NATURE PHILOSOPHY MUSIC HISTORY FEMINISM
& sometimes puny puns
Jennifer Rycenga's Website
for various and sundry idiosyncrasies, observations, research projects & more
"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on the rock." - Mary Shelly, Frankenstein, ch. XIII
The Burleigh Family of Plainfield, Connecticut
Burleigh Basics
The Burleigh family of Plainfield, Connecticut - they are known to any serious student of the Abolitionist era, but virtually unknown to the wider public. They first made their mark when they "early in the fray came to the moral rescue of Miss Prudence Crandall" in nearby Canterbury. From that point their activism radiated out to Anti-Slavery generally, as well as Peace, Temperance, opposition to the Death Penalty, and political parties. Educational projects were always important to the family, as was the printed word - three of the brothers edited Abolitionist newspapers at some point in their career. But the arts were also a crucial component of the Burleighs: poetry in the Abolitionist generation, and painting for their progeny.
However, this is not the whole story, nor their whole significance. The Burleigh family embodied a progressive anti-racist attitude in their Abolitionist work. They also had a pro- and proto-feminist perspective on women's equality. Most of their marriages were to women who also had independent public voices and activist involvement; a few even had professional careers.
Below are fifteen individual character accounts. Click on the name to go to the person you want to see. Each character account includes a short biography, a list of publications and/or archival holdings, and whatever visual evidence - photographs, portraits, art works, ephemera - have been discovered.
A full-length essay on the Burleigh family as a unit will also be produced and added to these individual accounts at a later date.
Teacher, Father, Abolitionist
Taught for many years at the Plainfield Academy
Mother, Abolitionist
Descendant of William Bradford. Kept the Burleigh household (pictured above)
Daughter, Teacher, Abolitionist
Co-teacher at the Canterbury Female Academy for Black Women. Caretaker for her parents in their dotage.
Abolitionist, Teacher
Among officers for Plainfield Anti-Slavery Society; moved to Worcester area, taught there until his early death.
Abolitionist, Lecturer, Author, Editor
Editor of The Unionist (1833-34)
Editor of Pennsylvania Freeman
Abolitionist, Teacher, Lecturer, Editor, Poet
Teacher at the Canterbury Female Academy
Co-editor of The Unionist (1833-34)
Important voice in Free Soil and Republican parties
Abolitionist, Temperance Lecturer, Baptist Minister
Lucian became the minister of Crandall's old church, Packerville Baptist, and helped to keep alive the memory of Crandall and her students.
Abolitionist, Editor, Lecturer, Organizer
Cyrus became a very active Abolitionist in Pennsylvania, acting as part of the Executive Editorial Committee for the Pennsylvania Freeman before his premature, and much mourned, passing.
Poet, Abolitionist
An important poet in his day, George Burleigh helped in the effort to secure a pension for Prudence Crandall from the State of Connecticut.
Abolitionist
Wife of Charles, from Abolitionist and educator family in Pennsylvania, active in the movements there and in Northampton
Poet, Abolitionist
Wife of Cyrus for his last few months; better known for her Abolitionist activity and long-time partnership with Mary Grew
Poet, Minister, Abolitionist
Married briefly to William. Among the earliest Unitarian women ministers
Poet, Abolitionist, Feminist
Married to George. Came from an Abolitionist family with ties to the Underground Railroad.
Painter, Art Educator
Son of George S. Burleigh. Major artist in Rhode Island, he helped found the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Painter
Son of Charles C. Burleigh. Important artist whose potential was cut off by an early death. He is represented with a painting at the Shelburne Museum, and fulfilled commissions from Andrew White, first President of Cornell University. See more here.
.jpg)
Lithographer
L.R. (Lucien Rinaldo) Burleigh (1853-1923)
Son of Lucian Burleigh. He moved to the Troy, NY area, where he became a significant lithographer of city scenes. His work is highly prized, and is represented in major museums.
Info on this lithograph here.
This poem, by George S. Burleigh, was written for the 1899 celebration of Plainfield's Bicentennial. It features reflections on the area that shaped the generation of Rinaldo and Lydia Burleigh's accomplished children.
Help locate even more Burleigh information!
Add your own content here. Click to edit.
This website is meant to be a work in perpetual progress. Building information about the Burleigh family will help anti-racist activism, as we come to understand the heritage of allies and leaders in the struggle. When you discover more Burleigh arcana, please share. All contributions will be acknowledged. Drop me a line at