Stories in Stone
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 In part 1 of this two-part “Black History Month” blog crossover event, we started our story with my finding of a vintage paper billhead at a local antique store a few decades ago. This piece of ephemera would be linked to an Afro-Cuban tinsmith who once conducted a business on Frederick’s East Patrick Street in the 1880s. Exploration of his life took us to many locations, and professions, across the country (and into Canada) for this man named Hipolito DeLibardie.  Mr. DeLibardie had a Frederick alias however, one that he pointed out proudly in the first newspaper advertisement for his Frederick tin and stove shop. This was Paul Zedrick. Now Paul was a shortened and anglicized version of Hipolito, but Zedrick was the name of his business mentor for whom he apprenticed—Henry Zedrick. Hipolito DeLibardie was an apprentice under Mr. Zedrick up through the latter’s death in April of 1878. I located Hipolito in the 1880 US Census living at 33 East Patrick Street with a family headed up by Rebecca Zedrick, a woman classified in the census as a mulatto (person of mixed black-white race). Rebecca was the widow of Henry Joseph Zedrick, and now served as employer to the young Cuban émigré tinsmith.  1880 US Census showing Rebecca Zedrick and family of tinsmiths living on E. Patrick St  A few other folks in this household obviously worked in the tin trade including Rebecca Zedrick’s nephew Joseph Watson (her sister’s son), and another nephew Samuel A. Neal (her brother’s son). Rebecca’s step-children are here as well—Henry Joseph Zedrick (b. @ 1870) and Daisy Zedrick (b. @ 1875). I would learn that Rebecca and her late husband had adopted and raised these children from one of Mr. Zedrick’s siblings. In the 1880s, Rebecca Zedrick was a female business owner in an exclusively male industry—a tin shop business with services ranging from soldering cups to covering homes with tin roofs. And let’s not forget the selling and installation of early iron cook stoves.  Frederick News (Nov 5, 1884) I asked my assistant, Marilyn Veek, to research property deeds in hopes to learn more about Rebecca. She reports the following: “In 1879, Rebecca Zedrick leased 33 East Patrick Street for 10 years from Margaret Engelbrecht (widow of John Engelbrecht, brother of Jacob Engelbrecht the diarist). This is probably where she is living in the 1880 census. This landlord died in 1880 and the Zedrick tin shop location and other properties were sold to Engelbrecht’s son, John Conrad Engelbrecht. John Conrad’s executor sold it in 1906 to a gentleman named James Goodman. All the while, there is no mention of Rebecca or the lease in any existing records that could be found.” Hipolito DeLibardie would take over the tin-smithing business from Rebecca in February, 1886. In less than a decade, DeLibardie would be living and working in Providence, Rhode Island, and Rebecca Zedrick and her mortal remains would be reposing in Frederick’s St. John’s Catholic Cemetery located between East Third and Fourth streets, and bordered by East Street. I would soon learn that even though I had been concentrating my efforts to find Rebecca’s business and home in the 1880s on East Patrick Street, she had spent a considerable part of her youth and adult life on East Third Street. In addition, her final resting place at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery is only a block east from her early home. Now prepare yourself to join me on a wild journey through the history of two early families of color in Frederick’s great history. An interesting theme that we will see played out within these families is that of early "servitude." In the case of a few surviving written passages about two main characters (Samuel Neale and Henry Zedrick(s) being "servants" to respective masters, I ponder the question of them being actual slaves or freedman, or free men at the respective time these passages were recorded by their writers? And to clarify the difference between freedman and free man, a freedman was done so through a manumission as opposed to a free man being born free. (NOTE: If you missed the first part of this story, here is a link to "A (Black) Frederick Tinsmith (Part 1)" which appears on my HSP History Blog on the History Shark Productions website. The article was originally published on 2/16/2026).   Louis Giles at St. John's Cemetery in 2024 (Baltimore Sun photo by Jerry Jackson/Staff) Rebecca Neale She was born free as Rebecca Neale on February 26th, 1826. It is assumed that the daughter of Samuel and Eleanor Neale started her life here in Frederick. That maiden name of Neale may not ring a bell, but it certainly has caused quite a pleasant stir over the past few years with War of 1812 enthusiasts and local/state Black History researchers. One individual, more than others, can be thanked for this occurrence— a man named Louis Giles of Millersville, MD, president of the Society of the War of 1812 in Maryland. We also have to thank St. John’s Board of Directors and others, especially Chuck and Nancy Foltyn. You see, Rebecca’s parents, Samuel and Eleanor Neale, have finally received a headstone after a wait of 150 years. Mr. Giles, a retired employee of the National Security Administration and amateur historian, spearheaded efforts to obtain a government-issue veteran marker for Mr. Neale, the only known Maryland Black “1812 Patriot” to receive a pension for his participation in the War of 1812 After conducting incredible research, and receiving additional support from the organization of which he was president, the marker request he made was ultimately turned down by the United States Veterans Administration. The three-year effort would not be in vain, however, as Lough Memorials of Frederick would step-up to donate a grave marker for this notable participant in the second war of independence against Great Britain. I’m proud to add that a few of our Friends of Mount Olivet Monument Repair Team members volunteered their time and talents to assist St John’s Cemetery in setting the stone back in July 2024. Kudos go out to Roy Schwarzenberg, Bob Linehauser and Ray Crough for their efforts.  