Dangerfield Newby (1815-1859) was the oldest of John Brown's raiders and the first of his men to die at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He had been unable to purchase the freedom of his wife Harriet and seven children from their owner. Their master raised the price after Newby had saved the $1,500 sum that he and Newby had previously agreed on. Because all of Newby's other efforts had failed he hoped to free them by force. Harriet's poignant letters, found on his body, proved instrumental in advancing the abolitionist cause.
