The Underground Railroad
The privilege of living in Georgetown had been vouchsafed him, and he
preferred this locality to his country situation. Upon the whole he said
he had been treated pretty well. He was, nevertheless, afraid that times
were growing "very critical," and as he had a pretty good chance, he
thought he had better make use of it, and his arrangements were wisely
made. He had reached his twenty-sixth year, and was apparently well
settled. He left one child, Jane Oliver, owned by Mrs. Marshall.
* * * * *
ARRIVAL FROM DIFFERENT POINTS.
JACOB BROWN, JAMES HARRIS, BENJAMIN PINEY, JOHN SMITH, ANDREW JACKSON,
WILLIAM HUGHES, WESLEY WILLIAMS, ROSANNA JOHNSON, JOHN SMALLWOOD, AND
HENRY TOWNSEND.
Jacob Brown was eating the bread of Slavery in North Carolina. A
name-sake of his by the name of Lewis Brown, living in Washington,
according to the slave code of that city had Jacob in fetters, and was
exercising about the same control over him that he exercised over cattle
and horses. While this might have been a pleasure for the master, it was
painful for the slave. The usage which Jacob had ordinarily received
made him anything but contented.
At the age of twenty, he resolved that he would run away if it cost him
his life. This purpose was made known to a captain, who was in the habit
of bringing passengers from the South to Philadelphia. With an
unwavering faith he took his appointed place in a private part of the
vessel, and as fast as wind and tide would bring the boat he was wafted
on his way Canada-ward. Jacob was a dark man, and about full size, with
hope large.
James Harris escaped from Delaware. A white woman, Catharine Odine by
name, living near Middletown, claimed James as her man; but James did
not care to work for her on the unrequited labor system. He resolved to
take the first train on the Underground Rail Road that might pass that
way. It was not a great while ere he was accommodated, and was brought
safely to Philadelphia. The regular examination was made and he passed
creditably. He was described in the book as a man of yellow complexion,
good-looking, and intelligent. After due assistance, he was regularly
forwarded on to Canada. This was in the month of November, 1856.
Afterwards nothing more was heard of him, until the receipt of the
following letter from Prof. L.D. Mansfield, showing that he had been
reunited to his wife, under amusing, as well as touching circumstances:
AUBURN, Dec. 15th, '56.
DEAR BRO. STILL:--A very pleasant circumstance has brought you
to mind, and I am always happy to be reminded of you, and of the
very agreeable, though brief acquaintance which we made at
Philadelphia two years since. Last Thursday evening, while at my
weekly prayer meeting, our exercises were interrupted by the
appearance of Bro. Loguen, of Syracuse, who had come on with
Mrs. Harris in search of her husband, whom he had sent to my
care three weeks before. I told Bro. L. that no such man had
been at my house, and I knew nothing of him. But I dismissed the
meeting, and went with him immediately to the African Church,
where the colored brethren were holding a meeting. Bro. L.
looked through the door, and the first person whom he saw was
Harris. He was called out, when Loguen said, in a rather
reproving and excited tone, "What are you doing here; didn't I
tell you to be off to Canada? Don't you know they are after you?
Come get your hat, and come with us, we'll take care of you."
The poor fellow was by this time thoroughly frightened, and
really thought he had been pursued. We conducted him nearly a
mile, to the hotel where his wife was waiting for him, leaving
him still under the impression that he was pursued and that we
were conducting him to a place of safety, or were going to box
him up to send him to Canada. Bro. L. opened the door of the
parlor, and introduced him; but he was so frightened that he did
not know his wife at first, until she called him James, when
they had a very joyful meeting. She is now a servant in my
family, and he has work, and doing well, and boards with her. We
shall do all we can for them, and teach them to read and write,
and endeavor to place them in a condition to take care of
themselves. Loguen had a fine meeting in my Tabernacle last
night, and made a good collection for the cause of the
fugitives.
I should be happy to hear from you and your kind family, to whom
remember me very cordially. Believe me ever truly yours,
L.D. MANSFIELD.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris wish to be gratefully remembered to you and
yours.
Benjamin Piney reported that he came from Baltimore county, Maryland,
where he had been held in subjection to Mary Hawkins. He alleged that he
had very serious cause for grievance; that she had ill-treated him for a
long time, and had of late, threatened to sell him to Georgia. His
brothers and sisters had all been sold, but he meant not to be if he
could help himself. The sufferings that he had been called upon to
endure had opened his eyes, and he stood still to wait for the
Underground Rail Road car, as he anxiously wished to travel north, with
all possible speed. He waited but a little while, ere he was on the
road, under difficulties it is true, but he arrived safely and was
joyfully received. He imagined his mistress in a fit of perplexity, such
as he might enjoy, could he peep at her from Canada, or some safe place.
He however did not wish her any evil, but he was very decided that he
did not want any more to do with her. Benjamin was twenty years of age,
dark complexion, size ordinary, mental capacity, good considering
opportunities.
