  The seventh quilt in the code.  This quilt told slaves to learn form the geese. Take direction, timing, and behaviour from the geese.  Since geese fly north in the spring and that is the time that most slaves ran away, the runaways could just follow the geese north.  This block could also act as a compass for the slaves.

A359CA359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=emsqUYWHI4iB0QHMqIDAAQ&ved=0CDEQsA Q&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=PI15EZJcPj3o_M%3A%3BandSPk1Q_imKMM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F menfolk.com%252Fquilt_pattern_history%252Ftemperance_blocks.htm%3B150%3B149  The eighth quilt in to be displayed.  This quilt showed slaves that they were suppose to move in a staggering fashion to get rid of any of the following slave hunters. It also told them to double back occasionally to confuse the slave hunters.

A359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=NogqUaqlHs7y0wHi7YC4Cw&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw= 1366&bih=541#imgrc=bomilFt0VoDA6M%3A%3BScRWF- KzkKpsyM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F3.bp.blogspot.com%252F- ty_BvXY91ns%252FTsqPwgSLAxI%252FAAAAAAAAAkk%252FE_VA9exg4VU%252Fs1600%252FNorth%2 52BStar%252B001.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Flammys- world.blogspot.com%252F2011%252F11%252Funderground-railroad-blocks.html%3B576%3B576  The ninth and final quilt in the secret code.  The North Star was the guiding light that lead more then slaves to freedom in Canada.

359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=- 4gqUbLGCYXy0QHMx4CwAQ&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=1c0RH7odX5EgXM%3A% 3BZqYvy_WtrwoSyM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffarm4.static.flickr.com%252F3473%252F _ 52bbe62247_m.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fflickrhivemind.net%252FUser%252FJAmundsen%252FI nteresting%3B236%3B240  To a slave the master carpenter in the life was Jesus. As they worked in the fields for 18 hours a day, they would sing well- known spiritual hymns. Plantation owners thought that they were singing hymns of praise but really these song had hidden messages. Slaves that ran away later would recognize this quilt and follow the Carpenter’s Wheel west- northwest.

9&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=82wqUeP8LaSp0AGo3YEI&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1366& bih=541#imgrc=l95jpoFpu33PbM%3A%3B7D42YAry99UmeM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fstatic.ddmcd n.com%252Fgif%252Fbasket-quilt-block- 1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftlc.howstuffworks.com%252Fhome%252Fbasket-quilt- block.htm%3B400%3B401  This block symbolizes the provisions that slaves would need for their long journey North.  Slaves would carry baskets full of food or what they may need to survive.

Fly+quilt+block&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_enCA359CA359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa =X&ei=VowqUa2zFMzI0AHp_4DoDQ&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=3n8UL3l1AU2za M%3A%3B7BLouTbihV62FM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%252F3479%252F _cae911d4c3.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252F %254 0N06%252F %252F%3B282%3B352  Shoo-fly represents an actual person who would have helped slaves escape  His responsiblitity was to secretly aid and hide the slave. Sometimes the slaves would hide out in churches, caves or even Graveyards..

A359CA359&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=6moqUbftLrHv0QG50oHQCw&ved=0CDoQsA Q&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=j1aJCMj7Ol71- M%3A%3Bk93JxTOSbj0GtM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Felmcreek.net%252Fimages%252Fuploads%252F gallery%252Fquilts%252FTheRunawayQuilt.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Felmcreek.net%252Fgallery% 252Fquilts%3B992%3B1280  This quilt symbolizes flight or migration.  During the underground railroad, a cleaver quilter could indicate a direction for the slaves to travel by the choice of colour or fabric and the placement of certain blocks.

59&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=TWwqUbr6M- qD0QHlhIGoCg&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=541#imgrc=h9ULGGZej7hkKM%3A%3BxEW Xs0svdhpvwM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F0.tqn.com%252Fd%252Fquilting%252F1%252F0%252FF%252 Fh%252F-%252F-%252Fboats1-var- block.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fquilting.about.com%252Fod%252Fquiltpatternsprojects%252Fig% 252FFree-Quilt-Block-Patterns%252FSailboats-at-Sea-Quilt-Block.htm%3B325%3B325  This block represents safe passage to freedom.  Black sailors and ship owners helped many slaves escape to Canada, by hiding them on board their ship and going across the Detroit River.

 Burns, Eleanor Bouchard, Sue. Underground Railroad Sampler. San Marcos: Quilt in a Day, . "Underground Railroad." Black History Canada.. TD  "Underground Railroad." Heritage Minutes Collection.. Historica Dominion Institution  "Underground Railroad Quilt Code." Citizenship and Immigration Canada Canadian Goverment ** The pictures are on my Diigo account too**