Courtesy of Lancaster County Historical Society

Background of William Parker:

His physical characteristics were as follows: tall, thin, well-muscled with mulatto skin (age 29 in September 1851). He was an admired, intelligent, and member of the community and in the Lancaster Black Self-Protection Society. Parker was religious and dedicated to the eradication of slavery. Parker had been known to use violence because he felt that the black man was not protected by law and the ends justified the means. Parker had many altercations with the Gap gang, who were mainly kidnappers and were very brutal to those they caught. In one instance Parker helped save a little girl and was involved in killing two white men. In the incident, Parker was shot in the foot.

Castner Hanaway:

He was about 33 years of age at the time of the Resistance. Originally from Delaware, he moved to Maryland when he was five and left at age seven. He was a miller by trade. It is known that he had a wife. Some suspect that he went to church but there is no proof of denomination or affiliation. Physically he was an ordinary man with a balding hair line but he did have curls on the sides and the top of his head. His beard was very full and all of his hair was dark. What is known about his character is that he was shy, quiet, and got along with his neighbors not caring if they were white or black. Mr. Hanaway was suspected in aiding the slaves at Christiana because he refused to get involved with the situation. In addition to this, many slave holders have pointed out that he was the first white man at the Parker house but this is not necessarily true. It is true that he took his horse to the scene to see what the situation was. However, in the Freedman Story it is said that Elijah Lewis was the first man to review the warrant held by the Gorsuch posse. The two men must have arrived at nearly the same time because the distance they needed to travel was not very far.

Edward Gorsuch

Courtesy of Lancaster County Historical Society

Edward Gorsuch:

He was reportedly a good man that would not beat his slaves. The Gorsuch farm was in a very productive part of Maryland which allowed them to live well. Mr. Gorsuch was a Quaker who attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. Gorsuch took a middle ground when it came to slavery, which meant that he manumitted his slaves during their twenties and was often paternalistic. Edward Gorsuch was a stubborn, foolhardy, and hot-tempered man whom misjudged his slaves. He was 52 years old at the time of his death. His four slaves that fled were: Noah Buley, Nelson Ford, George Ford, and Joshua Hammond. These were the slaves that Mr. Gorsuch went to Christiana, PA to recapture but he did not come back alive.

Honor:

Honor was an important motivation why Gorsuch went to retrieve his slaves and would not leave when his life was threatened. The main reason that Mr. Gorsuch did not leave the site of the Resistance when warned was that he felt personally betrayed by his slaves. In comparison with other Southern slave holders Gorsuch did treat his slaves well and even employed them at times. However, he thought that the slaves lives were so good and the outside world so unsympathetic they could do no better. It is important to remember that at this time a majority of Maryland farmers did not own slaves any longer. Mr. Gorsuch was also one of the few major owners of slaves in Maryland at this time. When the slaves did not return he felt that he was not respected nor were his slaves grateful. After all, he did feed, cloth, house, and work with these slaves on a daily basis. In addition to this, he was a very admired figure in the Maryland area being the rich wheat farmer that he was. Having slaves run away made him look disreputable and he had a 200 hundred year family reputation to look after on that land. Furthermore, with the four warrants Mr. Gorsuch did have the law behind him which secured his confidence on the recapturing of his property.

The Posse's Coming:

Sept 9, 1851 Mr. Gorsuch attained four warrants which granted him the right to capture his four slaves. The Gorsuch party tried to arrive in four groups to draw less attention but this failed when Marshal Kline's wagon broke down and he did not make the prearranged meeting location. Much of the time between the 9^th and the 11^th of September was spent trying to get the Gorsuch party together. Two of the Marshal's officers decided that the posse's cover was blown and decided to return back to Philadelphia.

September 10, 1851 rumors were flying in Christiana and at William Parker's house they joked about a posse coming into town. However, William Parker the leader of the local Freedom Society thought that the others were kidding themselves. That night was a typical quiet night at Parker's home.

1AM on Thursday September 11, 1851: The Gorsuch party left for the Gap on foot. They met with their guide on the way. The guide was disguised with a straw hat and a bandanna. Early in the night the posse arrived near the Parker home. They stopped and rested. It is said that they had snacked on cheese and crackers before converging on the house. There has been a debate in regard to the guide. What side was he on, the Gorsuch's or the African- Americans? It seems logical that the guide was trying to earn some extra cash on the side by selling out local slaves. It must have been someone knowledgeable of the area and the local runaways. The guide was not bringing the gang there for a set up because William Parker only received insight on their arrival from a spy. In addition to this, why didn't this guide let the Parker bunch just ambush Gorsuch's party in the woods when they were totally unprepared? The reading proved that the slaves were prepared and yet were surprised that the slave posse arrived in Christiana.

