Mary was the 4th child of 5 children born to Jeptha Curtis and Mary Polly (Rhodes) Curtis.
Mary was joined in marriage at the age of 17, to Reverend John Bennington Mahan, on December 19, 1820. During their marriage they had a total of 10 children. The following information was written in an article about the first Presbyterian Church in Sardinia, Ohio:
During the anti-slave movement the church was active in the operation of the "Underground Railroad" thru Brown County, helping runaway slaves, causing bitter animosity from Kentucky. All members of the session and other church members belonged to this society, joining with prominent people in the community in furthering the cause. A reward of $2500. was offered for either the abduction or assassination of Elder Amos Pettijohn, who was arrested with Rev. John Bennington Mahan and Joseph Pettijohn, and each sentenced to pay $50. and imprisoned in the Brown County jail dungeon for 3 months to be fed on bread and water. They were charged with helping a 12 year old slave boy, after he swam the Ohio River to the free state.
While imprisoned in this dungeon, Mary's husband, Rev. John Bennington Mahan contracted tuberculosis and soon died. His tombstone is inscribed "A Victim to The Slave Power".
Mary, his widow, was left destitute, as it cost her husband John, all of his money to defend himself against charges made against him in a court of law. He was acquitted because he was illegally arrested by another state.
Mary died of Malaria Fever on August 30, 1879. She was 76 years old and had been a widow for 35 years. Mary was laid to rest in Lexington Cemetery with no grave marker, per her request.
Research and Bio by Juanita Clark. Information recieved from Elizabeth Franklin, Family Historian.
Mary was joined in marriage at the age of 17, to Reverend John Bennington Mahan, on December 19, 1820. During their marriage they had a total of 10 children. The following information was written in an article about the first Presbyterian Church in Sardinia, Ohio:
During the anti-slave movement the church was active in the operation of the "Underground Railroad" thru Brown County, helping runaway slaves, causing bitter animosity from Kentucky. All members of the session and other church members belonged to this society, joining with prominent people in the community in furthering the cause. A reward of $2500. was offered for either the abduction or assassination of Elder Amos Pettijohn, who was arrested with Rev. John Bennington Mahan and Joseph Pettijohn, and each sentenced to pay $50. and imprisoned in the Brown County jail dungeon for 3 months to be fed on bread and water. They were charged with helping a 12 year old slave boy, after he swam the Ohio River to the free state.
While imprisoned in this dungeon, Mary's husband, Rev. John Bennington Mahan contracted tuberculosis and soon died. His tombstone is inscribed "A Victim to The Slave Power".
Mary, his widow, was left destitute, as it cost her husband John, all of his money to defend himself against charges made against him in a court of law. He was acquitted because he was illegally arrested by another state.
Mary died of Malaria Fever on August 30, 1879. She was 76 years old and had been a widow for 35 years. Mary was laid to rest in Lexington Cemetery with no grave marker, per her request.
Research and Bio by Juanita Clark. Information recieved from Elizabeth Franklin, Family Historian.
Mary was the 4th child of 5 children born to Jeptha Curtis and Mary Polly (Rhodes) Curtis.
Mary was joined in marriage at the age of 17, to Reverend John Bennington Mahan, on December 19, 1820. During their marriage they had a total of 10 children. The following information was written in an article about the first Presbyterian Church in Sardinia, Ohio:
During the anti-slave movement the church was active in the operation of the "Underground Railroad" thru Brown County, helping runaway slaves, causing bitter animosity from Kentucky. All members of the session and other church members belonged to this society, joining with prominent people in the community in furthering the cause. A reward of $2500. was offered for either the abduction or assassination of Elder Amos Pettijohn, who was arrested with Rev. John Bennington Mahan and Joseph Pettijohn, and each sentenced to pay $50. and imprisoned in the Brown County jail dungeon for 3 months to be fed on bread and water. They were charged with helping a 12 year old slave boy, after he swam the Ohio River to the free state.
While imprisoned in this dungeon, Mary's husband, Rev. John Bennington Mahan contracted tuberculosis and soon died. His tombstone is inscribed "A Victim to The Slave Power".
Mary, his widow, was left destitute, as it cost her husband John, all of his money to defend himself against charges made against him in a court of law. He was acquitted because he was illegally arrested by another state.
Mary died of Malaria Fever on August 30, 1879. She was 76 years old and had been a widow for 35 years. Mary was laid to rest in Lexington Cemetery with no grave marker, per her request.
Research and Bio by Juanita Clark. Information recieved from Elizabeth Franklin, Family Historian.
Mary was joined in marriage at the age of 17, to Reverend John Bennington Mahan, on December 19, 1820. During their marriage they had a total of 10 children. The following information was written in an article about the first Presbyterian Church in Sardinia, Ohio:
During the anti-slave movement the church was active in the operation of the "Underground Railroad" thru Brown County, helping runaway slaves, causing bitter animosity from Kentucky. All members of the session and other church members belonged to this society, joining with prominent people in the community in furthering the cause. A reward of $2500. was offered for either the abduction or assassination of Elder Amos Pettijohn, who was arrested with Rev. John Bennington Mahan and Joseph Pettijohn, and each sentenced to pay $50. and imprisoned in the Brown County jail dungeon for 3 months to be fed on bread and water. They were charged with helping a 12 year old slave boy, after he swam the Ohio River to the free state.
While imprisoned in this dungeon, Mary's husband, Rev. John Bennington Mahan contracted tuberculosis and soon died. His tombstone is inscribed "A Victim to The Slave Power".
Mary, his widow, was left destitute, as it cost her husband John, all of his money to defend himself against charges made against him in a court of law. He was acquitted because he was illegally arrested by another state.
Mary died of Malaria Fever on August 30, 1879. She was 76 years old and had been a widow for 35 years. Mary was laid to rest in Lexington Cemetery with no grave marker, per her request.
Research and Bio by Juanita Clark. Information recieved from Elizabeth Franklin, Family Historian.
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