About James Lindsay Smith
Lived 1816 – 1883 (aged 66–67). James Lindsay Smith was a writer.
James Lindsay Smith (ca. 1816 – ca. 1883) was an American slave narrative author, minister, and shoemaker.
Life Born a slave on a plantation in Northumberland County, Virginia, Smith escaped in 1838, rowing across the Chesapeake Bay with two other fugitives in a canoe. After stops in New Castle, Philadelphia, and New York City and with the aid of abolitionists such as David Ruggles, Smith gained safety in Springfield, Massachusetts, via the Underground Railroad. In Massachusetts, he became a founding member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and attended Wilbraham Academy.
Legacy Smith's house on School Street is a stop on Norwich's Freedom Trail and is a contributing property to Norwich's Jail Hill Historic District.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was James Lindsay Smith?
American slave narrative author
When was James Lindsay Smith born?
James Lindsay Smith was born in 1816 in Northern Neck.
When did James Lindsay Smith die?
James Lindsay Smith died in 1883 in Norwich, Connecticut.
What was James Lindsay Smith's occupation?
James Lindsay Smith was a writer.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: James Lindsay Smith
· DBpedia: James Lindsay Smith
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Lindsay Smith. https://biography.guide/james-lindsay-smith/
MLA: "James Lindsay Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-lindsay-smith/.
Chicago: "James Lindsay Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-lindsay-smith/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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