In the late 20th century, a local history group recruited archaeologists to explore the long-abandoned Illinois town site. Several of these freedom purchases were financed by selling his New Philadelphia, Illinois lots. Over several decades, McWorter and his estate spent about $500,000 (in 2021 dollars) to buy the freedom of some 15 to 22 enslaved family members in Kentucky. He eventually gave up his saltpeter operation in exchange for the freedom of some of his children and moved to Illinois. In this way, Frank saved sufficient funds first to buy his wife's freedom, and Frank then bought his own (thus, he became "Free" Frank). As an adult, in his spare time, after completing work for his enslaver (and father), Frank was allowed to use a cave to gather and prepare for sale saltpeter, a natural ingredient for gunpowder. His and his mother's white enslaver was also his biological father. The New Philadelphia town site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2009 and made a National Park Service site in 2022.įrank McWorter was born enslaved on a Southern plantation to an enslaved African American mother. Formerly enslaved African American (1777–1854)įree Frank McWorter (1777 – September 7, 1854) was an American born into slavery who bought his freedom in Kentucky and in 1836 founded the town of New Philadelphia in Illinois he was the first African American to plat and register a town, and establish a planned community in the United States.
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