“Rev. Zechariah Tyler was born about 1820 in the State of Maryland, and became one of the best-known residents of Ithaca. He served for twenty years in slavery, but escaped about 1840 or 1841, leaving his master’s plantation in Maryland. His master was Charles Carrol of Carrolton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Tyler was a family servant. He learned to write and wrote passes for other slaves which assisted them to run away. His master found him out and was about to sell him south, so Tyler put his ability to work for himself by writing a pass to go to some place several miles distant. He stole his best suit, the family saddle and bridle and went to a pasture and caught the saddle or riding horse. In time, he reached New York State, finally settling at Ithaca in 1842. He said that he had been worried about his escape but he had everything ready to start to Canada in case of an alarm from his friends who were watching for any move against him. Elder Tyler was a noble looking old gentleman and a fine representative of his race, so observed Charles Mulks who interviewed him in 1896.”

Sydney H. Gallwey Early Slaves and Freemen of Tompkins County, presented January 30, 1962 before Ithaca Council for Equality at St. John’s Church, p.11-12.