== Lucinda Belknap Nye ==
== Lucinda Belknap Nye ==
Lucinda Belknap Nye (c.1791–1888) represents an important yet frequently overlooked part of American abolitionism. Before the American Civil War her home in Zanesville, Ohio is believed to be a station on the Underground Railroad and aided in helping escaped slaves flee north to freedom. Working alongside her husband, Horace Nye, Lucinda is believed to have provided refuge and assistance to escaped slaves. Lucinda’s was a great example of her character as she was willing to risk her way of life to protect others facing hardship. The Nye house is a historical landmark to this day in Zanesville.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |last=Knazek |first=Wayne/Paulette |date=2016-07-31 |title=NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Lucinda Belknap Nye (c.1791–1888) represents an important yet frequently overlooked part of American abolitionism. Before the American Civil War her home in Zanesville, Ohio is believed to be a station on the Underground Railroad and aided in helping escaped slaves flee north to freedom. Working alongside her husband, Horace Nye, Lucinda is believed to have provided refuge and assistance to escaped slaves. The Nye house is a historical landmark to this day in Zanesville.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |last=Knazek |first=Wayne/Paulette |date=2016-07-31 |title=NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56ffd67a2eeb810fd91ae825/t/581368851b631bf20f10b4e6/1724854340029/FINAL+Major+Horace+and+Lucinda+Belknap++Nye+House_Ohio_Site_Round+31.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date=2016-07-31 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=nps.gov}}</ref>
NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56ffd67a2eeb810fd91ae825/t/581368851b631bf20f10b4e6/1724854340029/FINAL+Major+Horace+and+Lucinda+Belknap++Nye+House_Ohio_Site_Round+31.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date=2016-07-31 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=nps.gov}}</ref>
== Horace Nye ==
== Horace Nye ==
Horace Nye (1786-1859) worked along side his second wife Lucinda in aiding in the abolitionist movement within Zanesville, Ohio. Horace was involved in the abolition movement through his church in Putnam and was a target of pro slavery mobs within Zanesville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/siebert/id/6690/rec/1 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> In 1839 Horace would be a target of a riot between Zanesville and Putnam to attack the conductors of the Underground Railroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/siebert/id/6686/rec/1 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref>
Horace Nye (1786-1859) worked along side his second wife Lucinda in aiding in the abolitionist movement within Zanesville, Ohio. Horace was involved in the abolition movement through his church in Putnam and was a target of pro slavery mobs within Zanesville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/siebert/id/6690/rec/1 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> In 1839 Horace would be a target of a riot between Zanesville and Putnam to attack the conductors of the Underground Railroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/siebert/id/6686/rec/1 |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref>
== Early Life and Context ==
== Early Life and Context ==
==== Context in Zanesville and Putnam ====
==== Context in Zanesville and Putnam ====
Zanesville and Putnam merged into one town after the Civil War in 1872.<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |last=LeMaster |first=Lewis |title=Putnam reluctantly joined Zanesville in 1872 |url=https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2020/07/12/putnam-reluctantly-joined-zanesville-1872/3249508001/ |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Times Recorder |language=en-US}}</ref> But before the merger the two towns were deeply divided specifically on the topic of slavery with Putnam being antislavery and Zanesville being proslavery.<ref name=”:2″ /> Today the area is known as Zanesville.<ref name=”:2″ /> The divide in the area was centered around the Muskingum River. On one side of the river were predominantly settlers from New England who were against the institution of slavery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-Slavery Tensions in Muskingum County Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=94534 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref> On the other side were mostly proslavery Virginians or “tuckahoes.”<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Greyer |first=Geoffrey |date=2006-07-15 |title=Muskingum Journal |journal=[[Muskingum Journal]] |volume=Volume 13 No.1 |issue=No.1 |pages=4-5}}</ref> This created high tensions in and around Zanesville and Putnam. The Nye House on Adams Street was in a strategically valuable location near the river and was a logical, while still hidden, hiding spot for escaped slaves moving north.<ref name=”:0″ />
Zanesville and Putnam merged into one town after the Civil War in 1872.<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |last=LeMaster |first=Lewis |title=Putnam reluctantly joined Zanesville in 1872 |url=https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2020/07/12/putnam-reluctantly-joined-zanesville-1872/3249508001/ |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Times Recorder |language=en-US}}</ref> But before the merger the two towns were deeply divided specifically on the topic of slavery with Putnam being antislavery and Zanesville being proslavery.<ref name=”:2″ /> Today the area is known as Zanesville.<ref name=”:2″ /> The divide in the area was centered around the Muskingum River. side of the river predominantly settlers from New England who were against the institution of slavery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-Slavery Tensions in Muskingum County Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=94534 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref> On the other side were mostly proslavery Virginians or “tuckahoes.”<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Greyer |first=Geoffrey |date=2006-07-15 |title=Muskingum Journal |journal=[[Muskingum Journal]] |volume=Volume 13 No.1 |issue=No.1 |pages=4-5}}</ref> This created high tensions in and around Zanesville and Putnam.
The Nye House on Adams Street was in a strategically valuable location near the river and was a logical, while still hidden, hiding spot for escaped slaves moving north.<ref name=”:0″ />
Photography was still in its very early stages, so there are no known photos of either Lucinda or Horace Nye.
