Susan Richardson (Underground Railroad)
Susan Richardson | |
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Susan Richardson's gravestone in Hope Cemetery, Galesburg | |
| Born | June 6, 1810 |
| Died | June 16, 1904 (aged 94) |
| Resting place | Hope Cemetery, Galesburg, Illinois 40°56′43.63″N 90°22′33.82″W / 40.9454528°N 90.3760611°W |
| Other names |
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| Known for | Escaping enslavement in Illinois via the Underground Railroad, helping to found Allen Church AME in Galesburg |
| Relatives | Susan E. Cannon Allen (great-granddaughter) |
Susan Richardson (June 6, 1810 – June 16, 1904), also known as Aunt Susan and Susan Van Allen, was an enslaved person who escaped and later helped to found Allen Chapel AME in Galesburg, a town that was a known safe haven on the Underground Railroad. Her escape prompted the 1844 Illinois Supreme Court case Borders v. Hayes. Richardson helped escaped slaves on the underground railroad while she lived in Galesburg.