The ordeal and achievement pertaining to Samuel Neale's long overdue recognition was so “monumental,” that informative newspaper articles appeared in the Frederick News, the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Banner among others. Just perform a Google search and you will see how newsworthy this event has been.  Just who was Rebecca Neale’s dad? Well, Samuel Neale was born in 1795, and it is presumed that he was a native Marylander, most likely hailing from Washington County. At the time of the War of 1812, Samuel resided in Hagerstown. We are not sure if he was enslaved at that time, or free. Either way, he would not have been able to serve in combat positions in a federalized militia unit. Instead, many blacks served in various roles as servants and stewards. However, most of these individuals have not been recognized as veterans. During the war, Samuel Neale was closely associated with a few very well-known men of Washington County-Dr. William Hammond and Frisby Tilghman. Either of these men, or both, could have been our subject's slave master at one point or another. Dr. William Hammond, Jr. (1785-1831) was the husband of Mary Tilghman, a daughter of Frisby Tilghman (1773-1847) builder of the Rockland plantation near the namesake hamlet of Tilghmanton. Tilghmanton is usually recognized in conjunction with neighboring Fairplay, and is roughly an eight mile drive south of Hagerstown on the Sharpsburg Pike. Dr. Hammond’s father-in-law came to the area from the Eastern Shore’s Queen Anne’s County and married into the Ringgold family. Like many sons of planters from eastern and southern Maryland, Frisby Tilghman migrated to the western part of the state in the late eighteenth century, where land was plentiful and comparatively low-priced. Tilghman would build his estate in 1796 and it remains one of Washington County’s most significant historic sites. Trained as a doctor, he married the wealthy Anna Maria Ringgold and turned his hand to farming instead. He helped found a local agricultural society and an academy and earned a reputation as a progressive farmer. His plantation was farmed by slave labor.  Image of Rockland from the Illustrated Atlas of Washington County, Maryland 1877 It’s not known for sure, but Rebecca (Neale) Zedrick's father, Samuel Neale, could be connected to the Rockland plantation, or nearby environs. The same can be said for her mother, Eleanor Thompson, of whom much less information is readily available. What is known is that Samuel Neale served under Frisby Tilghman in battle. Tilghman was a lieutenant colonel in the Maryland Dragoons during the War of 1812, and fought in the Battles of Bladensburg and North Point in 1814.  Daguerreotype portrait of Frisby Tilghman (1773-1847)  Portion of the L.McKee and C.G. Robertson atlas map of 1859 showing the Fairplay-Tilghmanton hamlets. This map was created 11 years after the death of Frisby Tilghman who had amassed an estate of over 1,100 acres Sometime after the War of 1812, Samuel Neale would make his way to Frederick, Maryland. Here, Samuel and Eleanor raised a family of eight children, just down East Third Street from St. John's Cemetery on Frederick Town’s original Lot #136, represented today by the home addresses occupying the footprint of 113-119. We know this because an 1888 equity abstract in Frederick County court records states that Samuel’s land holding was “on Lot 136 on the north side of East Third Street, recently having been improved with a double house” built between 1885-1886.  The image above is a view looking west on Frederick's E 3rd St with the properties constituting original Frederick Town Lot #136 to the right of the photo. The image below shows current day homes 113-119 from left to right built on Lot #136. It is thought that the residence of Samuel Neale was here before it was demolished in the 1880s to build these doublehouses dating to the period.  It’s too bad that we do not have an existing image of what the original Neale household looked like. We do know that it had quite a surrounding yard as there were not that many houses here in the late 19th century as you got further from Market Street within this particular city block. Quinn Chapel AME was diagonally southwest and across the street from the Neale residence, however, Mr. Neale and family were practicing Catholics and had to walk a bit further (1 block south) to get to their preferred house of worship. The Neales lived within the Catholic center of town with the backside of the Jesuit Novitiate across East Third Street from their home, St. John’s Cemetery was a block to the east, and St. John the Evangelist Church, St. John's College and the Visitation Academy all being a block-and-a-half away via Chapel Alley.  The Catholic Complex of Frederick with center at East 2nd Street and Chapel Alley. In this 1854 lithograph by Sachse & Co., this view from atop E Church St affords one to see St. John the Evangelist church and steeple, neighboring St. John's College and Literary Institute and the Jesuit Novitiate to the immediate left, and the Visitation Academy to the immediate right. The Neale surname is an old one here in Maryland. It connects to a family name going back to southern Maryland and Charles County in the 1600s. I theorize that Samuel Neale likely was given his surname by this white, Catholic, family connected to Dr. Charles Neale (1705-1779) and wife Mary (Smith) Neale (1705-1772). For context, Dr. Neale’s paternal grandfather was Capt. James Neale (1615-1684) who once resided on Drury Lane in London before originally traveling to the Maryland colony in the 1640s. The proprietary Calvert family assisted Capt. Neale in establishing Wolleston Manor near the confluence of the Wicomico and Potomac Rivers, a junction known as Neale Sound and current-day location of Cobb Island.
