The Underground Railroad and Free Black Towns in the Marlton Area

Join us to discover the secret history of the Underground Railroad in our area. Paul W. Schopp is a historian who researches historic Black South Jersey towns. He will speak on the history of free Black communities and African Americans of living in the Marlton/Evesham area, including their involvement in the Underground Railroad. There are generations of family connections between towns like historic Milford (now Kresson) and Cropwell Meeting.

He will provide a brief overview of Milford’s development as a Black enclave using maps, census records, and other sources. He will tell the full story of Alexander Hemsley, who resided at Milford for nine years before relocating elsewhere in the county and getting caught by slave catchers.

Two Truitt descendants, Damon Truitt and Patti McGee Colston, were featured in the Roots Less Traveled TV show last year, much of which was filmed at Cropwell Meeting.

Sunday, May 7, 2023
10:00 Silent Worship
11:00 Guest Speaker
12:00 Community Potluck (bring a dish to share)

Speaker Bio
Working in the local history and Cultural Resource Management (CRM) field for almost 50 years, Paul W. Schopp has gained a wealth of knowledge in a wide array of topics. During his career as a professional historian, Paul’s specializations include transportation history, South Jersey and Delaware Valley history, and Black history in South Jersey. In the last-named field of endeavor, he has expended 30 years of research. He is well versed in African American settlements throughout the lower eight counties, and the people who resided there, and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey. Paul’s broad knowledge of source material aids him in his research efforts. He has prepared a total of nine National Register of Historic Places nominations, including four directly involving Black history.

Schopp served as the executive director of the Camden County Historical Society for four years and is well known in New Jersey history circles. He is a published author, having written numerous articles and six books and pamphlets. During his career in the CRM field, Paul participated in preparing well over 200 professional reports, working with archaeologists and architectural historians. After almost 30 years in the CRM field, Stockton University recruited him to serve as the assistant director of the South Jersey Culture and History Center, a position he has held for eight years and continues to hold.