9 Barley Street (birthplace)

early life

In 1895 and again in 1901, Mrs. Pleasant, in her last interview with Sam P Davis stated she was born free at 9 Barley Street in Philadelphia, PA.  Some have questioned this claim because there is no Barley Street in Philadelphia.  The key here is, there is no Barley street, now.  However, there was a Barley Street just south of Pine between 10th-12th Streets.  It was renamed in 1858 and again in 1898. This can be confirmed via this link to the Philadelphia Historic Streets Index.  In the 1847 Philadelphia African American census, fifty eight people of color resided on Barley Street. Data is available here.

Below is an 1875 map showing the remaining portion of the street that would go away entirely in 1898. Scroll down for photos of it today, now known as Waverly Place.

Barley Street in Philadelphia today is called Waverly Place.

Photos: R J Jamison (C)