CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM) — The Cumberland County Historical Society (CCHS) announced that it has acquired a rare Underground Railroad letter dating back to 1847.

According to CCHS, the historic letter was written in Carlisle and is dated June 21, 1847.

The letter was written by Henry Stockton to Charles Watts, who was serving in the U.S. Army near Mexico at the time. The letter updated Watts on his family, including his brother’s family, who were recently sold.

Furthermore, the letter updated him on his cousins who may have travelled on the Underground Railroad.

CCHS says the letter also recounts the events of what is known today as the McClintock Riot, which took place on June 2, 1847.

On that day, two enslavers from Hagerstown, Maryland, James Kennedy and his brother-in-law, Howard Hollingsworth, came to Carlisle in order to retrieve three Freedom Seekers who were being held in jail until a case was resolved.

After multiple efforts to free the three individuals, Kennedy was injured, and John McClintock, who was a local lawyer who sought to stop the release of the Freedom Seekers, was indicted for starting a riot, in addition to 34 Black residents.

CCHS says that in the letter, Stockton writes about these events, saying that it “caused a great disturbance in town.”

“This is an exceedingly rare letter that furthers our understanding of the antislavery movement in central Pennsylvania,” Executive Director at CCHS, Dr. Lindsay Varner, said. “There is so much information packed into this letter.  The organization is going to take time to try and research the people and places it mentions.”

According to CCHS, the letter was identified by Board Trustee Randy Heishman, who also helped to organize the bidding process.

Moving forward, the letter is now part of CCHS’s archival collection and will soon be available for research.

The letter will also be on display for the organization’s America250 exhibit in 2026.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.