 Depiction of Wolleston Manor House  Map showing location of Cobb Island and Neale Sound in lower Charles County on the Potomac River  Captain Neale’s son, Lt. Anthony Neale (1659-1723), was born in Spain, but came to America and eventually took charge of his father’s 2,000+ acre manor-estate. Anthony would eventually build his own estate nearby and raised his own children, including son Dr. Charles Neale, who would eventually move to early Frederick County in the 1760s. The Neales were owners of land and slaves, in the western part of the county at a place known as Marsh Mill, also known as Haley's Mill or Spielman Mill, but originally constructed in 1755 as Christian Eversole's Mill. This is near Tilghmanton-Fairplay and the forementioned Rockland plantation of Frisby Tilghman. Yes, this is indeed Washington County today, but back before 1776, this area was part of Frederick County.  Spielman Mill (Marsh Mill) ruins as seen today on the north side of Spielman Rd (MD63), west of MD 65 and east of Marsh Run between the villages of Spielman and Fairplay (photo by Robert T. Kinsey) Dr. Charles Neale would eventually relocate after 1775 to the lower portion of Frederick County, area that would eventually become Montgomery County. Dr. Neale would live at Aix La Chappelle near Poolesville for the last years of his life, dying in 1779. The reason I painfully go to this level of detail is that we are actively seeking to explain Samuel Neale’s possible lineage. I propose that Samuel’s parents could have been slaves of the Neale family. Since he was a mulatto slave, it’s not far-fetched that he could have Neale family DNA but that is just conjecture. Regardless, Frisby Tilghman could have obtained slaves connected to Dr. Charles Neale and/or his heirs. Interestingly, a prominent member of Dr. Charles Neale’s family is buried only a short distance away from our forementioned 1812 war veteran of color, Samuel Neale at St. John’s Cemetery. I counted 20 yards exactly as I measured the distance myself on a recent rainy sojourn to visit Rebecca and Samuel’s graves. The Neale family member I am referring to is a woman named Elizabeth Neale Smith (1734-1820), eldest daughter of Dr. Charles Neale.  20 yards in the background of Samuel Neale's grave is a large monument to the memory of Elizabeth (Neale) Smith and husband Leonard  Gravestone of Elizabeth (Neale) Smith's husband Leonard. It is thought that Elizabeth is buried here next to her husband as she does not have a formal gravestone A decade ago, this very week, I was researching the Neale family for a blog I was writing for my website HistorySharkProductions.com. I was interested in Mrs. Neale because she would marry Leonard Smith (1732-1794) around the year 1752. Mr. Smith can be linked through his mother’s side to his namesake relative Leonard Calvert, first governor of the Maryland colony. That’s just a minor detail along with the knowledge that Elizabeth’s husband was from St. Mary’s County. Of more importance is the fact that Leonard Smith is forever remembered here in the annals of Frederick County history for being the founder of two county towns: New Town and Berlin.  Leonard Smith's signature on an early document In the fall of 1774, Leonard Smith laid out “New Town” for a widow named Eleanor (Combs) Medley. Leonard Smith sold a large number of these lots the day after widow Medley died in January 1775, with the first lot going to his brother-in-law Charles Neale. “New Town” would soon wear the name of Newtown Trap, Traptown and simply Trappe because it earned the reputation of being a “very tough place,” where travelers were often waylaid and assaulted and “sometimes foully put out of the way.” In 1831-32, Newtown Trap was incorporated and received the new name of Jefferson which it carries through to this day. In 1780, a 200-acre parcel of John Hawkin’s “Merry Peep O’ Day” property would wind up in the hands of Leonard Smith. Smith now used this and a part of another landholding adjacent the Potomac River to establish the small town which would become Berlin in 1787. Smith had surveyed ninety-six lots, and the name choice was designed to attract Germans settlers, many of whom had been passing through for over five decades en-route to Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley and points west such as the land destined one day to become Kentucky. In the future, this locale eventually became known as Brunswick.  Portion of Charles Varle Map of Frederick County and environs from 1808 showing both New Town/Trap and Berlin in southwestern Frederick County. It’s too much of a coincidence that Samuel Neale (black)and Elizabeth Neale (Smith) (white) would be buried this close to one another, and were members of the same church here in Frederick in the early 1800s. There is a definitive tie here, and a deep dive into slave records and DNA/genealogy testing will someday provide the answers needed. This claim is further backed by the fact that Samuel was an early freedman. Regardless, the Maryland State Archives includes the following writeup on Samuel Neale as part of their biographical series: "Born around 1800 in Maryland. Probably married to Ellen Neale. Two children: Rebecca; Sophia. Died in 1872. Samuel Neale was an African American veteran of the War of 1812. During the war, he was a steward and assistant to William Hammond, surgeon of the First Maryland Cavalry. He served at the Battle of Bladensburg and the Battle of North Point. In 1870, Neale submitted a petition to the House of Delegates requesting that he be added to the list of eligible veterans named on the pension bill the House was debating at the time. Neale was added to the pension list, the only African American known to have been included. Neale took up residence in Frederick City by 1850, and worked variously as laborer or porter. He died in the spring of 1872, sometime after collecting his final pension check in April."  This painting by Thomas Ruckles (1776-1853) depicts a scene from the Battle of North Point, near Baltimore on September 12, 1814. Cavalry troops are seen in linear formations in foreground while foot troops complete rectangular formation, all wearing blue uniforms. In the background, lines of troops in red uniforms are seen through the trees in the foreground. Published in 1906, Thomas J.C. Williams' History of Washington County talks about Lt. Col. Frisby Tilghman and other participants of the War of 1812. Included in this volume is a list of participants from Hagerstown, and I spotted a man named Joseph Neal. Could this have been a member of the Neale family associated with Dr. Charles Neale? More so, could he have been associated with Samuel Neale?  I would soon be surprised to find a special footnote regarding our subject Samuel Neale, himself. It was the story of his efforts to get a military pension.  Footnote in Thomas J. C. Williams' History of Washington County explaining Samuel Neale's pursuit of a pension As an aside, all three judges mentioned in this article (William P. Maulsby, John A. Lynch and Richard H. Marshall) are buried in Mount Olivet, and under impressive grave monuments I might add. Other sources for this incredible info include the following: "Petition of a Colored Veteran for a State Pension," The Baltimore Sun, January 27, 1870; "An Act to repeal the Act of eighteen hundred and sixty-seven," Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1870, Volume 188, page 3448; The British Invasion of Maryland, 1812-1815 by William M. Marine (Baltimore, 1913; Genealogical Pub., Co., 1977), 89; Frederick, Md., Examiner, June 19, 1872.  