In the book
Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania, author William J. Switala makes reference to Wilmore being a part of the Johnstown-Wilmore-Ebensburg-Burnside route. "From Johnstown, the fugitive slaves moved northeasterly through the heavily wooded valleys and gullies of the
Appalachian Mountains. The more well known of the two routes … proceeds from Johnstown all the way to Ebensburg, following the trace that eventually became
US-219. Blockson mentions a stop along the route at the hamlet of Wilmore, a small black community located about eight miles south of Ebensburg and near Portage. Godfrey Wilmore, a former slave from
Maryland, is reported to have founded the community."
Godfrey Wilmore was born 1751 in or near
Cumberland, Allegheny County, Maryland [8] and died April 2, 1815 in Wilmore; he was buried at St. Michael's Cemetery,
Loretto, Pennsylvania. Godfrey married Mary Higgins, who was born 1747 in
Ireland and died Aug 28, 1822, in Wilmore; buried St. Michael's Cemetery, Loretto.
Godfrey was a freed slave of African descent. Mary was either an
indentured servant or a
redemptioner and was of Irish descent. Both his and Mary Higgins' servitude were documented within
Harford County, Maryland. Godfrey is said to have been a man of above average intellect, who could read and write. This is referenced numerous times within Cambria County documents by the notation that Godfrey Wilmore wrote the document and witnessed it by his signature, whereas the other parties sign by their mark "X". In that he was a slave, the fact that he could read and write is remarkable and suggests that he may have been a "
house slave" or a supervisory slave laborer. Even more remarkable is that it is further said that he was an energetic man who worked enough extra, outside of his servitude, that he was able to buy his freedom. Documents go on to say that he then bought the remaining time of indentured servitude of his white wife Mary Higgins. It is also noted that due to his education, Godfrey becomes the first teacher in the area that surrounds Wilmore.
