Richard Wandell House

412 Ash (54 Ash)

Syracuse, New York

Significance

The Richard Wandell family represents local African Americans, most of whom were born in New York State, who worked at steady, service-sector jobs, who were community leaders, supporters of Rev. Jermain Loguen, and almost certainly underground railroad activists. If the existing structure incorporates the original house, this building and the Allen-Schneider house are the two oldest African American homes still standing in Syracuse.

Biography

Richard Wandell was listed in the 1830 and 1840 censuses as head of a household of free colored persons in Salina, so this family represents the earliest generation of free African Americans to settle in what became Syracuse. Francis Wandell, perhaps Richard’s brother or father, also was listed as head of a household of free colored families in 1830 and 1840.

In 1846, Richard J. Wandell heard in confidence the story of the murder of a man named Briggs, which the Onondaga Standard reported openly (December 23, 1846, Briggs murder file, OHA)

In 1847, Richard and Edward Wandell received land from Gerrit Smith in his free distribution of Adirondack land to worthy African Americans. (“Distribution of land,” 1847)

By 1850, both Richard Wandell and Edmund (perhaps the Edward of Gerrit Smith’s list) Wandell had families in Ward 2 (formerly Salina). Edmund Wandell was a carman, 27 years old, married to Matilda, aged 29, with three children, Sarah (age 6), Elizabeth (age 5), and Henry (age 1). Edmund may have been a son of either the original Francis or Richard Wandell. Edward Wandell, a cartman, listed his address as 196 Water St. in the 1851 city directory.

By 1850, the Richard Wandell family was a complicated one. Richard Wandell, a cartman, aged 53, may have been the same man listed in 1830 and 1840. Sarah, aged 36, may have been his wife, perhaps his second wife. Warren Wandell, aged 17, was probably a son. Perhaps Henry Wandell, aged 1, was a son from Richard’s second marriage. Richard Henry, aged 1, and Catharine (Henry?), aged 75, also lived in this household, and did Maria Smith, aged 19, and Mary E. Smith, six months, perhaps Maria’s daughter. It is possible that Catharine Henry was Richard Wandell’s mother-in-law, Richard Henry, only a year old, was his stepson, Maria Smith was his daughter, and Mary E. was his grand-daughter. All of this family listed their birthplaces as New York State.

The Richard Wandell family lived at 54 Ash Street, next door to Isaac Wales, son of the only African American  in the City of Syracuse when it was incorporated in 1825. Isaac Wales the elder had been born in Maryland and had come to Manlius, enslaved by the Fleming family, in 1810. Isaac He bought his freedom for $80.

Isaac Wales the son was a cartman and a widower, living with his seven children at 46 Ash Street. One of the children was Isaac Wales, Jr., aged 20, who listed his occupation as a shoemaker. Tabby Wales, probably Isaac’s mother, lived with another African American family. She was 100 years old in 1850, and she listed her birthplace as Maryland. Isaac, the son of the first Isaac and father of Isaac, Jr., died in 1864 at age 77. (Clark and OHA files)

Directories from 1851 through 1858 listed Richard Wandell as a carman, cartman, or drayman,

In 1854, an article in the Standard described someone named Wandell (no first name given), the “Kossuth darkey,” who successfully fought off several ruffians who attacked him in Syracuse. (“Kossuth darkey” is a reference to the Hungarian freedom fighter Louis Kossuth, whose visit to the U.S. attracted much attention from abolitionists and others). (Standard, May 11, 1854)

In 1855. Warren Wandell, probably Richard’s son, advertised his services for cistern cleaning, stove blacking, and chimney sweeping, “done in short order.” (Syracuse Standard, April 7, 1855)

Richard Wandell was a long-time leader of AME Zion Church, serving as a trustee in 1846, 1848, 1853, and perhaps at other times, too. In 1853, he was one of five stewards (including William Gray, Ebenezer Lee, William Briscoe, and Harry Clark) who endorsed “our brother” Rev. Loguen as the duly appointed leader of this church, “well known to us for the last 13 years,” “a true and good man, in every place & at all points.” Such a defense of Loguen suggested a split in the AME Zion Church, hints of which appeared elsewhere. (copy in OHA  of article from Journal, November 22, 1853)

By 1859, the Richard Wandell family may have moved, for the city directory for that year listed Richard Wandell (col’d), as a carman, living at 14 Irving Street.

The relationship of the Wandell family to specific underground railroad activities is unclear, but there are intriguing hints that they were directly involved. The Syracuse Star quoted the court testimony of Charles R. Woodruff, an eye-witness of the rescue of Jerry Henry, that both “Edward Wandall (colored)” and “James Wandall (colored),” whose name does not appear in census records, were involved in breaking down the door and carrying Jerry Henry away. (Star, October 20, 1851) 

Also in October 1851, the Star reported “A False Alarm:

The Journal proclaimed on Saturday, that the “kidnappers” were after Mrs. Wandell, a colored woman of this city.—There was not a word of truth in the statement. But for all that, we learn that Mrs. W. has packed up her goods and fled. (October 27, 1851)

We do not know whether this was Richard’s wife, Sarah Wandell, or Edmund’s wife, Matilda Wandell. If it was Matilda Wandell, she may have been doubly fearful because of her husband’s part in the Jerry Rescue.

On December 4, 1852, the Syracuse Standard noted that “Rev. Mr. Loguen has been arrested for participation in the Jerry Rescue case. James Wandell has also been arrested for the same offence. The arrest was a mere formality and both prisoners are at liberty.” On March 31, 1853, the Standard reported that James Wandell, indicted in Jerry Rescue, had died in Syracuse the day before and that Enoch Reed, also indicted, was dangerously ill.

Site

No deeds exist for either the Richard Wandell or the Edmund Wandell families, but the 1855 tax assessment listed Richard Wandall as paying taxes on a house and lot worth $250 at 54 Ash Street (Block 281, no lot), next door to Isaac Wales (Block 281, Lot 1) at #56 (no street listed), who had a small house worth $300.

Further research in assessment records and mortgages, as well as a physical analysis of this building, would help determine its chronology.

Sources

Assessments

City directories

Deed index to 1874

Gerrit Smith, "Dist. of land,"1851, Smith Papers, Syracuse University.

Newspaper articles from the Herald Journal, 2/1/96, and from the Syracuse Standard and the Journal, as noted in text (OHA files)

Richard Wandell--1850 Census

1289/1329

Rich Wendell        53                 m                B                cartman                300                          NY

Sarah                      36                f                                                                                                   NY

Warren                  17                 m                                                                                                 NY

Richard Henry        1                m                                                                                                  NY

Catharine               75                f                                                                                                   NY

Henry Wandell?     1                m                                                                                                  NY

Maria Smith           19                f                                                                                                    NY         

Mary E.                 1/2                f                                                                                                    NY         

1290/1330

Isaac Wales         54                m                x                cartman                400                                NY

Matilda? Wales   23                f                                                                                                       NY

Isaac       Junr       20                m                             shoemaking                                                   NY

Maria P.                 18                f                                                                                                      NY

George                   15                m                                                                                                     NY

Harriet                    12                f                                                                                                       NY

Stephen                 10                m                                                                                                      NY

One more cut off at bottom

1293/1333

Enoch Reed