Esther's child

“Esther’s Child”. n.d, WashU & Slavery, accessed February 11, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.wustl.edu/s/washu-slavery/item/60202

Description

Esther and her two children, names not yet known, attempted to escape enslavement from Henry Shaw in May 1855.

Bio

Esther and her two children, names not yet known, attempted to escape enslavement from Henry Shaw in May 1855.

Child of

Esther

Sibling of

Esther's child

Referred to in

Daily Dispatch Newspaper Account of the capture and arrest of five enslaved persons at Alton, Illinois

Glasgow Weekly Times Newspaper account of the attempted escapes of nine enslaved people, presumably pointing to Mary Meachum's attempted escape of nine enslaved people across the Mississippi River, among whom five were captured.

Newspaper account of the capture and arrest of Mary Meachum and enslaved persons attempted crossing of the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois

Enslaver

Henry Shaw

Linked resources

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Filter by resource type and property: Items: All Items: Enslaver Items: Mentioned Person

Items with "Enslaver: Esther's child"

Henry Shaw

Items with "Mentioned Person: Esther's child"

1853 tax statement (personal property tax) to the City of Saint Louis from Henry Shaw stating his ownership of 11 enslaved persons.

Daily Dispatch Newspaper Account of the capture and arrest of five enslaved persons at Alton, Illinois

Glasgow Weekly Times Newspaper account of the attempted escapes of nine enslaved people, presumably pointing to Mary Meachum's attempted escape of nine enslaved people across the Mississippi River, among whom five were captured.

“Esther’s Child”. n.d, WashU & Slavery, accessed February 11, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.wustl.edu/s/washu-slavery/item/60202