The Underground Railroad
Bolling Ellis, who possessed large plantations at Cabin Point, Surrey
Co., Va. Joe pictured his master, overseers, and general treatment of
slaves in no favorable light.
The practice of punishing slaves by putting them in the stocks and by
flogging, was dwelt upon in a manner that left no room to doubt but that
Joe had been a very great sufferer under his master's iron rule. As he
described the brutal conduct of overseers in resorting to their habitual
modes of torturing men, women, and children, it was too painful to
listen to with composure, much more to write down.
Joe was about twenty-three years of age, full black, slender, and of
average intellect, considering the class which he represented. On four
occasions previous to the final one he had made fruitless efforts to
escape from his tormentors in consequence of brutal treatment. Although
he at last succeeded, the severe trials through which he had to pass in
escaping, came very near costing him his life. The effects he will
always feel; prostration and sickness had already taken hold upon him in
a serious degree.
During Joe's sojourn under the care of the Committee, time would not
admit of the writing out of further details concerning him.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND.
CHRISTOPHER GREEN AND WIFE, ANN MARIA, AND SON NATHAN.
Christopher had a heavy debt charged against Clayton Wright, a
commission merchant, of Baltimore, who claimed him as his property, and
was in the habit of hiring him out to farmers in the country, and of
taking all his hire except a single dollar, which was allotted him every
holiday.
The last item in his charge against Wright, suggested certain questions:
"How have you been used?" was the first query. "Sometimes right smart,
and then again bad enough for it," said Christopher. Again he was asked,
"What kind of a man was your master?" "He was only tolerable, I can't
say much good for him. I got tired of working and they getting my labor
and I getting nothing for my labor." At the time of his escape, he was
employed in the service of a man by the name of Cook. Christopher
described him as "a dissatisfied man, who couldn't be pleased at nothing
and his wife was like him."
This passenger was quite black, medium size, and in point of intellect,
about on a par with ordinary field hands. His wife, Ann, in point of
go-ahead-ativeness, seemed in advance of him. Indeed, she first prompted
her husband to escape.
Ann bore witness against one James Pipper, a farmer, whom she had served
as a slave, and from whom she fled, saying that "he was as mean a man as
ever walked--a dark-complected old man, with gray hair." With great
emphasis she thus continued her testimony: "He tried to work me to
death, and treated me as mean as he could, without killing me; he done
so much I couldn't tell to save my life. I wish I had as many dollars as
he has whipped me with sticks and other things. His wife will do
tolerable." "I left because he was going to sell me and my son to
Georgia; for years he had been threatening; since the boys ran away,
last spring, he was harder than ever. One was my brother, Perry, and the
other was a young man by the name of Jim." "David, my master, drank all
he could get, poured it down, and when drunk, would cuss, and tear, and
rip, and beat. He lives near the nine bridges, in Queen Ann county."
Ann was certainly a forcible narrator, and was in every way a wideawake
woman, about thirty-seven years of age. Among other questions they were
asked if they could read, etc. "Read," said Ann. "I would like to see
anybody (slave) that could read our way; to see you with a book in your
hand they would almost cut your throat."
Ann had one child only, a son, twenty years of age, who came in company
with his parents. This son belonged to the said Pipper already
described. When they started from the land of bondage they had large
hopes, but not much knowledge of the way; however, they managed to get
safely on the Underground Rail Road track, and by perseverance they
reached the Committee and were aided in the usual manner.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM GEORGETOWN CROSS-ROADS, 1857.
LEEDS WRIGHT AND ABRAM TILISON.
For three years Leeds had been thirsting for his liberty; his heart was
fixed on that one object. He got plenty to eat, drink, and wear, but was
nevertheless dissatisfied.
The name of his master was Rev. John Wesley Pearson, who was engaged in
school teaching and preaching, and belonged to the more moderate class
of slave-holders. Once when a boy Leeds had been sold, but being very
young, he did not think much about the matter.
For the last eight or ten years previous to his escape he had not seen
his relatives, his father (George Wright) having fled to Canada, and the
remainder of the family lived some fifty miles distant, beyond the
possibility of intercourse; therefore, as he had no strong ties to
break, he could look to the time of leaving the land of bondage without
regret.
Abram, the companion of Leeds, had been less comfortably situated. His
lot in Slavery had been cast under Samuel Jarman, by whom he had been
badly treated.
Abram described him as a "big, tall, old man, who drank and was a real
wicked man; he followed farming; had thirteen children. His wife was
different; she was a pretty fine woman, but the children were all bad;
the young masters followed playing cards." No chance at all had been
allowed them to learn to read, although Abram and Leeds both coveted
this knowledge. As they felt that they would never be able to do
anything for their improvement by remaining, they decided to follow the
example of Abram's father and others and go to Canada.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM ALEXANDRIA.
WILLIAM TRIPLETT AND THOMAS HARPER.
