Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Legal opinion of James Buchanan with suggestions on what David Witmer should do to make the title of John Landis indisputable involving land given by Abraham Witmer to the Lancaster Trading Company. Mentions names of Andrew Groff and John Groff. Lancaster.
James Buchanan Papers, Penn State University Libraries,
https://libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/1458.htm
Related Item Notes
James Buchanan Family Papers
MG-96 James Buchanan Collection
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm
Photograph collections
Curatorial collections
Wheatland Mansion
Notes
May 2020 PastPerfect Conversion
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
JBMS2002.005
Other Number
JBFP Part 1, Series 2, Subseries 3, Folder 1
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
The James Buchanan Family Papers were collected by the James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland. This collection was relocated from the Wheatland mansion to the LancasterHistory archives in the Spring of 2009. Digitization of the James Buchanan Family Papers was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 201808013051, 2019-2020.
Photograph- Lancaster Post Office, North Duke Street, Lancaster. Now Lancaster City Hall. In background are the steeples of St. James Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Reformed Church and the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Photograph- Lancaster Post Office, North Duke Street, Lancaster. Now Lancaster City Hall. In background are the steeples of St. James Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Reformed Church and the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Description
Lancaster Post Office, North Duke Street, Lancaster. Now Lancaster City Hall. In background are the steeples of St. James Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Reformed Church and the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Photograph- Lancaster Post Office, North Duke Street. Now Lancaster City Hall. In background are the steeples of St. James Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Reformed Church and the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Photograph- Lancaster Post Office, North Duke Street. Now Lancaster City Hall. In background are the steeples of St. James Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Reformed Church and the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Description
Lancaster Post Office, North Duke Street. Now Lancaster City Hall. In background are the steeples of St. James Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Reformed Church and the cupola of the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Photograph- Seven unidentified men standing in front of the Lancaster County Prison on East King Street. Stamped on back: "Jacob G. Shirk, Lancaster, Pa." Written on back: "Return to - Isaac Herr Sons, Lampeter".
Photograph- Seven unidentified men standing in front of the Lancaster County Prison on East King Street. Stamped on back: "Jacob G. Shirk, Lancaster, Pa." Written on back: "Return to - Isaac Herr Sons, Lampeter".
Description
Seven unidentified men standing in front of the Lancaster County Prison on East King Street. Stamped on back: "Jacob G. Shirk, Lancaster, Pa." Written on back: "Return to - Isaac Herr Sons, Lampeter".
Garvin's Department Store and James Lenox's produce stand
Description
Garvin's Department Store with James Lenox's produce stand to the right in front of the steps to the Lancaster County Courthouse, East King Street, Lancaster.
