The Underground Railroad
offence he was not even imprisoned. Lynch also tried to cut the throat
of John Waters, and succeeded in making a frightful gash on his left
shoulder (mark shown), which mark he will carry with him to the grave;
for this he was not even sued. Lewis left five children in bondage,
Horace, John, Georgiana, Louisa and Louis, Jr., owned by Bazil and John
Benson.
John was forty years of age, dark, medium size, and another of Lynch's
"articles." He left his wife Anna, but no children; it was hard to leave
her, but he felt that it would be still harder to live and die under the
usage that he had experienced on Lynch's farm.
Alfred was twenty-two years of age; he was of a full dark color, and
quite smart. He fled from John Bryant, a farmer. Whether he deserved it
or not, Alfred gave him a bad character, at least, with regard to the
treatment of his slaves. He left his father and mother, six brothers and
sisters. Traveling under doubts and fears with the thought of leaving a
large family of his nearest and dearest friends, was far from being a
pleasant undertaking with Alfred, yet he bore up under the trial and
arrived in peace.
"William is twenty-two, black, tall, intelligent, and active," are the
words of the record.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM MARYLAND, 1859.
ANN MARIA JACKSON AND HER SEVEN CHILDREN--MARY ANN, WILLIAM HENRY,
FRANCES SABRINA, WILHELMINA, JOHN EDWIN, EBENEZER THOMAS, AND WILLIAM
ALBERT.
The coming of the above named was duly announced by Thomas Garrett:
WILMINGTON, 11th mo., 21st, 1858.
DEAR FRIENDS--McKIM AND STILL:--I write to inform you that on
the 16th of this month, we passed on four able bodied men to
Pennsylvania, and they were followed last night by a woman and
her six children, from three or four years of age, up to sixteen
years, I believe the whole belonged to the same estate, and they
were to have been sold at public sale, I was informed yesterday,
but preferred seeking their own master; we had some trouble in
getting those last safe along, as they could not travel far on
foot, and could not safely cross any of the bridges on the
canal, either on foot or in carriage. A man left here two days
since, with carriage, to meet them this side of the canal, but
owing to spies they did not reach him till 10 o'clock last
night; this morning he returned, having seen them about one or
two o'clock this morning in a second carriage, on the border of
Chester county, where I think they are all safe, if they can be
kept from Philadelphia. If you see them they can tell their own
tales, as I have seen one of them. May He, who feeds the ravens,
care for them. Yours,
THOS. GARRETT.
The fire of freedom obviously burned with no ordinary fervor in the
breast of this slave mother, or she never would have ventured with the
burden of seven children, to escape from the hell of Slavery.
Ann Maria was about forty years of age, good-looking, pleasant
countenance, and of a chestnut color, height medium, and intellect above
the average. Her bearing was humble, as might have been expected, from
the fact that she emerged from the lowest depths of Delaware Slavery.
During the Fall prior to her escape, she lost her husband under most
trying circumstances: he died in the poor-house, a raving maniac. Two of
his children had been taken from their mother by her owner, as was usual
with slave-holders, which preyed so severely on the poor father's mind
that it drove him into a state of hopeless insanity. He was a "free man"
in the eye of Delaware laws, yet he was not allowed to exercise the
least authority over his children.
Prior to the time that the two children were taken from their mother,
she had been allowed to live with her husband and children,
independently of her master, by supporting herself and them with the
white-wash brush, wash-tub, etc. For this privilege the mother doubtless
worked with double energy, and the master, in all probability, was
largely the gainer, as the children were no expense to him in their
infancy; but when they began to be old enough to hire out, or bring high
prices in the market, he snatched away two of the finest articles, and
the powerless father was immediately rendered a fit subject for the
mad-house; but the brave hearted mother looked up to God, resolved to
wait patiently until in a good Providence the way might open to escape
with her remaining children to Canada.
Year in and year out she had suffered to provide food and raiment for
her little ones. Many times in going out to do days' work she would be
compelled to leave her children, not knowing whether during her absence
they would fall victims to fire, or be carried off by the master. But
she possessed a well tried faith, which in her flight kept her from
despondency. Under her former lot she scarcely murmured, but declared
that she had never been at ease in Slavery a day after the birth of her
first-born. The desire to go to some part of the world where she could
have the control and comfort of her children, had always been a
prevailing idea with her. "It almost broke my heart," she said, "when he
came and took my children away as soon as they were big enough to hand
me a drink of water. My husband was always very kind to me, and I had
often wanted him to run away with me and the children, but I could not
get him in the notion; he did not feel that he could, and so he stayed,
and died broken-hearted, crazy. I was owned by a man named Joseph Brown;
he owned property in Milford, and he had a place in Vicksburg, and some
of his time he spends there, and some of the time he lives in Milford.
This Fall he said he was going to take four of my oldest children and
two other servants to Vicksburg. I just happened to hear of this news in
time. My master was wanting to keep me in the dark about taking them,
for fear that something might happen. My master is very sly; he is a
tall, slim man, with a smooth face, bald head, light hair, long and
sharp nose, swears very hard, and drinks. He is a widower, and is rich."