Original "Master Roll" document from War of 1812 showing Samuel's name (bottom left) Louis Giles conducted intensive research in advance of the marker project at St. John’s and these provided him information needed to approach the Veterans Administration, or so he thought. Mr. Giles learned that Samuel Neale enlisted on February 28th, 1812 for a 5-year term. He located a muster roll from the critical time of the war from August-September, 1814 when Washington, DC and Baltimore came under attack from the British. This is when our Frederick native Francis Scott Key participated in the Battle of Bladensburg and eyewitnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry a few weeks later.  Mr. Giles also found official records stating that Samuel Neale was sick and recuperating in a general hospital in James Island, South Carolina months after the Maryland invasion. He is on record being there in South Carolina from December 31st-February 28th, 1814. Four years after the war, Samuel would marry Eleanor Thompson in 1818. I could not find Mr. Neale in the 1820 US Census as a freedman or head of household. I do not know his geographical whereabouts at that time either. I would find him in 1830, and he was living in Frederick City. The census of that year shows that there are two free colored males under 10 counted by the enumerator, and 2 free colored females—one likely being Rebecca (Neale) Zedrick born in February, 1826. Samuel and Eleanor are recorded as being free colored people between 24 to 35 years of age.  1830 US Census showing Samuel Neill as head of household with 6 inhabitants. A few doors down lived a person of color named Samuel Hammond, interesting first and last names for our story  1840 US Census with Samuel Neal's name second from top in this clipped portion of the enumeration sheet The family of Samuel Neale can be found again a decade later living in Frederick Town in 1840, and again in 1850 where we get a clearer read on the household with listing of all domicile occupants. To embellish the biography that I shared earlier from the Maryland Archives, siblings of Rebecca Neale include Joseph H. Neale (1819-1875), Sarah Ann (Neale) Watson (1823-1887), John Neale (1828-1830), Samuel Augustus Neale (1830-1880), Mary Catherine Neale (1833-?), Aloysius Neale (1838-?) and Sophia Teresa (Neale) Bell (1840-1917). It is assumed that Mary Catherine and Aloysius died as children.  1850 US Census showing Samuel Neale and family in the 1850 Census living on E 3rd St Samuel’s employment simply states that he is a laborer. We learn from Frederick diarist Jacob Engelbrecht that he will soon be opening a produce business on North Market Street, a few doors north of the Frederick Market House (Frederick City Hall). The following passage was written on June 13th, 1853: “Samuel Neill (Colored) rented the shop from Michael Engelbrecht (next door). Takes possession today- rent $3 a month- green grocery.” I wrote a story a few years back on Michael Engelbrecht, a resident who served as a private and principal musician in the Frederick County militia in the War of 1812. He served under Capt. James F. Huston and then Capt. Joseph Green from July 23rd to October 13th, 1814. It is interesting to stop here and talk about Samuel’s sons Joseph H. Neale and Samuel A. Neale. Joseph left the family home likely due to his marriage in 1849 to a woman named Elizabeth Hammond. That’s a familiar surname, isn’t it? I could not find Joseph in the 1850 US Census living in Frederick, however I did spot an interesting newspaper advertisement in the local edition of the Family Visitor dated January 30, 1840.  Family Visitor (Jan 30, 1840) Was this the son of Samuel—perhaps having the name Joseph Hammond Neale? Another link to a tinsmith business in Frederick is beyond serendipitous if you ask me. I learned nothing more about this business here in Frederick, but I did locate a white gentleman named Joseph H. Neale who married an Eliza Ann Stoner and eventually re-located to Cumberland. I eventually found an Elizabeth Neil (age 29) living in the household of a mulatto man named Augustus Roberts from Baltimore. They appear in the census to be living very close to Samuel Neale (written as Neil in the 1850 census). Mr. Roberts was a practicing Catholic, and a practicing barber, and this got my attention because when I found Joseph Neale in the 1860 census, he too was working as a barber. Was Mr. Roberts a marriage relation or mentor?  1850 US Census showing Elizabeth Neale (Neil) living with Augustus Roberts and family in Frederick  The barbershop has been an important institution in the African-American community for generations. Up until the Reconstruction Era, most barbers, or tonsorial experts, in the United States — whether they cut the hair of white men or black men — were African-American. Barbering provided many black men a good standard of living.  Samuel's son Joseph Neale (Niel) in Frederick is listed as a barber in the 1860 US Census A bit of research showed me that Mrs. Ann Roberts was the former Ann Hammond, sister of Elizabeth (Hammond) Neale. I would find Joseph and Elizabeth Neale again in the 1870 census where it appears that Samuel Neale’s first-born son would be working as an ice dealer.  Joseph Neale and family living in Frederick in the 1870 US Census Joseph died six years later in 1876. Elizabeth and two daughters can be found living with her former husband’s sister, Sarah Ann (Neale) Watson. Sarah had been living in Baltimore for many years starting with her marriage in 1846 to Hampton Watson, a professional waiter. Watson passed in the 1870s. I would find two of their sons, Hampton Watson and Joseph M.P. Watson in the Baltimore City Commercial Directory of 1898. They were tinners. You may recall that this same Joseph was living with Rebecca (Neale) Zedrick here in Frederick in 1880 and serving as an apprentice at her tin shop. Sarah (Neale) Watson would die in 1887. Switching gears, let’s look at Samuel’s other son who chose a much different profession. Samuel Augustus Neale left Frederick in the 1850s for college and would make quite a name for himself in the realm of education. He would become affiliated with Avery College, a private school for black students near Pittsburgh, PA. It was initially founded as an industrial school run by the AME church, and later transitioned into a school for classical education. The school also contained a lower level used by the Underground Railroad. Professor Neale would remain in the school’s employ from 1849-1873.  Samuel A. Neale with wife Amanda and young children Eleanor and Adrian in the 1860 US Census living in Perrysville, Allegheny County, PA a suburb of Pittsburgh 
Before the Civil War, the junior Samuel Neale settled in the town of Allegheny which would later be annexed to be part of Pittsburgh in 1907. He would attend and graduate from Avery College, later becoming a professor at that college. Neale would also become a nationally recognized speaker, and active supporter of the Republican Party. In 1856, the music and mathematics teacher was appointed principal of School House No. 6 in Allegheny City’s school for African American children. He held this post for more than 20 years. Samuel A. Neale married a woman named Amanda Deckard (1840-1923), who claimed her ethnicity as Indian. Further inspection finds that Amanda was born in southeastern Kansas on Cherokee Neutral Grounds (an area between Cherokee and Crawford counties). The couple wed around the year 1861 and would go on to have nine children. A resident of Sandusky Street, in Allegheny, Professor Neale dedicated himself to improving the lives of his students through education and culture. He was editor of two journals for African Americans, the Elevator and the Commoner. Neale also served as secretary of the Allegheny Teachers’ Institute, and was known for organizing musical and literary festivals showcasing the talent from his school. Among the students he inspired was future physician John Paul Golden, the first African American to earn an MD from the Western Pennsylvania Medical College in 1888. Professor Neale was not just a leading black voice in Pittsburgh, his name and words appeared in publications nationally.
