Susan Richardson

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. Early life Susan “Sukey” Richardson, was born Susan Neil on June 6, 1810, in Virginia. She was enslaved by Andrew Borders after he received her from a dowry from his marriage to Martha Borders. The Borders’ moved from Georgia to Randolph County, Illinois on January 1, 1816, almost moving their four slaves, including Richardson. Illinois required all indentured servants to be registered, although it was considered a “free” territory. On January 10, 1817,  at the age of five, Susan was officially indentured to Borders. At the time of her escape, Richardson was about 31 years old and brought her three sons with her: Jarrot, about 12 years old, Anderson, almost 4, and Harrison, about 2. Another source claimed that her oldest child was 17 years old. Given descriptions of Jarrot, it is likely that Borders fathered Jarrot, most likely without Richardson's consent. It is reported that Borders threatening her sons prompted Richardson to run away along with 19/20 year-old Hannah, daughter of Sarah Morrison, a previous runaway slave of Borders. Friends of Rational Liberty v. Borders Friends of Rational Liberty v. Borders was a court case largely over the legality of slavery in Illinois, and took place in April 1842. The court case originated after Andrew Borders badly wounded Sarah Morrison's arm, an indentured servant he had acquired in 1825. The next night, Morrison escaped and went to the neighboring house of Matthew Chambers, and then later fled as to not be found by the Borders. Morrison had left behind her daughter Hannah in the care of Richardson. Borders sued Chambers for harboring Morrison, and a case was heard in April 1843. Borders won, but the case was appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, where in December 1843 the decision was reversed. Borders blamed the neighborhood for stealing and secreting his property. Some of these people came together to form an assembly called the “Friends of Rational Liberty,” which entered suit in Morrison's name to try the Borders for assault, resulting in the 1843 case Sarah v. Borders, or Borders v.