Photography was still in its very early stages, so there are no known photos of either Lucinda or Horace Nye.
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Lucinda Belknap Nye
[edit]
Lucinda Belknap Nye (c.1791–1888) represents an important yet frequently overlooked part of American abolitionism. Before the American Civil War her home in Zanesville, Ohio is believed to be a station on the Underground Railroad and aided in helping escaped slaves flee north to freedom. Working alongside her husband, Horace Nye, Lucinda is believed to have provided refuge and assistance to escaped slaves. The Nye house is a historical landmark to this day in Zanesville.[1] Lucindas work was done in secret to protect her and her family from potential consequences.
Horace Nye (1786-1859) worked along side his second wife Lucinda in aiding in the abolitionist movement within Zanesville, Ohio. Horace was involved in the abolition movement through his church in Putnam and was a target of pro slavery mobs within Zanesville.[2] In 1839 Horace would be a target of a riot between Zanesville and Putnam to attack the conductors of the Underground Railroad.[3] Within the Underground Railroad it is still unclear as to what Horace’s role was. This is because all of his believed involvement in the Underground Railroad was done in secret.
Early Life and Context
[edit]
Lucinda’s early life
[edit]
Lucinda Belknap was born in Newburgh, New York, in 1791 or 1792.[1]Sources conflict on Lucindas birth year. Newburgh is situated along the Hudson River, where new ideas and perspectives were frequently exchanged. Other known abolitionists came from this area as well, like Sojourner Truth.[4] Lucinda Belknap was exposed to ideas about abolition at an early age just by living in Newburgh, New York. She would move to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1819 with her family and teach in the Stone Academy before she was got married. She would marry Horace Nye October 8 1830 in Muskingum county.[5] This would place Lucinda in a deeply divided political area along a different river: the Muskingum.
Horace’s early life
[edit]
Horace Nye was born in Chesterfield, Massachusetts in Hampshire county. Horace Nye would move to Ohio in 1788 when Horace was only 2 years old.[1] Horace would later serve in the war of 1812 and earn the rank of Major.[6] After serving in the Ohio militia during the war Horace would return to Ohio and marry his first wife Fannie Safford.[1] Horace and Fannie would have five children with only one surviving infancy.[1] Fannie would die Septmeber 7 1829. Almost exactly thirteen months later on October 8 1830 Horace would marry Lucinda.[5]
Context in Zanesville and Putnam
[edit]
Zanesville and Putnam merged into one town after the Civil War in 1872.[7] But before the merger the two towns were deeply divided specifically on the topic of slavery with Putnam being antislavery and Zanesville being proslavery.[7] Today the area is known as Zanesville.[7] The divide in the area was centered around the Muskingum River. One side of the river was predominantly made of settlers from New England who were against the institution of slavery.[8] On the other side were mostly proslavery Virginians or “tuckahoes.”[9] This created high tensions in and around Zanesville and Putnam.
The Nye House on Adams Street was in a strategically valuable location for escaped slaves fleeing north. The house was near the river and was a logical, while still hidden, hiding spot for escaped slaves moving north.[1]
Photography was still in its very early stages, so there are no known photos of either Lucinda or Horace Nye.
While there is no explicit mention of Lucinda’s role in the Underground Railroad or around the house experts believe that her role around the house, Lucinda Nye was most likely similar to other women working in the Underground Railroad.[1] As the manager of the household she was likely responsible for the safety of her guests and had to ensure food was on the table. On top of all of these responsibilities Lucinda also had to work to make sure the escaped slaves stayed hidden. As ever since the Fugitive slave act had been passed not only was it illegal to help these slaves, but northerners were also legally obligated to aid in the return of these slaves to their owners.[10] However since her work within the underground railroad was very secretive there are no records recording their work other then their children claiming their parents involvement.[1] Most of the movements of escaped slaves in and out of the house were done at night in an effort to go unnoticed.[11]
Legacy and Historical View
[edit]
While Lucinda Belknap Nye never received any national recognition, she is mentioned on plaques and known around Zanesville. She is remembered for her work towards abolition, specifically her and her husband’s work within the Presbyterian church in Zanesville.[12] More recently, experts have analyzed primary accounts and have come to learn that Lucinda’s impact was greater than previously thought. For example, it was found that Lucinda Nye was the president of the Muskingum County Female Anti Slavery Society, containing 50 members[13]. A very public position and potential risk due to stiff opposition across the river. Finds like these help contribute to Nye’s legacy and help to gain a greater understanding of underground railroad members like herself.
The Nye House was built in 1830, the Nye family home is a five-bay brick structure. The house served as both a family residence and was a hub of organized abolitionist activity.[1] In addition to Lucinda Nye being a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement Major Nye was a prominent public figure in the movement, participating in Ohio Anti-Slavery Society conventions held at Zanesville’s Stone Academy, even presiding over the 1839 event. The Nye house is now recognized as part of the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom.[1]
Their home provided sanctuary for escaped slaves traveling through central Ohio. The Nyes’ involvement was later confirmed by their children, who shared accounts of their father’s Underground Railroad activities.[1] The historical significance of the property is formally recognized; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Zanesville’s Muskingum Historic District for the role its residents played in the abolitionist movement and the sheltering of escaped slaves. The house remains a private residence today, but is still a symbol of the family’s efforts to help escaped slaves.