The son of our War of 1812 veteran was a regular speaker at Avery College's commencement exercises. The Pittsburgh Commercial newspaper printed Professor Neale's speech of July 7, 1870 in the columns of its paper a day later. Here it is below:
Professor Neale was acquainted with the great Frederick Douglass. Among the promoted speakers at an Emancipation Day celebration in Cumberland, Maryland, he met the legendary abolitionist, orator and publisher by attending this event which Douglass was headlining as a speaker. Unfortunately, an incident years later in 1869 would make headlines in newspapers across the greater northeast and drove a wedge between both men. Professor Neale had received intelligence from back home in Frederick that things did not look safe for Frederick Douglass’ attending our county’s 1869 Emancipation Picnic. Among those who shared this information with Professor Neale were Samuel Neale, Sr., along with Rebecca Zedrick’s husband, Henry. Both men were involved in both the Frederick County and Maryland Republican parties. Apparently, they were told that Mr. Douglass may see trouble or be harmed by hostile factions if he (Douglass) would appear as scheduled. Douglas skipped the event and the threat was found to be a ruthless political ruse and trick played on Professor Neale and his informants. This resulted in Frederick residents losing a great opportunity to host the legendary civil rights leader and making the 1869 Frederick Emancipation Picnic an event of timeless fame.      Baltimore American & Commercial Advertiser (Aug 28, 1869) What an interesting and odd account, lost to history, but found again. As I said earlier, Samuel Neale, Sr. and Hendry Zedrick(s) were part of the "intelligence" team who sent word to Professor Neale in Allegheny at the time. Three other family members were also part of this infamous telegraph group in Samuel A. Neale's brother Joseph, and brothers-in-law Joseph H. Watson and Herbert Bell. That implicates all males in the immediate Neale family. Frederick residents would eventually get their chance to see and hear Frederick Douglass a decade later when the renowned orator and former editor of The North Star anti-slavery newspaper presented his “Self-made Men” lecture in the Frederick City Hall and Opera House building on the evening of Sunday, April 8th, 1879. The Frederick Examiner newspaper heralded Mr. Douglass’ appearance and performance, describing the guest speaker as having: “...a very attractive, musical voice of great compass, a fine and commanding and prepossessing appearance, easy and graceful delivery, and a faculty of commanding the profoundest attention from his hearers.” It is not known whether any of the Neale family were in attendance that night. Regardless, Samuel A. Neale would die 16 months later on August 16th, 1880 in Frederick.  Professor Neale still lived in Allegheny, PA in the 1880 Census with his family. An illness kept him from his education and orator duties, now at the age of 49. The census simply says "general debility." His obituary appeared in newspapers throughout the country. Samuel would be buried in the family plot in St. John’s Cemetery.  Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Aug 18, 1880)  Grave of Samuel A. Neale, Jr. in St. John's Cemetery, Frederick (MD) The 1860 Census shows two things of interest. First, Samuel lists as his profession that of “porter.” We talked about “porters” in Part 1 of our story because Hipolito DeLibardie would serve in this profession in the early 1890s as a railroad porter. Pullman porters were men hired to work for the railroads as porters on sleeping cars. Their job was to carry passengers' baggage, shine shoes, set up and maintain the sleeping berths, and serve passengers. We have no idea where Samuel worked, as it could have been a local hotel such as the City Hotel. Or it could well have been a rail line, likely the Baltimore & Ohio which came through Frederick.  1860 US Census showing Samuel Neale (Sr.) and family living in Frederick The second major item within the 1860 census is the fact that daughters Rebecca and Sophia are still living with her parents. Less than six months after the census enumerator visited the Neale home, Rebecca would marry a gentleman named Henry Zedrick on December 5th, 1860. In some instances, and records, this last name is written as Zedrick, and in others it is written as Zedricks. Before we talk further about Henry Zedrick(s) and his family, I want to wrap up things with Samuel Neale and family. The Neales seemed to weather the American Civil War with no issue. As a veteran, I’m sure Samuel was patriotic in his support of the Union. Daughter Sophie T. Neale would marry a gentleman from Winchester, VA named Herbert Bell (1845-1882). The couple moved to Cumberland, MD but their marriage was short, only lasting for seven years before Herbert’s untimely death at 37. In St. John’s Cemetery’s Lot A-30, you will find a marble upright marker for Mr. Bell, a barber by trade, and another small stone for the couple’s daughter Mary Pius Bell (1876-1925). Sophia is here too, but her grave is unmarked. Sophia would live out her life on East Fourth Street where she was self-employed as a seamstress. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family when she died on October 9th, 1917.  Gravestone of Herbert Bell, short-lived husband of Sophia T. (Neale) Bell. Daughter Mary Pius is buried to Herbert's immediate left. It is likely that Sophia is buried to the immediate right of this grave marker.  St. John's Lot A-30 (just north of the Neale family Lot E-1) has the Probee family graves to the left and Neale-Bell family graves to the right represented by the stones pictured in the foreground Sharing this lot is Martha Probee, first wife of Rev. Robert William Probee. Mrs. Probee was the mother of Sarah “Sadie” (Probee) DeLibardie, wife of tinsmith Hipolito DeLibardie. In the St. John's Cemetery records I found Sadie listed as Sadie Labordie as she, too, is buried here on this lot in an unmarked grave. She died in 1928 and her obituary had stated that she was buried at St. Johns.  Grave of Martha Probee, mother of Sarah A. "Sadie" (Probee) DeLibardie, one of the main subjects of part 1 of this 2-part blog The last census Samuel Neale would appear in would be the 1870 US Census. His porter days were behind him and he doesn’t seem to be working, now at age 75. Earlier that year, the Baltimore American and other newspapers carried the story about his fight for a government pension.