The Violence:

At the same time the posse was coming to the house, Joshua Kite left the home of William Parker. He would go back to Parker's home running and screaming “kidnappers” as he met William Parker near the stairs. While Mr. kite was explaining how at least two men approached him, the Gorsuch party reached the door. The party entered Mr. Parker's home and Mr. Kite ran up stairs. William Parker stood at the base of the stairs when Marshal Kline entered. “Who are you?” asked Parker. The leader, Kline replied, “I am the United States Marshal.” Mr. Parker told him if he took another step he would break his neck. Kline would then repeat himself. Mr. Parker told him he did not care for the United States and Marshal turned to go out of the house. This is about the time Mr. Gorsuch charged up the stairs to the Parker home. It is mentioned in some reconstruction's of the event that the runaways instigated the situation after Gorsuch ascended up the stairs. The Kline's account states that one of the blacks threw an axe and pitch fork but ironically this is not mentioned in the Freedman's story.

At this point Pickney a runaway was becoming afraid and stated that fighting was useless because the Gorsuch party would take them. Kline heard them and agreed with the former slave. Parker, with anger in his voice told his friend not to be afraid, or to give up to any slave holder. He also told them they must fight to their deaths if needed. Kline heard them speaking and replied that he has taken others with talk as big as theirs. Parker Replied, “you have not taken me yet”.

Then Mr. Gorsuch told Kline that they could take them and the law was in their favor. Therefore, the Marshal and Gorsuch began to ascend the stairs when Parker threatened them. They stopped so Kline could read the warrant in hope they would give up. This did nothing but to taunt Mr. Parker more and he dared them to come up but they backed out. Mr. Parker told Mr. Gorsuch that he did not have his slaves and to examine the barn and the down stairs.

Now it is Dawn:

Mr. Gorsuch wanted the runaways and after quarreling for a while the Marshal threatened to burn them out of Parker's home. Parker challenged this idea of burning to death and called them cowards. The wife of Parker requested to blow the horn to bring help to their home. The Gorsuch party did not like them blowing the horn because they did not know what it meant. They began shooting. Parker was leaning out the window of his home arguing with Mr. Gorsuch when the Marshal took a shoot at him but missed hitting the glass above him. Parker went for a gun and aimed it at Gorsuch.

Sunrise:

The bullet just grazed Gorsuch's shoulder due to Pickney grabbing his arm. Parker and Gorsuch began to argue and another shot was fired at Parker. This is when Parker told Gorsuch that the Williams party could have killed them but has only fired twice. This is an interesting point because in the Freedmen Story this shooting incident was Parker's responsibility, so he must have taken two shots at that time. There was a break in the action probably because the runaways were buying time and hoping their friends heard the horn. During this time Parker introduced everyone but the Gorsuch slaves.

7AM

Mr. Abraham Johnson, a runaway, insulted Mr. Gorsuch and he took offense. A small debate began over abolitionists and the Bible. The runaways began singing a song about the Judgement day. Parker warned Gorsuch after this that he will die if he did not flee. Mr. Gorsuch said he would have his property or eat his breakfast in Hell. Mr. Gorsuch ran up the stairs but his son told him to descend the stairs just before he was fired upon. Marshal Kline told the slaves to surrender but the Parker party would not under any conditions. This is where Kline warned them that he was getting a hundred men from Lancaster and Parker told him to bring five hundred to take them. The local community started to come to Parker's house because they heard the horn. The number of black people that responded is controversial but fifty is a realistic number at the scene. There were a few white people and it is realistic to say that they were friends with Parker and the Gorsuch slaves.

At this point the story of the Christina Resistance becomes cloudy because the events happened fast and there was total chaos. The other posse members had just left but Mr. Gorsuch refused to leave. The catalyst for the killing was an argument between Gorsuch and Sam Thompson a slave from his farm. They were exchanging words that were not pleasant but Parker over heard little of the comments. Thompson hit Gorsuch on the head with his pistol knocking him to the ground and he was clubbed again when he rose. It is thought that Thompson shot him but a few people took shots. A few black women even sliced him across the head with a sickle. They supposedly finished him off but with all the shots fired at such a close range that is unlikely. There is controversy over whether or not Gorsuch had a gun. Gorsuch believed in honor and the law so he did not need a gun and he was unarmed by Parker in the mists of the arguments. Dickinson Gorsuch tried to rescue his father but his gun was jarred from his hand. At this point, Pickney (Brother in law to Parker) shot Dickinson with a shotgun knocking him down momentarily before Dickinson ran to a field .

Courtesy of Lancaster County Historical Society

Dickinson stayed in the field while a few people gave him water to relieve the suffering. In a different direction the mob was firing at Dr. Pearce who was running away from the area where Edward Gorsuch was now dead. There was more then one person that shot at Dr. Pearce because he had holes in his hat and shirt from other types of bullets than a shotgun would use. Unfortunately, for Pearce some of these shots did hit him in the back, wrist, and the shoulder but none were serious. Joshua Gorsuch and Dr. Pearce had met in the lane near Hanaway who had his horse with him. The horse shielded the two men giving them time to make a run for a field. Joshua fell behind and was caught by a rioter who hit him over the head with a gun but Joshua was able to escape. Joshua met Marshal Kline in the field which was fortunate because he was totally confused from the blows to the head. The two men left the area to get medical help and water.