Parris House Wool Works

25 minutes ago

Not hooking related. Related to the history of Paris Hill and the Parris House itself.

As some of you know, Paris Hill village was the birthplace and childhood home of Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice president, elected with him in 1860. It is a common assumption that the people of Paris Hill would have been elated by this development, but in fact, many of the prominent families on the Hill were States' Rights Democrats at the time, including the Parris family.

In doing some research today I consulted the 1860 diary of Arabella Rawson Carter, who was Columbia Parris' sister and who lived right across the street and catecorner. She refers to Lincoln and Hamlin as "Black Republicans" in her diary. In spite of being pretty well informed about the antebellum period, I wasn't positive what this meant, although our historical society secretary correctly guessed that it was a then derogatory term against the relatively new party (it had formed in 1854) because of their desire to halt the spread of slavery and because some of their members were outright abolitionists (although Lincoln was not at that time).

In researching the term, I found the attached piece in Harvard's collection. The biggest kick in the pants for me every time I discover just how sympathetic the Parris family and their extended family were to the whole philosophy of States' Rights is that I suspect that Pedro Tovookan, the ex-slave who lived here at the Parris House with them, must have overheard some things that were, for him, very difficult to hear.

Here is what Arabella wrote in her diary on January 1st, 1864, as the Civil War raged on: "The Republican rulers have deluged this country with the blood of the people and their envy and rage know no bound. They glory over the overthrow of civil liberty. They glory that we are overwhelmed with national debt, that the people are oppressed by taxes and the stamp acts and worst of all conscription acts. The President (Lincoln) jokes and the high officials feast and riot in the ruin they have wrought and the people are palsied and meekly endure."

There will always be people on the wrong side of history and when they are it is oh, so obvious to future generations. It is a privilege for me to share the history of the Parris House with people who ask about it and when I do, I center Pedro Tovookan as the most remarkable individual who ever graced these premises. It was he who endured as an example of character and strength in the face of hardship, and continues to inspire people today who hear his story. History can be the ultimate bringer of justice.

Note: The Democratic and Republican parties have each changed a LOT in the past 150 years. ... See MoreSee Less