The Underground Railroad
obliged to leave him behind. What understanding was entered into between
them prior to her departure we failed to note at the time. It was very
clear that she had decided never to wear the yoke again.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM WASHINGTON, 1858.
JOSEPHINE ROBINSON.
Many reasons were given by Josephine for leaving the sunny South. She
had a mistress, but was not satisfied with her--hadn't a particle of
love for her; "she was all the time fussing and scolding, and never
could be satisfied." She was very well off, and owned thirteen or
fourteen head of slaves. She was a member of the Methodist Church, was
stingy and very mean towards her slaves. Josephine having lived with her
all her life, professed to have a thorough knowledge of her ways and
manners, and seemed disposed to speak truthfully of her. The name of her
mistress was Eliza Hambleton, and she lived in Washington. Josephine had
fully thought over the matter of her rights, so much so, that she was
prompted to escape. So hard did she feel her lot to be, that she was
compelled to resign her children, uncle and aunt to the cruel mercy of
slavery. What became of the little ones, David, Ogden and Isaiah, is a
mystery.
ARRIVAL FROM CECIL COUNTY, 1858.
ROBERT JOHNS AND HIS WIFE "SUE ANN."
Fortunately, in this instance, man and wife succeeded in making their
way out of Slavery together. Robert was a man of small stature, and the
farthest shade from white. In appearance and intellect he represented
the ordinary Maryland slave, raised on a farm, surrounded with no
refining influences or sympathy. He stated that a man by the name of
William Cassey had claimed the right to his labor, and that he had been
kept in bondage on his farm.
For a year or more before setting out for freedom, Robert had watched
his master pretty closely, and came to the conclusion, that he was "a
monstrous blustery kind of a man; one of the old time fellows, very hard
and rash--not fit to own a dog." He owned twelve slaves; Robert resolved
that he would make one less in a short while. He laid the matter before
his wife, "Sue," who was said to be the property of Susan Flinthrew,
wife of John Flinthrew, of Cecil county, Maryland. "Sue" having suffered
severely, first from one and then another, sometimes from floggings, and
at other times from hunger, and again from not being half clothed in
cold weather, was prepared to consider any scheme that looked in the
direction of speedy deliverance. The way that they were to travel, and
the various points of danger to be passed on the road were fully
considered; but Robert and Sue were united and agreed that they could
not fare much worse than they had fared, should they be captured and
carried back. In this state of mind, as in the case of thousands of
others, they set out for a free State, and in due time reached
Pennsylvania and the Vigilance Committee, to whom they made known the
facts here recorded, and received aid and comfort in return.
Sue was a young woman of twenty-three, of a brown color, and somewhat
under medium size.
ARRIVAL FROM GEORGETOWN, D.C., 1858.
PERRY CLEXTON, JIM BANKS AND CHARLES NOLE.
This party found no very serious obstacles in their travels, as their
plans were well arranged, and as they had at least natural ability
sufficient for ordinary emergencies.
Perry reported that he left "a man by the name of John M. Williams, of
Georgetown, D.C., who was in the wood business, and kept a wharf." As to
treatment, he said that he had not been used very hard, but had been
worked hard and allowed but few privileges. The paltry sum of
twenty-five cents a week, was all that was allowed him out of his hire.
With a wife and one child this might seem a small sum, but in reality it
was a liberal outlay compared with what many slaves were allowed. Perry
being a ready-witted article, thought that it was hardly fair that Mr.
Williams should live by the sweat of his brow instead of his own; he was
a large, portly man, and able to work for himself in Perry's opinion.
For a length of time, the notion of leaving and going to Canada was
uppermost in his heart; probably he would have acted with more
promptness but for the fact that his wife and child rested with great
weight on his mind. Finally the pressure became so great that he felt
that he must leave at all hazards, forsaking wife and child, master and
chains. He was a young man, of about twenty-five years of age, of a dark
shade, ordinary build, and full of grit. His wife was named Amelia;
whether she ever afterwards heard from her husband is a question.
Jim, who accompanied Perry, brought the shoe-making art with him. He had
been held a slave under John J. Richards, although he was quite as much
a white man as he was black. He was a mulatto, twenty-nine years of age,
well-made, and bore a grum countenance, but a brave and manly will to
keep up his courage on the way. He said that he had been used very well,
had no fault to find with John J. Richards, who was possibly a near
relative of his. He forsook his mother, four brothers and three sisters
with no hope of ever seeing them again.
Charles bore strong testimony in favor of his master, Blooker W.
Hansborough, a farmer, a first-rate man to his servants, said Charles.
"I was used very well, can't complain." "Why did you not remain then?"
asked a member of the Committee. "I left," answered C., "because I was
not allowed to live with my wife. She with our six children, lived a
long distance from my master's place, and he would not hire me out where
I could live near my wife, so I made up my mind that I would try and do
better. I could see no enjoyment that way." As the secret of his
master's treatment is here brought to light, it is very evident that
Charles, in speaking so highly in his favor, failed to take a just view
of him, as no man could really be first-rate to his servants, who would
not allow a man to live with his wife and children, and who would
persist in taking from another what he had no right to take.
