Yesterday's Architect · 1777–1854
Frank McWorter
Born enslaved in South Carolina, he mined and processed saltpeter in Kentucky and used the proceeds, and later land sales, to buy sixteen family members including himself out of slavery. In 1836 he platted New Philadelphia, Illinois, the first town platted and registered by an African American.
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- Biddy Mason
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- Jeremiah G. Hamilton
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- Mont Howell
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- Sally Seymour
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People
- worked for · 1795George McWhorterenslaved by him; built and managed his Kentucky holdingsBEJ profile
- wife; he bought her freedom for $800 while she was pregnant · 1817Lucy McWorterBEJ profile
- eldest son; freedom bought by trading the saltpeter operation · 1829Frank McWorter Jr.BEJ profile
- documented by · 1983Juliet E. K. WalkerFree Frank: A Black Pioneer on the Antebellum FrontierBEJ profile
- child, born freeCommodore (child of Frank McWorter)BEJ profile
- motherJuda (mother of Frank McWorter)BEJ profile
- child, born freeLucy Ann (child of Frank McWorter)BEJ profile
- sonSolomon McWorterBEJ profile
- son, born freeSquire (son of Frank McWorter)BEJ profile
Institutions and enterprises
- ledMcWorter saltpeter worksmined cave niter and made saltpeter; traded it away in 1829BEJ profile
Places
- born in · 1777Union County, South CarolinaBEJ profile
- worked in · 1795Pulaski County, Kentuckyfarm manager, saltpeter maker, then landholder and farmerBEJ profile
- worked in · 1831Pike County, Illinoisfarmed in Hadley Township after moving from KentuckyBEJ profile
- held property in · 1835Pike County, Illinois80 acres of Military Tract land bought from the US for $100BEJ profile
- founded · 1836New Philadelphia, Illinoisplatted 42 acres, 20 blocks, 144 lots; first town registered by an African AmericanBEJ profile
- held property inPulaski County, Kentucky517 acres at his peakBEJ profile · cites National Archives; The Cultural Landscape Foundation
Events
- lived through · 1812War of 1812war drove saltpeter from $0.17 to $1.00 a poundBEJ profile · cites National Archives
- lived through · 1837Illinois act granting Frank McWorter's surname (1837)petitioned for the surname McWorter; the act passedBEJ profile
- lived throughIllinois Black Codesbought Illinois land before moving to avoid the $1,000 bondBEJ profile
Themes
- Financing freedomspent about $14,000 buying 16 family members, including himself, out of slaveryBEJ profile · cites National Park Service; National Archives
- Manufacturingsaltpeter productionBEJ profile
- Real estate and landplatted and sold town lotsBEJ profile
Only relationships stated in a BEJ profile or a cited record are shown, each with its source.