Ms. Ledman gave birth to a dead son after it was asphyxiated during birthing on May 6th in 1851. Ms. Ledman’s spouse was Abel Ledman.
Tragically, Ms. Ledman gave birth to a stillborn child fifteen months previously due to convulsions on February 8, 1850. (see Appendix)
A year previous to this occurrence, Ms. Ledman gave birth to a female stillborn child on January 5, 1849. (see Appendix)
All of the children were buried at Bethel Burying Ground.
Abel Ledman and his spouse did not participate in any local or national censuses. They also refused to have their names and addresses published in the city directories over the decades. It is probable that one or both of the adults were fugitives from slavers.
After the Civil War in 1868, there is a lone entry for an “Abel Leadman” in a city directory in which he is listed as “colored” and a “laborer.” There are no death certificates that I can locate related to the adult Ledmans. The couple’s last name has been also spelled “Leduum,” “Ledaman,” and “Leadman.” His first name has also been spelled “Able.”
APPENDIX
Bethel Burying Ground Project 