 Samuel Neal and Eleanor in the 1870 US Census living in Frederick. We learn here that Eleanor had the name Sophia either as a first or middle name. With her daughter married and living in Cumberland, she was free to use this name to avoid confusion perhaps Samuel was still living on East Third Street with wife Eleanor. He won his pension but only collected on it for two years as he would die on June 15th, 1872. What an amazing life this gentleman led, both as a slave, and a freedman. Interestingly, he lived most of it as a free man within a state where slavery was in effect until the end of the Civil War. Samuel’s obituary would appear in the Frederick newspaper, which certainly mentioned his service in the War of 1812.  Catoctin Clarion of Mechanicstown (MD)(June 22, 1872) Samuel would be buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Lot E-1. Wife Eleanor would join him there before the end of the decade. She passed on January 14th, 1879.  In his will, Samuel Neale devised a life estate in part of lot 136 on the north side of East 3rd Street for Rebecca and husband Henry Zedrick, provided that they paid off a lien on the property. The abstract of the equity court case in the matter indicated that Henry and Rebecca did not pay off the lien, nor did they ever occupy this property. When they died, the property was to revert back to Samuel's other children. Back to Rebecca Neale, she had married Henry Zedrick on December 5th, 1860. As mentioned earlier, this unique last name appears often as Zedricks and also Zedrix. Using his age in the 1870 census of 58, we estimate Henry's birth to have occurred around 1812. The first traces of Henry Zedrick(s)in Frederick had his surname spelled completely wrong, listing him as being someone's "servant." I found the following entries in Jacob Engelbrecht’s diary. Although the surname is a bit mangled by the writer, or transcriber, this is definitely our man Henry: “Hydrant. I had my water pipe taken from the red cedar pipe in the front cellar to my kitchen. It took 66 feet of pipe (lead). Phillip Dawson, Ditch Digger & David B. Devett & his servant Henry Zadocks were the solderers. It was done today.” Saturday, July 30, 1836 “I had a tin gutter made to my roof of my kitchen by Mr. David B. Devitt. It was put up today by Henry Zacocks. His colored servant cost $6.60, including the fasteners or staples.” Saturday, August 19th, 1837 Englebrecht ended both Zadocks and Zacocks with an “s” which plays to the strong possibility of this name being Zedricks. More importantly, I was able to make this discovery because I was specifically looking for a Henry Zedrick(s) working in the tin profession. Jacob Engelbrecht delivers once again by telling me that Henry is likely a slave, more than a servant helper, of a man named David B. Devitt of Frederick. Henry would learn his trade from his master, as many slaves would do. I was already somewhat familiar with Mr. Devitt as he is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The main reason his name resonated is due to the fact that he is a War of 1812 veteran like Rebecca’s father. As a matter of fact, a biography was written about David B. Devitt and is part of Mount Olivet’s 2014 publication entitled Frederick’s Other City: War of 1812 Veterans. Devitt is buried in Mount Olivet's Area E/Lot 84 and the biography in question appears below.  David B. Devitt "Private David B. Devitt served under Capt. John Brengle, 1st Regiment, Maryland Militia, from August 25 to September 19, 1814. David B. Devitt was born November 28, 1791 to unknown parents. He was married first on October 23, 1821, in Frederick Co. MD to Ann P. Mantz, daughter of Isaac and Charlotte (Bucher) Mantz, He married second on January 19, 1830 in Frederick Co. MD to Elizabeth “Eliza” Fout, Daughter of Peter Fout. David died April 22, 1865, and was laid to rest at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in lot 84, Area E. Ann’s birth date is unknown, her death date was May 17, 1827, and her original burial location unknown. Elizabeth was born October 4, 1802, died May 10, 1869, and was laid to rest with her husband. In June 1821 David was elected as one of four directors of Young Men’s Bible Society of Frederick, City. He was so elected again in Sep. 1824. In February 1830, David was elected as a member of the common council in Frederick City for Ward #3, and again in 1831. In August 1830 he was having his 2 story brick home and kitchen built on Patrick St., south side. In Jan. 1834 David was elected Principle Engineer in the Independent House Co. and again in Jan. 1835. In February 1835 he was elected Councilman of Ward #3. On several occasions David did some work on and in the home of the diarist John Englebrecht. In 1850 David’s occupation was recorded as a “tinner” born “PA” with real estate valued at $5,000, and 4 single children. While in 1860, he was a “master tinner” born in “MD” with real estate valued at $5,000, personnel estate valued at $11,000 and 5 single children. His obituary reads, “On the 22nd ultimate, David B. Devitt in the 73d year of his age. He was long a resident of this city, and was respected for his quite and unobtrusive manners. His loss will be adversely felt by his afflicted widow and family, and also the church of which he was for many years an Elder, and useful member.” David has 2 known children by his first marriage, and 6 known children by his second marriage. First, was child Robert Devitt born about 1822 and died December 7, 1823. Second, was David Mantz Devitt born about 1824, died October 18, 1855, and married Elizabeth Pyfer in November 1853 in OH. Third, was child Bill Devitt born about 1831 and died September 16, 1833. Fourth, was Amelia Katherine Devitt born about 1835, died May 6, 1911, and never married. Fifth, was Edward J. Devitt born about 1838, died November 29, 1903, and never married. Sixth, was Margaret Fout Devitt born about 1840, died May 28, 1917, and never married. Seventh, was Philip H. Devitt born about 1841, died December 29, 1868, and never married. Eighth, was Anna “Nannie” M. Devitt born about 1848, died December 29 1910, and married Dr. J. C. Moyston (date unknown)."
