Beautiful! Missouri's Emancipation Week was formerly celebrated during August, in many cities and towns outside of, other than, St. Louis and Kansas City, curiously. August 31, 1861, was when Gen. John C. Fremont, Commander of the Department of the West, issued his Field Order manumitting Missouri's slaves due to military necessity. Lincoln later, on September 11, 1861, annulled that order, pursuant to which a number of Missouri slaves were freed. Now, the Missouri legislature, ignoring its own January 1, 1865, state emancipation of the slaves, has enacted legislation recognizing JUNETEENTH, a Texas holiday, as Emancipation Day! Confusing? Yes. Distressing? Yes. Embarrassing? Yes. Ridiculous!
Founder of 'Emancipation Day' in Talbot County, Maryland
Nathaniel Hopkins (pictured with his wife Caroline and two of their six children) was born a slave in Trappe, Maryland around 1831. He was affectionately known throughout Talbot County as "Uncle Nace." After serving the Union army in the Civil War, Hopkins returned to Talbot County to work for the betterment of the newly-free black population in the southern area of the county, including the establishment and construction of Trappe’s first black school in 1878. In 1867, he founded Emancipation Day in Talbot County, to celebrate Maryland's emancipation of its slaves, which occurred on November 1, 1864 with the adoption of the new state constitution. This momentous event marked Maryland as the first slave state to voluntarily free its slaves by popular vote (Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had only freed slaves in states of rebellion, of which Maryland was not one).
Trappe's Emancipation Day festivities included church services, speakers, food, music, and a parade. Every year, Hopkins himself led the parade, dressed in his full Union army uniform, with his epaulets adorning his shoulders, a colorful sash around his waist, and his gleaming sword in hand. Upon his death in 1900, the citizens of Trappe decided to continue the tradition of the Emancipation Day festivities. "Uncle Nace" and his contributions to the post-emancipation African-American community are remembered to this day every October on what is now known as "Nace Hopkins Day."
Trappe Town History — with Rose Cannon.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
MARYLAND'S EMANCIPATION DAY AND MISSOURI'S
Beautiful! Missouri's Emancipation Week was formerly celebrated during August, in many cities and towns outside of, other than, St. Louis and Kansas City, curiously. August 31, 1861, was when Gen. John C. Fremont, Commander of the Department of the West, issued his Field Order manumitting Missouri's slaves due to military necessity. Lincoln later, on September 11, 1861, annulled that order, pursuant to which a number of Missouri slaves were freed. Now, the Missouri legislature, ignoring its own January 1, 1865, state emancipation of the slaves, has enacted legislation recognizing JUNETEENTH, a Texas holiday, as Emancipation Day! Confusing? Yes. Distressing? Yes. Embarrassing? Yes. Ridiculous!
Founder of 'Emancipation Day' in Talbot County, Maryland
Nathaniel Hopkins (pictured with his wife Caroline and two of their six children) was born a slave in Trappe, Maryland around 1831. He was affectionately known throughout Talbot County as "Uncle Nace." After serving the Union army in the Civil War, Hopkins returned to Talbot County to work for the betterment of the newly-free black population in the southern area of the county, including the establishment and construction of Trappe’s first black school in 1878. In 1867, he founded Emancipation Day in Talbot County, to celebrate Maryland's emancipation of its slaves, which occurred on November 1, 1864 with the adoption of the new state constitution. This momentous event marked Maryland as the first slave state to voluntarily free its slaves by popular vote (Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 had only freed slaves in states of rebellion, of which Maryland was not one).
Trappe's Emancipation Day festivities included church services, speakers, food, music, and a parade. Every year, Hopkins himself led the parade, dressed in his full Union army uniform, with his epaulets adorning his shoulders, a colorful sash around his waist, and his gleaming sword in hand. Upon his death in 1900, the citizens of Trappe decided to continue the tradition of the Emancipation Day festivities. "Uncle Nace" and his contributions to the post-emancipation African-American community are remembered to this day every October on what is now known as "Nace Hopkins Day."
Trappe Town History — with Rose Cannon.