Ran away from the subscriber, on Saturday night, 22d instant,
WILLIAM TRIPLETT, a dark mulatto, with whiskers and mustache, 23
to 26 years of age; lately had a burn on the instep of his right
foot, but perhaps well enough to wear a boot or shoe. He took
with him very excellent clothing, both summer and winter,
consisting of a brown suit in cloth, summer coats striped, check
cap, silk hat, &c. $50 reward will be paid if taken within
thirty miles of Alexandria or in the State of Virginia, and $150
and necessary expenses if taken out of the State and secured so
that I get him again. He is the property of Mrs. A.B. Fairfax,
of Alexandria, and is likely to make his way to Cincinnati,
where he has friends, named Hamilton and Hopes, now living.
ROBT. W. WHEAT.
William, answering to the above description, arrived safely in company
with Thomas Harper, about six days after the date of their departure
from the house of bondage.
Mrs. A.B. Fairfax was the loser of this "article." William spoke rather
favorably of her. He said he did not leave because he was treated badly,
but simply because he wanted to own himself--to be free. He also said
that he wanted to be able to take care of his family if he should see
fit to marry.
As to Slavery, he could see no justice in the system; he therefore made
up his mind no longer to yield submission thereto. Being a smart
"chattel," he reasoned well on the question of Slavery, and showed very
conclusively that even under the kindest mistress it had no charms for
him--that at best, it was robbery and an outrage.
Thomas Harper, his comrade, fled from John Cowling, who also lived near
Alexandria. His great trouble was, that he had a wife and family, but
could do nothing for them. He thought that it was hard to see them in
want and abused when he was not at liberty to aid or protect them. He
grew very unhappy, but could see no remedy except in flight.
Cowling, his master, was an Englishman by birth, and followed
black-smithing for a living. He was a man in humble circumstances,
trying to increase his small fortune by slave-labor.
He allowed Thomas to hire himself for one hundred dollars a year, which
amount he was required to raise, sick or well. He did not complain,
however, of having received any personal abuse from his blacksmith
master. It was the system which was daily grinding the life out of him,
that caused him to suffer, and likewise escape. By trade Thomas was also
a blacksmith. He left a wife and three children.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND.
HARRY WISE.
$100 REWARD.--Ran away, on the 11th inst., negro man, Harry
Wise. He is about 24 years of age, and 5 feet 4 inches high;
muscular, with broad shoulders, and black or deep copper color;
roundish, smooth face, and rather lively expression. He came
from Harford county, and is acquainted about Belair market,
Baltimore. I will pay $50 reward for him, if taken in this or
Prince George's county, or $100 if arrested elsewhere.
ELLIOTT BURWELL,
a29-eo3t*
West River, Anne Arundel county.
Harry reached the station in Philadelphia, the latter part of August,
1857. His excuse for leaving and seeking a habitation in Canada, was as
follows:
"I was treated monstrous bad; my master was a very cross, crabbed man,
and his wife was as cross as he was. The day I left they had to tie me
to beat me, what about I could not tell; this is what made me leave. I
escaped right out of his hands the day he had me; he was going with me
to the barn to tie me across a hogshead, but I broke loose from him and
ran. He ran and got the gun to shoot me, but I soon got out of his
reach, and I have not seen him since."
Harry might never have found the Underground Rail Road, but for this
deadly onslaught upon him by his master. His mind was wrought up to a
very high state of earnestness, and he was deemed a very fitting subject
for Canada.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM NORFOLK, VA.
ABRAM WOODERS.
Although slave-holders had spared no pains to keep Abram in the dark and
to make him love his yoke, he proved by his actions, that he had no
faith in their doctrines. Nor did he want for language in which to state
the reasons for his actions. He was just in the prime of life,
thirty-five years of age, chestnut color, common size, with a scar over
the left eye, and another on the upper lip.
Like many others, he talked in a simple, earnest manner, and in answer
to queries as to how he had fared, the following is his statement:
"I was held as the property of the late Taylor Sewell, but when I
escaped I was in the service of W.C. Williams, a commission merchant. My
old master was a very severe man, but he was always very kind to me. He
had a great many more colored folks, was very severe amongst them, would
get mad and sell right away. He was a drinking man, dissipated and a
gambler, a real sportsman. He lived on Newell Creek, about twelve miles
from Norfolk. For the last eight years I was hired to W.C. Williams, for
$150 a year--if I had all that money, it might do me some good. I left
because I wanted to enjoy myself some. I felt if I staid and got old no
one would care for me, I wouldn't be of no account to nobody."
"But are not the old slaves well cared for by their masters?" a member
of the Committee here remarked. "Take care of them! no!" Abram replied
with much earnestness, and then went on to explain how such property was
left to perish. Said Abram, "There was an old man named Ike, who
belonged to the same estate that I did, he was treated like a dog; after
they could get no more work out of him, they said, 'let him die, he is
of no service; there is no use of getting a doctor for him.' Accordingly