In searching old Frederick newspapers, I came up with a few mentions of David B. Devitt. However, I did not glean much context from these instances. He partnered in some sort of endeavor with Joseph Adlum before 1819. I assume that this firm could have been a tinsmith operation. Jacob Engelbrecht talks of Mr. Devitt and his continued involvement in the Young Men's Bible Society, the Independent Hose Company and local politics especially running and serving on the town's common council. David B. Devitt built an impressive house and business location on East Patrick Street in 1830 according to Frederick's diarist. In 1842, Devitt sold Jacob an oven for home use. Engelbrecht talked about another project involving tin and iron pipe work being done at his own home in 1848 for which Devitt was assisted by another helper who Engelbrecht referred to as "Black Boy Jake." This gave me reason to question whether Henry Zedrick(s) was still a slave of Mr. Devitt at this point? Henry would have been around 34. Perhaps, Henry was simply working another job at the time for Devitt, or maybe he was elsewhere. We would soon get our answer by checking manumission records. Mr. Devitt had manumitted "his mulatto man Henry Zeddicks" on March 9th, 1840. Henry was 30 years of age at this time according to this document.  Henry Zedrick(s) manumission by David B. Devitt in March, 1840 As for David B. Devitt, he would continue as a Tinner and would be appointed "Keeper of Weights and Measures" by the county in 1858.  David B. Devitt and family in the 1850 Census living on the southside of E Patrick St with a backyard adjoining Carroll Creek  Maryland Union (Apr 29, 1858)  David B. Devitt and family living on E. Patrick St in the 1860 US Census Where was Henry Zedrick(s) as I couldn't find him in the 1850 US Census? I next consulted the 1859 Frederick Commercial Directory for help. David B. Devitt's stove and tin ware shop is listed on the southside of Patrick Street at the third door east of Market Street which is now 6 - 8 East Patrick Street where the Select Seconds Thrift Shop is located today. Another tinsmith business was located nearby on the south side of East Patrick Street between Market Street and Middle Alley. The firm was called Wilson & Zedricks, stoves and tinware and its proprietors were listed as Nathaniel J. W. Wilson and Henry Zedricks. It appears that the tin shop was at what is now 28 East Patrick Street. Marilyn Veek researched this property for me and found that it was owned by a man named Stuart Gaither from 1833 until 1877 when his heirs sold part of it to Annie Wilson, wife of Nathaniel Wilson. Annie and Nathaniel bought additional parts of the lot in 1882 and 1885. The administrator of Annie's estate sold the property in 1922. I saw that these gentlemen were in partnership together into the CivilWar, with a tax audit as late as 1863. Apparently Mr. Wilson was a Southern sympathizer and he was arrested in August, 1862 for his views. I don't know for how long, but it may have taken him away from the business of "tinning." In early 1865, two changes would affect Frederick's tinsmith industry. We see that Henry Zedrick was operating without Nathaniel Wilson in a rented space owned by Thomas Barry. The location is identified as being next to James Whitehill's place of business--today’s National Museum of Civil War Medicine is at the old Whitehill operation. An empty lot today has the alley leading back to the parking garage next to C. Burr Artz Library. Devitt's business is located a few doors down East Patrick to the west (around the site of today's 28 East Patrick). In this same year, David B. Devitt handed the reins of the business to his son, Phillip. A listing of Frederick's "tinners" would appear in the Maryland State Business Directory. Nathaniel Wilson is mentioned but it is not known if he would have his own firm separate from Zedrick.
 1866 Maryland State Business Directory  1887 Sanborn Insurance Map showing Whitehill's furniture and undertaking business on E Patrick St. It appears that the former home and business Wilson and Zedrick were operating from was completely gone at that time, unless it was the property complex south of the alley shown as a lumber operation  The sale of the building by Mr. Barry precipitated a move of business location for Henry Zedrick, or perhaps he left on his own finding a better, or cheaper, alternative for his profession across the street. Whatever the case, he would wind up on the north side of East Patrick and occupy #31-35 for the foreseeable future. The old newspapers of town had no shortage of mentioning the Zedrick(s) name. I found a good many of these referring to Henry, but also ones calling out a noble old gentleman living north of town in Yellow Springs east of today’s Brook Hill Church and adjacent crossroads (Yellow Springs Road, Indian Springs Road and Bethel Road). This was Daniel Zedricks or Zedrix, born around 1819. Daniel was said to have been a bit eccentric later in life.  Maryland Union (Oct 6, 1870) My assistant Marilyn Veek found info for me in the county will and probate records regarding a man named Maj. John Nicholas Holtz (1762-1849). Holtz lived at Mountaindale off Bethel Road and had a fine residence there. According to the 1830 US Census, Holtz had 12 slaves and his neighbor Nicholas Whitmore had 12. In his will, Maj. Holtz requested that his "real estate goods and chattels be sold within five years.” Holtz’ died in 1848 and his will was probated in 1849 and refers to his "mansion farm" and two boys, Henry and Daniel. Holtz stated: "Having virtually manumitted my negro man Daniel by paying wages for seventeen or eighteen years past, I hereby release him from slavery and Henry and Daniel are "to be free." He added, "and direct my executors to lay off five acres of ground to include the house he (Daniel) now lives in, and they are to permit the said Daniel to occupy the same during his natural life.” The executors were also instructed to pay Daniel twenty dollars annually during his natural life. In the will, Holtz also devises to his friend, Nicholas Whitmore, in trust for "my negro boy Daniel," five acres of land adjoining the land he devised to "my negro man Daniel, his father," allowing Daniel to use and occupy the land during his natural life.  Daniel Zedricks (D Zedrix) home as shown on the 1858 Isaac Bond Atlas in the shadow of White Rock (upper left)  Daniel Zedrix in the 1860 US Census living in Frederick At his death, Nicholas Whitmore (or his heirs) was to convey the land to Daniel's children. The land in question is on the west side of Bethel Road as shown on the 1873 Titus map. Note the three Zedricks labeled in the upper left. This includes father Daniel Zedrix (D. Zedrix) and sons Oliver (O. Zedrix) born around 1835 and Henry (H. Zendrix) born around 1846.  I researched and learned that the Henry on this 1873 map is not the same as Henry Zedrick(s) our tinsmith living in town. This Henry was a son to Daniel Zedrick (Zendrix), a farm laborer and worked at the E.A. Shriner rolling mill operation at Ceresville. In Holtz's will, he manumits "my negro boys Henry & Daniel,” the latter "Henry" apparently not being the same Henry Zedrick(s), our tinsmith. I do feel, however, that Henry Zedrick(s) the tinsmith is the brother of Daniel Zedricks of Yellow Springs. And to go one step further, I think that Maj. John Nicholas Holtz could possibly be the biological father of both Daniel and Henry. We may never know the true origin of the Zedrick(s), but it was certainly being used by the mid-1850s. Holtz and wife Susanna (Zimmerman) Holtz repose under the varied war monuments in Frederick’s Memorial Park, former site of the German Reformed Church Burying ground that was condemned and discontinued in the 1920s. Their name is included on the plaque that faces N. Bentz Street.