John Smith was a yellow boy, nineteen years of age, stout build, with,
marked intelligence. He held Dr. Abraham Street responsible for treating
him as a slave. The doctor lived at Marshall District, Harford county,
Maryland. John frankly confessed, to the credit of the doctor, that he
got "a plenty to eat, drink and wear," yet he declared that he was not
willing to remain a slave, he had higher aims; he wanted to be above
that condition. "I left," said he, "because I wanted to see the country.
If he had kept me in a hogshead of sugar, I wouldn't stayed," said the
bright-minded slave youth. "They told me anything--told me to obey my
master, but I didn't mind that. I am going off to see the Scriptures,"
said John.
Andrew Jackson "took out" from near Cecil, Delaware, where he had been
owned by a man calling himself Thomas Palmer, who owned seven or eight
others. His manners were by no means agreeable to Andrew; he was quite
too "blustery," and was dangerous when in one of his fits. Although
Andrew was but twenty-three years of age, he thought that Palmer had
already had much more of his valuable services than he was entitled to,
and he determined, that if he (the master), ever attempted to capture
him, he would make him remember him the longest day he lived.
William Hughes was an Eastern Shore "piece of property" belonging to
Daniel Cox. William had seen much of the dark doings of Slavery, and his
mind had been thoroughly set against the system. True, he had been but
twenty-two years under the heel of his master, but that was sufficient.
Wesley Williams, on his arrival from Warrick, Maryland, testified that
he had been in the hands of a man known by the name of Jack Jones, from
whom he had received almost daily floggings and scanty food. Jones was
his so-called owner. These continual scourgings stirred the spirit of
freedom in Wesley to that degree, that he was compelled to escape for
his life. He left his mother (a free woman), and one sister in Slavery.
Rosanna Johnson, alias Catharine Beige. The spot that Rosanna looked
upon with most dread and where she had suffered as a slave, under a man
called Doctor Street, was near the Rock of Deer Creek, in Harford
county, Maryland.
In the darkness in which Slavery ordinarily kept the fettered and "free
niggers," it was a considerable length of time ere Rosanna saw how
barbarously she and her race were being wronged and ground down--driven
to do unrequited labor--deprived of an education, obliged to receive the
cuffs, kicks, and curses of old or young, who might happen to claim a
title to them. But when she did see her true condition, she was not
content until she found herself on the Underground Rail Road.
Rosanna was about thirty years of age, of a dark color, medium stature,
and intelligent. She left two brothers and her father behind. The
Committee forwarded her on North. From Albany Rose wrote back to inquire
after particular friends, and to thank those who had aided her--as
follows:
ALBANY, Jan. the 30, 1858.
Mrs. William Still:--i sit don to rite you a fue lines in saying
hav you herd of John Smith or Bengernin Pina i have cent letters
to them but i hav know word from them John Smith was oned by
Doker abe Street Bengermin oned by Mary hawkings i wish to kno
if you kno am if you will let me know as swon as you get this.
My lov to Mis Still i am much oblige for those articales. My
love to mrs george and verry thankful to her Rosean Johnson oned
by docter Street when you cend the letter rite it Cend it 63
Gran St in the car of andrue Conningham rite swon dela it not
write my name Cathrin Brice.
Let me know swon as you can.
Smallwood reported that he came from Ellicott's Mills, Maryland; that he
had been restrained of his liberty all his life, by one Samuel Simons,
who had treated him "bad" all the time that he had held him in his
possession. He had, therefore, persuaded himself that Ellicott's Mills
was a poor neighborhood for a colored man who wanted his freedom, and
that all Maryland was no better. He had heard but little of Canada, but
what he had heard pleased him. As to how he should get there, he knew
not; a whisper pointed him to the Underground Rail Road, and told him to
be fearless and take the first train. Sam considered the matter
carefully and concluded that that would be the only way to get off.
Unfortunately his mother and two brothers were left behind in the hands
of Simons.
Henry Townsend ran away from Caroline county, near Purnell P.O.,
Maryland. The name of his reputed owner, according to his statement, was
E. Townsend, a farmer. Against him Henry harbored a very heavy grudge,
and will long hold said Townsend in remembrance for the injury he had
received at his hands on his naked back. The back was shown, and a most
frightful picture was presented; it had been thoroughly cut in all
directions.
Henry was about twenty-one years of age, dark chesnut color, build
substantial. He left behind two brothers and one sister in Slavery. The
Committee comforted him with the usual hospitality.
These passengers arrived the latter part of 1856 and the beginning of
1857.
* * * * *
SUNDRY ARRIVALS FROM MARYLAND, 1860.
WILLIAM CHION AND HIS WIFE, EMMA, EVAN GRAFF, AND FOUR OTHERS.
William and Emma came from Dorchester county, Maryland. The cords of
Slavery had been tightly drawn around them. William was about
twenty-seven years of age, of a dark hue, and of a courageous bearing.
On the score of treatment he spake thus: "I have been treated as bad as
a man could be." Emma, his wife, had seen about the same number of years
that he had, and her lot had been similar to his. Emma said, "My master
never give me the second dress, never attempted such a thing." The
master was called Bushong Blake. William was owned by a Mr. Tubman.
After leaving Slavery, William changed his last name to Williams, and if