In 1835, a slave reputedly attempted to murder Mrs. William Thornton, the widow of the former Architect of the Capitol. Passions were inflamed and some thought that this was inspired by Abolitionist sentiments. A mob formed and attempted to intimindated free blacks in the city, damaged a Negro school, some tenements were destroyed, churches were attacked and furnishings were smashed in the fashionable "Beverly Snow Restaurant", located at or near 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue, adjacent to the present headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, (NCNW). This became known as the "Snow Riot" and was followed by restrictive legislation in 1836 designed to limit the right of Free Negroes in D.C. They were no longer allowed to operate restaurants, which was a major outlet of work for enterprising blacks in that day. The intent was to reduce Blacks back to servile status.
Another Free Negro, Absalom Shadd, reopened Beverly Snow's Restaurant, which he operated for 20 years, before selling the business for $25,000 and moved his family to Canada.
I have no information on where Beverly Snow departed to; however it is reported that he barely escaped through a sewer.
I will see what I can find. It could be, that he went to Canada, where posssibly Mr. Shadd, joined him.
Lloyd