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ELIZA BURGHARDT

Program
NYS Historic
Subject
People
Location
108 Center St, Warsaw, NY 14569, USA
Lat/Long
42.736051, -78.135933
Grant Recipient
Warsaw Historical Society and The Gates House Museum
Historic Marker

ELIZA BURGHARDT

Inscription

ELIZA BURGHARDT
CA. 1842-1898. BELIEVED TO
HAVE ESCAPED SLAVERY IN
VIRGINIA AS A CHILD WITH
HER MOTHER, COMING TO
WARSAW 1850. LIVED HERE.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2024

Eliza Burghardt (CA. 1842-1898), who spent most of her life living in Warsaw in Wyoming County, New York, is believed to have escaped slavery as a child with her mother. Throughout Eliza’s life, the story of her and her mother’s escape was recounted at various points. With her pregnant mother, Eliza escaped from Virginia in 1850 at around seven years old, with the help of a gentleman who hid them in a wooden box built into a wagon. They traveled 22 days to Warsaw, ending up at the home of Isaac N. Phelps. Eliza and her mother were recorded in the 1850 federal census as residing in Warsaw by August 1850, however living in separate, neighboring households in the village. Shortly after their arrival in Warsaw, her mother had given birth to a son and died not long after. Eliza was eventually taken in by Allen Breck and her infant brother was cared for by D.C. Martin, becoming known as William Martin.

Around 1866, Eliza married William Burghardt, an African American barber from Warsaw. She had three sons, Edward, Charles, and William and one daughter, Grace. She lived with her husband in their house on Center Street until her death on May 6, 1898. Her obituary published on the front page of the May 12, 1898 edition of the Wyoming County Times recalled the story of her escape from slavery, noting that “She grew into a fine womanhood and has always been regarded in this community not only with esteem, but with affection.” It concluded that Eliza had “been a most devoted wife and mother, as well as a kind friend and neighbor … making and holding warm friends by her exemplary life, her unfailing cheerfulness and courage.” She is buried in Warsaw Cemetery alongside her husband.