In a series of letters between Robert White and his Philadelphia supplier, John Mitchell, we learn something about White’s family, the names of the waggoners who hauled his goods from Philadelphia to Carlisle, the kinds of food and liquors he ordered, and the way business was conducted.
Pennsylvania has produced few true folk heroes, but one of the best known has a close association with Cumberland County. David Lewis, better known as Lewis the Robber, is the subject of an extensive legend to which have accrued numerous deeds and attributes of other outlaw folk heroes.
"'Black Jack’ was a famous cook,” wrote Jeremiah Zeamer, editor of the American Volunteer newspaper. “He had a great reputation as a cook and caterer. Whenever in that part of the county there was a wedding, a dance, or a party of any kind for which a feast was to be prepared, ‘Black Jack’ was sent for to superintend the cooking and set the table, and so well did he do this that he was always in high favor with people who had appetites.”
Joseph Wilkinson served in the 41st United States Colored Troops with Company D from September 21, 1864 to September 30, 1865. He was born in Philadephia County, Pennsylvania on May 10, 1841 to Pennsylvania-born parents, David Wilkinson and Keziah Wilkinson.1 His census records and military records suggest that he stayed in the Philadelphia County area for most of his life until his discharge period.
William Petrikin immigrated to America from Scotland and settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania sometime in 1785. He arrived in the midst of a period of intense political activity when, after the victory for independence, citizens across the newly formed republic turned their attention to the formation of their government. "An ardent love of liberty was the cause of his emigration" and he wasted little time in immersing himself in the politics of his new community, state and nation.
Toward twilight on the day after Christmas, 1787, Major James A. Wilson and a group of Carlisle's leading Federalist citizens were preparing to celebrate Pennsylvania's recent ratification of the new federal Constitution. After hauling a cannon into the center of town, the revelers gathered round in anticipation of the artillery salute that was to open the festivities.
James Williams was born in Virginia in 1843. While little records of Williams life prior to 1860 exisit, he did enlist in the 5th Calvary Regiment of the United States Colored Troops in 1864. After the war, Williams moved to Carlisle, where he met and married Jane Lane. They had no children, and Lane died sometime before 1915. Williams died on March 27th, 1915 from valvular heart disease, and is buried in Union Cemetery in Carlisle.
John Williams was born sometime around 1842 in Virginia. At some point before the 1860's, he moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania, enlisting in Company C of the USTC's 41st Regiment as a private. After the end of the war in 1865, Williams returned to Pennsylvania, where he married his wife, Annie and John had one daughter, Ida in 1876. John Wiliams died on September 30th, 1885, and was buried in Lincoln colored Cemetery.
Williams came to Carlisle in 1841 and opened a studio in Beetem's Hotel. The October 27, 1841 edition of the Carlisle Weekly Herald extolled his talent for representing faces on ivory and canvas and urged people to visit his studio. Painting portraits was not Williams' only talent.
Interview of Evelyn Wilson at the Black History Festival in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library Memory Bank. Wilson discusses moving to Carlisle when her husband was posted at the Carlisle Barracks and the tension her family experienced being the first Black family to move to North Pitt Street. She mentions her work experience and family. Wilson further talks about how she stayed in Carlisle because of the schools and the positive direction Carlisle is moving.