York’s fate after the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Quote by Hasan Davis

This article is part of the series Telling York’s Story: with Living History Actor Hasan Davis.

To learn more about York vist Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail's People page.

Upon the Corps of Discovery's return to St. Louis and reception as national heroes, York endeavored for one thing: to be free to join his wife in Louisville, Kentucky. Clark refused. York offered to hire himself out in Louisville and send his earnings back to Clark. Clark refused. Eventually so frustrated with York’s insistence on his freedom, Clark hired York out to a severe enslaver, as if to teach him a lesson.

The two men had been side by side since childhood, had survived great dangers and accomplished a feat of great magnitude together. But the malignancy of slavery stood between them, as it always had.

“It is such a powerful, painful place to see and realize that that Clark's perception of York didn't change,” says Davis. “Everything about York changed on those three years plus out there... But nothing about Clark changed.”

Clark claimed in conversations with Washington Irving, that he did eventually free York and set him up with a drayage business which failed due to York’s laziness and incompetence. Is this account accurate, or was Clark using familiar stereotypes to insist York was better off under his command than free?