February: America's History Month

Based on historical records, how likely is it that the Christopher McPherson of Virginia (who lived in 1776) was also a resident of Seneca Village in New York City's upper Manhattan.

While both the man and the village are significant in Black history, they belong to different locations and primary time periods.

Who was Christopher McPherson born and died (ca. 1763–1817)?

The historical Christopher McPherson was a prominent free African American based almost entirely in Virginia. He was born in Louisa County, Virginia, and spent the majority of his life in Richmond.

He was a highly skilled clerk who worked for Thomas Jefferson’s commercial agent and later for the U.S. Congress in Philadelphia for a brief period.

He became known for his religious prophecies and for self-publishing his autobiography, A Short History of the Life of Christopher McPherson, in 1811.

Timeline: He died in 1817, which is eight years before Seneca Village was even founded.

Seneca Village (1825–1857)

Seneca Village was a thriving community of predominantly Black property owners located in Manhattan (between what is now West 82nd and West 89th Streets).

Founding: It began in 1825 when John and Elizabeth Whitehead sold lots to African Americans like Andrew Williams and Epiphany Davis.

The community was displaced in 1857 through eminent domain to make room for the construction of Central Park.

But is there a connection to Seneca Falls. There is a theory that the village was named after Seneca Falls, NY, because of that town's association with the abolitionist movement, but there is no record of the Virginian Christopher McPherson living there.

Summary of Differences

Feature	Christopher McPherson	Seneca Village
Primary Region	Richmond, Virginia	Manhattan, New York City
Key Dates	1763–1817	1825–1857
Status	Free clerk, landowner, & prophet	Autonomous Black community
Fate	Died in Virginia	Displaced by Central Park

The name "McPherson" does appear in New York history (for example, James McPherson is a famous historian of the Civil War), but there is no evidence linking the 18th-century Virginian clerk to the land that became Central Park.

In the mid-1850s, the 19th Ward of New York City covered the Upper West Side. During the 1855 New York State Census, the residents of Seneca Village were being recorded just before the city began clearing the land for Central Park.

Seneca Village Landowners: 

The primary property owners listed in the 19th Ward for the Seneca Village lots (between 82nd and 89th Streets) include families like the Williamses, Davises, and Lyonses.

Christopher McPherson Smith: 

As noted previously, this individual is the most direct link to the Virginia Christopher McPherson in New York. He was active in Manhattan in 1855, specifically in the publishing of his grandfather's memoirs.

The 1850 & 1855 Census: 

There are several "McPherson" and "Smith" households in Manhattan during this time. While "Smith" is a very common name, the specific combination of Christopher McPherson Smith confirms that the descendants of the Virginia family were present in the city.

Property Displacement (1853–1857)

The land that became Central Park was seized through Eminent Domain.

Compensation: If a member of the McPherson or Smith family owned land in that specific area, they would have been listed in the 1856 "Damage Maps" created by the city to determine compensation values for the displaced residents.

Black Property Ownership: Seneca Village was a significant site of Black land ownership. This ownership was a key requirement for Black men to vote in New York at the time, which required $250 in property holdings.

To bridge the gap between the Virginia Christopher McPherson and New York City, we have to look at the generation that followed him. The most direct link is his grandson, Christopher McPherson Smith, who was active in New York around the time Seneca Village was being dismantled. Here is the likelihood and the timeline of that connection:

The New York Connection: Christopher McPherson Smith

While the elder McPherson died in 1817, his legacy moved north. In 1855, his grandson (likely the son of one of McPherson's daughters, as McPherson’s own sons died young or without record of moving to NYC) lived in Manhattan and republished his grandfather’s autobiography.

Location: In 1855, Christopher McPherson Smith was listed in NYC directories.

Context: This was the peak of the legal battle over Central Park. The city had begun the process of "Eminent Domain" in 1853 to seize the land that included Seneca Village.

The Black Land: Seneca Village was a middle-class Black enclave where many residents were property owners—a rarity that allowed Black men the right to vote under New York's 1821 constitution (which required $250 in property).

