John A. Copeland Family, Wake Co.,NC > Oberlin, OH -1840's
I'm looking for descendants of the John Copeland & Delilah Evans family that came out of Wake Co.,North Carolina in the 1840's, Free People of Color.
John (1808-1894) was born in North Carolina, and according to tradition, he was a former slave who was freed by his slaveowner father when he was a young child. He married Delilah Evans, in 1831 Orange Co.,NC, and later
moved his young family to Oberlin Co., Ohio. The family became much involved with the Abolitionist movement, and were said to have been part of the Underground Railroad; their son John Anthony Copeland (1834-1859) became
known for his part in the Harpers Ferry raid when he rode with John Brown in his efforts to secure weapons to help in freeing slaves.
I would be very interested in discussing with family members the possibility of a connection to the free COPELAND families of Halifax County, North
Carolina due to a recent photo that has surfaced, which reveals a strong family resemblance between the two families.
Deloris Williams