On the road the poor mother, with her travel-worn children became
desperately alarmed, fearing that they were betrayed. But God had
provided better things for her; her strength and hope were soon fully
restored, and she was lucky enough to fall into the right hands. It was
a special pleasure to aid such a mother. Her arrival in Canada was
announced by Rev. H. Wilson as follows:
NIAGARA CITY, Nov. 30th, 1858.
DEAR BRO. STILL:--I am happy to inform you that Mrs. Jackson and
her interesting family of seven children arrived safe and in
good health and spirits at my house in St. Catharines, on
Saturday evening last. With sincere pleasure I provided for them
comfort quarters till this morning, when they left for Toronto.
I got them conveyed there at half fare, and gave them letters of
introduction to Thomas Henning, Esq., and Mrs. Dr. Willis,
trusting that they will be better cared for in Toronto than they
could be at St. Catharines. We have so many coming to us we
think it best for some of them to pass on to other places. My
wife gave them all a good supply of clothing before they left
us. James Henry, an older son is, I think, not far from St.
Catharine, but has not as yet reunited with the family.
Faithfully and truly yours,
HIRAM WILSON.
* * * * *
SUNDRY ARRIVALS FROM VIRGINIA, MARYLAND AND DELAWARE.
LEWIS LEE, ENOCH DAVIS, JOHN BROWN, THOMAS EDWARD DIXON, AND WILLIAM
OLIVER.
Slavery brought about many radical changes, some in one way and some in
another. Lewis Lee was entirely too white for practical purposes. They
tried to get him to content himself under the yoke, but he could not see
the point. A man by the name of William Watkins, living near Fairfax,
Virginia, claimed Lewis, having come by his title through marriage.
Title or no title, Lewis thought that he would not serve him for
nothing, and that he had been hoodwinked already a great while longer
than he should have allowed himself to be. Watkins had managed to keep
him in the dark and doing hard work on the no-pay system up to the age
of twenty-five. In Lewis' opinion, it was now time to "strike out on his
own hook;" he took his last look of Watkins (he was a tall, slim fellow,
a farmer, and a hard drinker), and made the first step in the direction
of the North. He was sure that he was about as white as anybody else,
and that he had as good a right to pass for white as the white folks, so
he decided to do so with a high head and a fearless front. Instead of
skulking in the woods, in thickets and swamps, under cover of the
darkness, he would boldly approach a hotel and call for accommodations,
as any other southern gentleman. He had a little money, and he soon
discovered that his color was perfectly orthodox. He said that he was
"treated first-rate in Washington and Baltimore;" he could recommend
both of these cities. But destitute of education, and coming among
strangers, he was conscious that the shreds of slavery were still to be
seen upon him. He had, moreover, no intention of disowning his origin
when once he could feel safe in assuming his true status. So as he was
in need of friends and material aid, he sought out the Vigilance
Committee, and on close examination they had every reason to believe his
story throughout, and gave him the usual benefit.
Enoch Davis came from within five miles of Baltimore, having been held
by one James Armstrong, "an old grey-headed man," and a farmer, living
on Huxtown Road. Judged from Davis' stand-point, the old master could
never be recommended, unless some one wanted a very hard place and a
severe master. Upon inquiry, it was ascertained that Enoch was moved to
leave on account of the "riot," (John Brown's Harper's Ferry raid),
which he feared would result in the sale of a good many slaves, himself
among the number; he, therefore, "laid down the shovel and the hoe," and
quit the place.
John Brown (this was an adopted name, the original one not being
preserved), left to get rid of his connection with Thomas Stevens, a
grocer, living in Baltimore. John, however, did not live in the city
with said Stevens, but on the farm near Frederick's Mills, Montgomery
county, Maryland. This place was known by the name of "White Hall Farm;"
and was under the supervision of James Edward Stevens, a son of the
above-named Stevens. John's reasons for leaving were not noted on the
book, but his eagerness to reach Canada spoke louder than words,
signifying that the greater the distance that separated him from the old
"White Hall Farm" the better.
Thomas Edward Dixon arrived from near the Trap, in Delaware. He was only
about eighteen years of age, but as tall as a man of ordinary
height;--dark, with a pleasant countenance. He reported that he had had
trouble with a man known by the name of Thomas W.M. McCracken, who had
treated him "bad;" as Thomas thought that such trouble and bad treatment
might be of frequent occurrence, he concluded that he had better go away
and let McCracken get somebody else to fill his place, if he did not
choose to fill it himself. So off Thomas started, and as if by instinct,
he came direct to the Committee. He passed a good examination and was
aided.
William Oliver, a dark, well-made, young man with the best of country
manners, fled from Mrs. Marshall, a lady living in Prince George's
county, Maryland. William had recently been in the habit of hiring his
time at the rate of ten dollars per month, and find himself everything.