CUSHMAN, Ralph, planter, jurist. Born, Barnet, Vt., November 18, 1800; son of Clark Cushman and Katherine Grout. Taught school in Maryland and South Carolina; studied law in Georgia; began practice of law in Opelousas, La., 1829. Married, October 25, 1832, Esther Rebecca Brashear of Opelousas, daughter of Beall Belt Brashear and Amelia Duvall. Children: Walter Overton (b. 1833), Margery Eliza (b. 1836), Charles Willard (b. 1837), Katherine Amelia (b. 1839), Basil Crow (b. 1841), Felix Albert (b. 1843), Pamela Jane (b. 1845), Edward (b. 1848), and Mary Louisa (b. 1849). Removed to Avoyelles Parish establishing residence at his plantation "Poplar Hill" near Marksville.
Admitted to the Avoyelles bar in 1839; appointed judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Louisiana in 1846 holding court in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, and Marksville. Elected to a four-year term to that office in 1853. Died, Marksville, September 17, 1855. T.H.
Sources: Virginia W. de Gravelles, ed., Farewell to Youth: The Diary of Margery Cushman (1982); Cushman Family Bible.
NOTE OF INTEREST:
In the story made familiar by the 2013 movie Twelve Years A Slave, Judge Cushman was the magistrate who reviewed the case and sent the sheriff to bring Solomon Northup in to be interviewed, which led to the discovery of his kidnapping and his ultimate release.
Admitted to the Avoyelles bar in 1839; appointed judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Louisiana in 1846 holding court in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, and Marksville. Elected to a four-year term to that office in 1853. Died, Marksville, September 17, 1855. T.H.
Sources: Virginia W. de Gravelles, ed., Farewell to Youth: The Diary of Margery Cushman (1982); Cushman Family Bible.
NOTE OF INTEREST:
In the story made familiar by the 2013 movie Twelve Years A Slave, Judge Cushman was the magistrate who reviewed the case and sent the sheriff to bring Solomon Northup in to be interviewed, which led to the discovery of his kidnapping and his ultimate release.
CUSHMAN, Ralph, planter, jurist. Born, Barnet, Vt., November 18, 1800; son of Clark Cushman and Katherine Grout. Taught school in Maryland and South Carolina; studied law in Georgia; began practice of law in Opelousas, La., 1829. Married, October 25, 1832, Esther Rebecca Brashear of Opelousas, daughter of Beall Belt Brashear and Amelia Duvall. Children: Walter Overton (b. 1833), Margery Eliza (b. 1836), Charles Willard (b. 1837), Katherine Amelia (b. 1839), Basil Crow (b. 1841), Felix Albert (b. 1843), Pamela Jane (b. 1845), Edward (b. 1848), and Mary Louisa (b. 1849). Removed to Avoyelles Parish establishing residence at his plantation "Poplar Hill" near Marksville.
Admitted to the Avoyelles bar in 1839; appointed judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Louisiana in 1846 holding court in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, and Marksville. Elected to a four-year term to that office in 1853. Died, Marksville, September 17, 1855. T.H.
Sources: Virginia W. de Gravelles, ed., Farewell to Youth: The Diary of Margery Cushman (1982); Cushman Family Bible.
NOTE OF INTEREST:
In the story made familiar by the 2013 movie Twelve Years A Slave, Judge Cushman was the magistrate who reviewed the case and sent the sheriff to bring Solomon Northup in to be interviewed, which led to the discovery of his kidnapping and his ultimate release.
Admitted to the Avoyelles bar in 1839; appointed judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Louisiana in 1846 holding court in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, and Marksville. Elected to a four-year term to that office in 1853. Died, Marksville, September 17, 1855. T.H.
Sources: Virginia W. de Gravelles, ed., Farewell to Youth: The Diary of Margery Cushman (1982); Cushman Family Bible.
NOTE OF INTEREST:
In the story made familiar by the 2013 movie Twelve Years A Slave, Judge Cushman was the magistrate who reviewed the case and sent the sheriff to bring Solomon Northup in to be interviewed, which led to the discovery of his kidnapping and his ultimate release.
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