As for Daniel Zedrick, I found a few articles pertaining to his life as he would live in Knoxville in western Frederick County for a short time, but would come back to the Tuscarora District of Yellow Springs. He was married in 1858 to a woman named Mary Jane E. Norris but this ended in divorce in the 1870s. I found a Mary Zedricks who worked as a matron at the US Government's General Hospital Center in Frederick during the Civil War. I think this woman is the same who should be commended for her work in caring for soldiers of both armies. She did this from 1863-1865 according to attendance cards found.
Daniel Zedricks was known to deliver a lecture annually on the occasion of his birthday. He would do this at the Brookhill crossroads. 1894 would mark the last time as he died just days before his 77th birthday in late May, 1895. “On Sunday last Daniel Zedrix, probably the oldest colored resident of Tuscarora district, this county, was found in bed. Zedrix was formerly a slave of Maj. Nicholas Holtz and was almost octogenarian. He had been in feeble health for some time past, but was noticed sitting at his door some hours previous to his death. The old man was considered eccentric in his habits. He lived alone, and for the past several years on the anniversary of his birth had been in the habit of delivering an address the cross-roads near his house.”
Another obituary said the following: “On Sunday last Daniel Zedrix, probably the oldest colored resident of Tuscarora district, this county, was found in bed. Zedrix was formerly a slave of Maj. Nicholas Holtz and was almost octogenarian. He had been in feeble health for some time past, but was noticed sitting at his door some hours previous to his death. The old man was considered eccentric in his habits. He lived alone, and for the past several years on the anniversary of his birth had been in the habit of delivering an address the cross-roads near his house.”  Frederick News (June 18, 1895) Let's get back to Henry Zedrick(s). A testimonial for a 'petro oil" was given under his name in support of Baker W. Johnson in 1869 and appeared in the local paper. I also found a document on Ancestry.com that shows that Henry was working on a large job for the government with local architect/contractor James Hopwood for the Quartermaster Department of the US Army Volunteers. This involved repairing a school in Frederick.  oil july 13 1870 fredex  1870 US Census showing Henry and Rebecca Zedrick living in Frederick, most likely on East Patrick St The 1870 Census shows nephews of Rebecca living and working in their household/business in the form of Hampton and Joseph Watson who I introduced you to earlier—sons of Sophia T. (Neale) Watson, Rebecca’s kid sister. Henry’s business benefited family members with apprenticeships as we have seen. It also benefited the star of part 1 of this story, Cuban immigrant Hipolito DeLibardie. Not only did Henry influence Hipolito with a trade, but I speculate that Henry also stressed the importance in getting involved with politics. Henry can be seen as one of the first black voters in Frederick’s history, and one of the first individuals of color to get involved in local and state politics. This occurred immediately after the Civil War. Gradually, Henry was becoming more entrenched in the Republican party and making a name for himself. At the same time, his business expertise and professionalism were making him a highly respected member of the community.  Washington, DC American and Commercial Advertiser (June 9, 1869)
All seemed to be going well for the Zedrick(s) family in both business and home life, while Henry was solidifying a name for himself in the political sphere. However, a very unfortunate incident would beset the family in spring of 1876.  Catoctin Clarion (April 7, 1876) I was surprised to learn that the couple did not have children of their own. However they would adopt two relatives in the form of Henry Joseph Zedrick (b. @ 1870) and Daisy Zedrick (b. @ 1875). They both appear in the 1880 US Census, but Henry does not. He would die in late April, 1878. The newspaper and citizenry certainly recognized his contributions to the Frederick community over his lifetime.  Maryland Union (April 25, 1878) Henry would be buried in the same lot as father-in-law Samuel Neale within St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. His grave remains unmarked to this day. In St. John's cemetery records he is recorded as Henry Ziddricks, a truly unique spelling of the name. Rebecca had lost three outstanding men in her life in a span of 6 years—father Samuel in 1872, brother Joseph in 1876, and now Henry. She would not know it then but she would lose her mother in 1878, and brother Samuel the professor in 1880. That brings us back to where we started this odyssey and second part of our detailed Black History exploration into the life (and family) of Hipolito DeLibardie’s employer Rebecca (Neale) Zedrick(s). With Henry gone, Rebecca kept the business afloat. She would turn over the reins in 1886 to the young Cuban resident of Frederick, likely the very first. Rebecca bowed out of public view and lived in northwest Washington DC for a few years, likely with daughter Daisy. Meanwhile her son, Joseph Henry, went to Philadelphia. At the end, Rebecca came back to Frederick and can be found living with her sister Sophie on East Fourth Street. As a matter of fact, Sophie’s home was on the corner of Chapel Alley. The sisters were less than a block from St. John’s Cemetery and I’m sure they both visited the graves of their husbands, parents and brother often.  Be that as it may, they were ambivalent about obtaining a permanent grave marker for their parents as we have mentioned strongly at the outset. Although, Herbert Bell received a grave monument, Sophie would not get one. In a role reversal, Henry would not get his own marker and is currently unmarked. However, as we showed at the beginning, Rebecca has been represented by a stone since her death on June 14th, 1894.
Rebecca’s obituary ran in the newspaper and gave testament to one of Frederick’s first female black businesswomen. Her stone also included the name of her husband. I found an article stating that sister Sophia received the insurance payout for her sister's death. I presume that this money was used to purchase this impressive grave monument for its time. Too bad Rebecca's parents didn't have a like policy, if so perhaps a stone would have been placed on their grave a few feet away in the 1870s, or at the time of Rebecca's passing.
 What a great segue for the convergence of February and March representing Black History Month and Women’s History Month respectively. I will fondly, and forever, remember my time spent researching and channeling (in spirit) the DeLibardie, Neale and Zedrick(s) families of Frederick in February, 2026. Learn more local history from the author of "Stories in Stone!" 
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