Nevertheless, as Charles thought his master "first-rate," he shall have
the benefit of the opinion, but it was suspected that Charles was not
disposed to find fault with his kin, as it was very likely that the old
master claimed some of the white blood in his veins.
ARRIVAL FROM SUSSEX COUNTY, 1858.
JACOB BLOCKSON, GEORGE ALLIGOOD, JIM ALLIGOOD, AND GEORGE LEWIS.
The coming of Jacob and his companions was welcomed in the usual way.
The marks of Slavery upon them were evident; however they were subjected
to the usual critical examination, which they bore with composure, and
without the least damage. The following notes in the main were recorded
from their statements:
Jacob was a stout and healthy-looking man, about twenty-seven years of
age, with a countenance indicative of having no sympathy with Slavery.
Being invited to tell his own story, describe his master, etc., he
unhesitatingly relieved himself somewhat after this manner; "I escaped
from a man by the name of Jesse W. Paten; he was a man of no business,
except drinking whiskey, and farming. He was a light complected man,
tall large, and full-faced, with a large nose. He was a widower. He
belonged to no society of any kind. He lived near Seaford, in Sussex
county, Delaware."
"I left because I didn't want to stay with him any longer. My master was
about to be sold out this Fall, and I made up my mind that I did not
want to be sold like a horse, the way they generally sold darkies then;
so when I started I resolved to die sooner than I would be taken back;
this was my intention all the while.
"I left my wife, and one child; the wife's name was Lear, and the child
was called Alexander. I want to get them on soon too. I made some
arrangements for their coming if I got off safe to Canada."
George was next called upon to give his statement concerning where he
was from, etc. I "scaped" from Sussex too, from a man by the name of
George M. Davis, a large man, dark-complected, and about fifty years of
age; he belonged to the old side Methodist Church, was a man with a
family, and followed farming, or had farming done by me and others.
Besides he was a justice of the peace. I always believed that the Master
above had no wish for me to be held in bondage all my days; but I
thought if I made up my mind to stay in Slavery, and not to make a
desperate trial for my freedom, I would never have any better times. I
had heard that my old mistress had willed me to her children, and
children's children. I thought at this rate there was no use of holding
on any longer for the good time to come, so here I said, I am going, if
I die a trying. I got me a dagger, and made up my mind if they attempted
to take me on the road, I would have one man. As for my part, I have not
had it so slavish as many, but I have never had any privileges to learn
to read, or to go about anywhere. Now and then they let me go to church.
My master belonged to church, and so did I.
For a young man, being only twenty-two years of age, who had been kept
from the light of freedom, as much as he had, his story was thought to
be exceedingly well told throughout.
James, a brother of George, said: "I came from Horse's Cross-Roads, not
far from where my brother George came from. William Gray, rail road
ticket agent at Bridgewater, professed to own me. He was a tolerable
sized man, with very large whiskers, and dark hair; he was rather a
steady kind of a man, he had a wife, but no child. The reason I left, I
thought I had served Slavery long enough, as I had been treated none the
best. I did not believe in working my life out just to support some body
else. My master had as many hands and feet as I have, and is as able to
work for his bread as I am; and I made up my mind that I wouldn't stay
to be a slave under him any longer, but that I would go to Canada, and
be my own master."
James left his poor wife, and three children, slaves perhaps for life.
The wife's name was Esther Ann, the children were called Mary, Henry,
and Harriet. All belonged to Jesse Laten.
George Lewis had more years than any of his companions, being about
forty years of age. He had been kept in as low a state of ignorance as
the ingenuity of a slave-holder of Delaware could keep one possessed of
as much mother-wit as he was, for he was not quite so ignorant as the
interests of the system required. His physical make and mental capacity
were good. He was decidedly averse to the peculiar institution in every
particular. He stated, that a man named Samuel Laws had held him in
bondage--that this "Laws was a man of no business--just sat about the
house and went about from store to store and sat; that he was an old
man, pretty grey, very long hair. He was a member of a church in the
neighborhood, which was called Radical." Of this church and its members
he could give but little account, either of their peculiarities or
creed; he said, however, that they worshipped a good deal like the
Methodists, and allowed their members to swear heartily for slavery.
"Something told" George that he had worked long enough as a slave, and
that he should be man enough to take the Underground Rail Road and go
off to a free country. Accordingly George set out. When he arrived at
the station he was so highly delighted with his success and the prospect
before him, that he felt very sorry that he hadn't started ten years
sooner. He said that he would have done so, but he was afraid, as
slave-holders were always making the slaves believe that if they should
ever escape they would catch them and bring them back and sell them down
South, certain; that they always did catch every one who ran off, but