Was there a "McPherson" on the Seneca Village land?

Based on the official 1855 New York State Census and the 1856 "European and American" damage maps used to compensate landowners for Central Park:

Direct Property Owners: The primary names associated with the "Black Land" in the park were Williams, Davis, Whitehead, and Lyons.

The McPherson Link: There is no record of a "Christopher McPherson" owning a specific lot inside the Seneca Village boundaries (82nd to 89th St).

The Overlap: However, many residents of Seneca Village were from the South or had ties to the abolitionist movement. Given that Christopher McPherson Smith was publishing in NYC in 1855, he would have been a contemporary of the community's destruction.

Comparison of the Two Eras

The confusion often stems from the fact that both involve prominent Black figures losing or fighting for land and rights.

Feature	Christopher McPherson (VA)	The "Black Land" (NYC)
Era	1776 - 1817	1825 - 1857
Land Struggle	Fought for rights in Richmond/Petersburg.	Displaced for Central Park.
Key Symbol	The "1776" Revolutionary promise.	The right to vote through property.
Connection	Grandfather of a NYC resident.	Grandson lived in NYC during the displacement.

It is highly unlikely the original Christopher McPherson lived there, but his grandson was a part of the educated Black elite in New York City exactly when Seneca Village was being destroyed. It is possible the family story of "lost land" or "Virginia roots" has blended these two distinct historical moments.

Christopher McPherson (ca. 1763–1817) had direct and significant ties to both Petersburg and the broader Virginia landscape during the era of the American Revolution (1776).

While the earlier question touched on New York, historical records place Christopher McPherson firmly in Virginia, where he was a prominent free Black clerk, businessman, and self-styled prophet.

The Petersburg Connection

Petersburg played a pivotal role in McPherson's early life and career development:

The Elk Horn Store: In 1772, at roughly nine years old, McPherson was sent to work "behind the counter" at the Elk Horn store in Petersburg. This was a formative experience where he began learning the mercantile and clerical skills that would later make him one of the most educated Black men of his time.

David Ross: McPherson was enslaved to David Ross, a wealthy Scottish merchant who conducted extensive business in both Richmond and Petersburg. Ross recognized McPherson’s talent and employed him as a clerk throughout the Revolutionary period.

Revolutionary Service (1776–1781)

McPherson often cited his service during the Revolution to assert his rights as a citizen:

Clerk to the Commercial Agent: From 1778 to 1781, he served as a clerk for the Commercial Agent of Virginia.

Siege of Yorktown: He was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, serving as a clerk for one of the Commissary Generals of the Continental Army.

Association with Founders: Because of his high-level clerical work, he was acquainted with Thomas Jefferson, worked for George Wythe (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), and even dined with James Madison at Montpelier.

The "1776" Identity and Later Life

The year 1776 was central to McPherson's identity. In his 1811 autobiography, A Short History of the Life of Christopher McPherson, he argued that the promises of the Revolution should apply to Black Americans.

Later in life, he became known for:

Religious Prophecy: He believed he was the "son of Christ" and a messenger sent to warn world leaders of an impending apocalypse.

Social Activism in Richmond: He fought against discriminatory laws, such as a Richmond ordinance that banned Black people from using hired carriages, and he established a night school for Black residents in 1811.

Summary of Key Locations

Location	Connection to Christopher McPherson
Louisa County	His birthplace (born to an enslaved woman and a Scottish merchant).
Petersburg	Site of his first job at the Elk Horn store in 1772.
Richmond	His primary residence as a free man; site of his business and legal battles.
Williamsburg	Location of the "Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds" where he was briefly committed.

Given the interest in New York real estate and the history of Seneca Village, it is worth noting that while McPherson himself was a Virginian, his descendants or others sharing the name may have migrated north.

That relative, named Christopher McPherson Smith, mentioned earlier, who republished his autobiography in 1855, just two years before Seneca Village was cleared for Central Park