SOURCE: Memorial Report—St. Clair County by Mrs. Helen W. Farrand, Historical Collections, pp. 170-172. In Collections and Researches Made by the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society. Vol. XXII (1893). Lansing, MI: Robert Smith & Co., State Printers and Binders, 1894.

Malinda Paris — A Memorial

"Mrs. Malinda Paris. —Mrs. Malinda Paris died in St. Clair, October 22, 1892, aged 68 years. She was born at Paris, Ky., December 24, 1824. Her maiden name was Robinson. Her father was a slave, but her mother was born free. From this marriage there were nine children, of whom Malinda was the sixth.

"On account of the father being a slave a very determined effort was made to enslave the children. This the mother steadfastly resisted through the courts for fourteen years, when they were finally declared free. Malinda, the subject of this sketch, distinctly remembered the time, she [Malinda] being then five years of age. The mother then tried to buy the freedom of her husband, but the sum asked ($15,000) [sic*] being beyond her power to secure, he urged her to take the children and go north, choosing to die there alone in slavery rather than run the risk of having them stolen from her. She finally did so, taking her departure in the night, her husband, unknown to his master, accompanying them nine miles of the way. They then knelt together and prayed and sang a parting hymn, and the slave father turned back alone to end his life a slave, while the faithful mother hurriedly bore her children onward to a place of safety.

"They never met again on earth. She found a home for herself at Terre Haute, Ind., where they earned their living, the mother at her trade as a tailoress, and the children working out. There Malinda became acquainted with William Paris, whom she married at the age of eighteen. He was born free, but had been kidnapped at three different times and taken into slavery. Twice he was held thus for six months at a time before he found opportunity to escape, and the last time he was held a year. This was before their marriage.

"After their marriage they went to Vincennes, Ind., where they found employment in a hotel as cooks. But they had not been long there when his would-be master found him out, and came with his bloodhounds to force him back into slavery; but by means of the "underground railroad" a safe landing on Canadian soil was secured to him. He went to Chatham, where he was soon joined by his wife, Malinda, and there their first child, Jane, was born. He enlisted as a soldier, but in a short time the regiment was disbanded. After this they went to Detroit, and meeting there with Gen. S. B. Brown they were hired by him to come to St. Clair and cook in his hotel, and here they spent the remainder of their lives, she being left a widow in the year 1860.

"There were seven children born to them, three of whom are still living. Her oldest son, Henry, enlisted in the war of the rebellion, where he remained until its close, a period of over three years and three months. He contracted disease in the army, consumption, and after a lingering illness, died in his mother's home. She finally applied for and received a pension on his account, but only lived to enjoy it for about three years. She was always a very hard worker, and for the last few years of her life she suffered a good deal from difficulty of breathing. Fourteen months ago she had a very sudden and serious attack of sickness which the physicians pronounced heart trouble. From this she never recovered. During the most of this period her sufferings were intense. She knew that her life hung upon a very slender thread, but her trust in God was unfaltering to the end. Her desire for continued life was only for the sake of others, that she might still help to bear their burdens. The immense concourse of people present on the occasion was sufficient testimony that "Aunt Malinda" will long be held in loving remembrance by the people of St. Clair."

* NOTE: The obituary [PDF] for Malinda Paris states that $1,500 was the amount asked. We suspect that the amount printed in this memorial ($15,000) is a typographical error.

What else do we know about Malinda Paris?

In an attempt to verify the information provided by Mrs. Farrand's memorial sketch, we consulted the Michigan census records.

According to the 1860 census, William Paris (48), was a laborer who could not read or write. He owned real estate valued at $1,300. Malinda was 36 years old. Five children were at home: Jane (18, born in Canada), William (Henry) (15), Hannah (13), Sarah A. (11), and Frank (5). All the children had attended school during the year and all except Jane were born in Michigan. All the persons in the family were described as black.

In the 1870 census Malinda's occupation is listed as "keeping house" and owning real estate valued at $400. Only two other family members were shown living at the same address: Henry (26) and Frank (14). All the persons listed were described as mulatto—persons of mixed white and black ancestry.

According to the census taken June 7 and 8, 1880, Malinda Paris, a widow, lived on Vine Street in St. Clair. Frank Paris, her 24-year-old son (occupation: gardener), also lived there. Three persons were listed as boarders in her home: Carrie Doston, age 5; Christina Doston, age 4; and Nancy Butler, age 79, a cook. Malinda Paris and the Doston children were described as mulatto. At the time the census was taken Malinda was 55 years old and was keeping house.

According to the censuses, Malinda's mother had been born in Maryland. Both Malinda and her father were born in Kentucky. Malinda's husband William was born in Virginia.

We also looked at Civil War records for information about Malinda and William's son Henry. The General Index to Pension Files dated Malinda's application on March 1, 1888 (Application no. 368595, Certificate no. 260464). Further, it indicated that his given name was William H. Paris with Henry Paris included as an alias. (This explained why we found a "William" in the 1870 census, but no "Henry." He may have used his middle name, as do some sons who are named for their fathers.)

We consulted the Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865 (often called the "Brown Books") and the microfilm of the information from which the Brown Books were compiled for information about Henry. This is his record of service according to those sources:

Paris, Henry. Enlisted in company I, First Colored Infantry, Jan 21, 1864, at Detroit, for 3 years, age 19. Mustered Jan. 29, 1864, at Ypsilanti. Corporal Jan. 1, 1865. Mustered out at Charleston, S. C., Sept. 30, 1865.

We found and read the obituary for Malinda Paris, published in the St. Clair Republican, St. Clair, Michigan October 27, 1892. You can read it here [PDF, Adobe Acrobat Reader required].

Updated 03/24/2004

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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