The Underground Railroad
to, who took them out of the State, to teach them a lesson they
will remember.
Thy friend,
THOS. GARRETT.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 1858.
REBECCA JACKSON AND DAUGHTER, AND ROBERT SHORTER.
The road to Washington was doing about this time a marvellously large
business. "William Penn" and other friends in Washington were most
vigilant, and knew where to find passengers who were daily thirsting for
deliverance.
Rebecca Jackson was a woman of about thirty-seven years of age, of a
yellow color, and of bright intellect, prepossessing in her manners. She
had pined in bondage in Georgetown under Mrs. Margaret Dick, a lady of
wealth and far advanced in life, a firm believer in slavery and the
Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member.
Rebecca had been her chief attendant, knew all her whims and ways to
perfection. According to Rebecca's idea, "she was a peevish, fretful,
ill-natured, but kind-hearted creature." Being very tired of her old
mistress and heartily sick of bondage, and withal desiring to save her
daughter, she ascertained the doings of the Underground Rail Road,--was
told about Canada, &c. She therefore resolved to make a bold adventure.
Mrs. Dick had resided a long time in Georgetown, but owned three large
plantations in the country, over which she kept three overseers to look
after the slaves. Rebecca had a free husband, but she was not free to
serve him, as she had to be digging day and night for the "white
people." Robert, a son of the mistress lived with his mother. While
Rebecca regarded him as "a man with a very evil disposition," she
nevertheless believed that he had "sense enough to see that the present
generation of slaves would not bear so much as slaves had been made to
bear the generation past."
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM HONEY BROOK TOWNSHIP, 1858.
FRANK CAMPBELL.
Frank was a man of blunt features, rather stout, almost jet black, and
about medium height and weight. He was not certain about his age, rather
thought that he was between thirty and forty years. He had been deprived
of learning to read or write, but with hard treatment he had been made
fully acquainted under a man named Henry Campbell, who called himself
Frank's master, and without his consent managed to profit by his daily
sweat and toil. This Campbell was a farmer, and was said to be the owner
of about one hundred head of slaves, besides having large investments in
other directions. He did not hesitate to sell slaves if he could get his
price. Every now and then one and another would find it his turn to be
sold. Frank resolved to try and get out of danger before times were
worse. So he struck out resolutely for freedom and succeeded.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA., 1858.
RICHARD BAYNE, CARTER DOWLING AND BENJAMIN TAYLOR.
Richard stated that a man named "Rudolph Massey, a merchant tailor, hard
rum-drinker, card player, etc." claimed to own him, and had held him, up
to the time of his escape, as with bands of brass.
Richard said, "I was hired out for ten dollars a month, but I never
suffered like many--didn't leave because I have been abused, but simply
to keep from falling into the hands of some heirs that I had been willed
to." In case of a division, Richard did not see how he could be divided
without being converted into money. Now, as he could have no
fore-knowledge as to the place or person into whose hands he might be
consigned by the auctioneer, he concluded that he could not venture to
risk himself in the hands of the young heirs. Richard began to consider
what Slavery was, and his eyes beheld chains, whips, hand-cuffs,
auction-blocks, separations and countless sufferings that had partially
been overlooked before; he felt the injustice of having to toil hard to
support a drunkard and gambler. At the age of twenty-three Richard
concluded to "lay down the shovel and the hoe," and look out for
himself. His mother was owned by Massey, but his father belonged to the
"superior race" or claimed so to do, and if anything could be proved by
appearances it was evident that he was the son of a white man. Richard
was endowed with a good share of intelligence. He not only left his
mother but also one sister to clank their chains together.
Carter, who accompanied Richard, had just reached his majority. He
stated that he escaped from a "maiden lady" living in Alexandria, known
by the name of Miss Maria Fitchhugh, the owner of twenty-five slaves.
Opposed to Slavery as he was, he nevertheless found no fault with his
mistress, but on the contrary, said that she was a very respectable
lady, and a member of the Episcopal Church. She often spoke of freeing
her servants when she died; such talk was too uncertain for Carter, to
pin his faith to, and he resolved not to wait. Such slave-holders
generally lived a great while, and when they did die, they many times
failed to keep their promises. He concluded to heed the voice of reason,
and at once leave the house of bondage. His mother, father, five
brothers and six sisters all owned by Miss Fitchhugh, formed a strong
tie to keep him from going; he "conferred not with flesh and blood," but
made a determined stroke for freedom.
Benjamin, the third in this company, was only twenty years of age, but a
better-looking specimen for the auction-block could hardly be found. He
fled from the Meed estate; his mistress had recently died leaving her
affairs, including the disposal of the slaves, to be settled at an early
date. He spoke of his mistress as "a very clever lady to her servants,"
but since her death he had realized the danger that he was in of being
run off south with a coffle gang. He explained the course frequently
resorted to by slave-holders under similar circumstances thus:
"frequently slaves would be snatched up, hand cuffed and hurried off
south on the night train without an hour's notice." Fearing that this
might be his fate, he deemed it prudent to take a northern train via the
Underground Rail Road without giving any notice.
