Kidnapped
In the early hours of July 24, 1845, five men left their horses at Myers' Tavern, got into a wagon, and proceeded north to Bear Mountain. There they entered the cabin where Kitty Payne and her children slept, forced them into the wagon at gunpoint, and fled.
Born a slave in Virginia in 1816, Kitty Payne was freed by owner Mary Maddox in 1843. Mrs. Maddox settled Kitty's family in Adams County and filed manumission papers in the local court. Mrs. Maddox later deeded her property to a nephew, Samuel. But, as residuary heir, he had used his aunt's slaves for collateral for his debts. He hired kidnapper Thomas Finnegan and his gang to help him return Kitty's family to slavery in Virginia.
After almost a year in "protective custody" in jail, while the case wound its way through court, Kitty and her family were finally freed with the help of the Menallen Friends (local Quakers)---notably Cyrus Griest, who paid for her attorney---and neighbors who testified on her behalf.
Thomas Finnegan, later found guilty of assault, battery, and kidnapping, was sentenced to five years at hard labor; he served less than two. Samuel Maddox received no punishment. Although Kitty later sued him for assault, battery, and kidnapping, she was never compensated.
Kitty Payne died in 1850 at age 34. She is buried in Gettysburg's Lincoln Cemetery.
Marker is on South Main Street, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