He left no parents living, but six brothers and four sisters, all slaves
with the exception of one brother who had bought himself. In order to
defend themselves if molested on the road, the boys had provided
themselves with pistols and dirks, and declared that they were fully
bent on using them rather than be carried back to slavery.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
HANSON WILLIAMS, NACE SHAW, GUSTA YOUNG, AND DANIEL M'NORTON SMITH.
$200 REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber, (Levi Pumphrey,) two
NEGRO MEN--one, named "Hanson," about forty years old, with one
eye out, about 5 feet 4 inches in height, full, bushy hair and
whiskers and copper color. "Gusta" is about 21 years or 22 years
of age, smooth face and thick lips, and stoops in his walk;
black color, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches in height; took away
sundry articles of clothing.
I will give one hundred dollars for each of them, if secured in
jail so that I can get them.
LEVI PUMPHREY,
Washington City, D.C.
s14-6t.
These four fugitives were full of enthusiasm for Canada, although by no
means among the worst abused of their class.
Hanson was about forty years of age, with apparently a good degree of
intellect, and of staid principles.
In the above advertisement clipped from the Baltimore Sun, he is more
fully described by Mr. Levi Pumphrey; it can now be taken for what it is
worth. But, as Hanson left home suddenly without apprising his owner, or
any of his owner's intimate white friends, of the circumstances which
led him to thus leave, his testimony and explanation, although late, may
not be wholly uninteresting to Mr. Levi Pumphrey and others who took an
interest in the missing "Hanson." "How have you had it in slavery?" he
was asked. "I have had it pretty rough," answered Hanson. "Who held you
in bondage, and how have you been treated?" "I was owned by Levi
Pumphrey, an old man with one eye, a perfect savage; he allowed no
privileges of any kind, Sunday or Monday."
Gusta, who was also described in Pumphrey's advertisement, was a
rugged-looking specimen, and his statement tended to strengthen Hanson's
in every particular. It was owing to the bad treatment of Pumphrey, that
Gusta left in the manner that he did.
After deciding to take his departure for Canada, he provided himself
with a Colt's revolver, and resolved that if any man should attempt to
put his hand on him while he was on the "King's highway," he would shoot
him down, not excepting his old master.
$150 REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber, living near Upper
Marlboro', Prince George's county, Md., on the 11th day of
September, 1858, a negro man, "Nace," who calls himself "Nace
Shaw;" is forty-five years of age, about five feet 8 or 9 inches
high, of a copper color, full suit of hair, except a bald place
upon the top of his head. He has a mother living in Washington
city, on South B street, No. 212 Island.
I will pay the above reward no matter where taken, if secured in
jail so that I get him again.
SARAH ANN TALBURTT.
sl5-eotf.
Nace, advertised by Miss Sarah Ann Talburtt, was a remarkably
good-natured looking piece of merchandise. He gave a very interesting
account of his so called mistress, how he came to leave her, etc. Said
Nace: "My mistress was an old maid, and lived on a farm. I was her
foreman on the farm. She lived near Marlborough Forest, in Prince
George's county, Md., about twelve miles from Washington; she was a
member of the Episcopal Church. She fed well, and quarrelled a caution,
from Monday morning till Saturday night, not only with the slaves, but
among the inmates of the big house. My mistress had three sisters, all
old maids living with her, and a niece besides; their names were
Rebecca, Rachel, Caroline, and Sarah Ann, and a more disagreeable family
of old maids could not be found in a year's time. To arise in the
morning before my mistress, Sarah Ann, was impossible." Then, without
making it appear that he or other of the slaves had been badly treated
under Miss Talburtt, he entered upon the cause of escape, and said; "I
left simply because I wanted a chance for my life; I wanted to die a
free man if it pleased God to have it so." His wife and a grown-up son
he was obliged to leave, as no opportunity offered to bring them away
with him.
Dan was also of this party. He was well tinctured with Anglo-Saxon
blood. His bondage had been in Alexandria, with a mill-wright, known by
the name of James Garnett. Dan had not been in Garnett's hands a great
while. Mr. Garnett's ways and manners were not altogether pleasing to
him; besides, Dan stated that he was trying to sell him, and he made up
his mind that at an early opportunity, he would avail himself of a
ticket for Canada, via the Underground Rail Road. He left his mother and
brothers all scattered.
* * * * *
CROSSING THE BAY IN A SKIFF.
WILLIAM THOMAS COPE, JOHN BOICE GREY, HENRY BOICE AND ISAAC WHITE.
These young bondmen, whilst writhing under the tortures heaped upon
them, resolved, at the cost of life, to make a desperate trial for free
land; to rid themselves of their fetters, at whatever peril they might
have to encounter. The land route presented less encouragement than by
water; they knew but little, however, concerning either way. After much
anxious reflection, they finally decided to make their Underground Rail