The Underground Railroad
Carter, of Baltimore), to have his wife and children home with him--that
is, until his children would grow to the age of eight and ten years,
then they would be taken away and hired out at twelve or fifteen dollars
a year at first. Her oldest boy, sixteen, hired the year he left for
forty dollars. They had had ten children; two had died, two they were
compelled to leave in chains; the rest they brought away. Not one
dollar's expense had they been to their mistress. The industrious Aaron
not only had to pay his own hire, but was obliged to do enough over-work
to support his large family.
Though he said he had no special complaint to make against his old
master, through whom he, with the rest of the slaves, hoped to obtain
freedom, Aaron, nevertheless, spoke of him as a man of violent temper,
severe on his slaves, drinking hard, etc., though he was a man of wealth
and stood high in the community. One of Aaron's brothers, and others,
had been sold South by him. It was on account of his inveterate hatred
of his son-in-law, who, he declared, should never have his property
(having no other heir but his niece, except his widow), that the slaves
relied on his promise to free them. Thus, in view of the facts referred
to, Aaron was led to commit the unpardonable sin of running away with
his wife Daffney, who, by the way, looked like a woman fully capable of
taking care of herself and children, instead of having them stolen away
from her, as though they were pigs.
Joseph Viney and family--Joseph was "held to service or labor," by
Charles Bryant, of Alexandria, Va. Joseph had very nearly finished
paying for himself. His wife and children were held by Samuel Pattison,
Esq., a member of the Methodist Church, "a great big man," "with red
eyes, bald head, drank pretty freely," and in the language of Joseph,
"wouldn't bear nothing." Two of Joseph's brothers-in-law had been sold
by his master. Against Mrs. Pattison his complaint was, that "she was
mean, sneaking, and did not want to give half enough to eat."
For the enlightenment of all Christendom, and coming posterity
especially, the following advertisement and letter are recorded, with
the hope that they will have an important historical value. The writer
was at great pains to obtain these interesting documents, directly after
the arrival of the memorable Twenty-Eight; and shortly afterwards
furnished to the New York _Tribune_, in a prudential manner, a brief
sketch of these very passengers, including the advertisements, but not
the letter. It was safely laid away for history--
$2,000 REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber on Saturday night,
the 24th inst, FOURTEEN HEAD OF NEGROES, viz: Four men, two
women, one boy and seven children. KIT is about 35 years of age,
five feet six or seven inches high, dark chestnut color, and has
a scar on one of his thumbs. JOE is about 30 years old, very
black, his teeth are very white, and is about five feet eight
inches high. HENRY is about 22 years old, five feet ten inches
high, of dark chestnut color and large front teeth. JOE is about
20 years old, about five feet six inches high, heavy built and
black. TOM is about 16 years old, about five feet high, light
chestnut color. SUSAN is about 35 years old, dark chestnut
color, and rather stout built; speaks rather slow, and has with
her FOUR CHILDREN, varying from one to seven years of age. LEAH
is about 28 years old, about five feet high, dark chestnut
color, with THREE CHILDREN, two boys and one girl, from one to
eight years old.
I will give $1,000 if taken in the county, $1,500 if taken out
of the county and in the State, and $2,000 if taken out of the
State; in either case to be lodged in Cambridge (Md.) Jail, so
that I can get them again; or I will give a fair proportion of
the above reward if any part be secured.
SAMUEL PATTISON,
October 26, 1857.
Near Cambridge, Md.
P.S.--Since writing the above, I have discovered that my negro
woman, SARAH JANE, 25 years old, stout built and chestnut color,
has also run off.
S.P.
SAMUEL PATTISON'S LETTER.
CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 16th, 1857.
L.W. THOMPSON:--SIR, this morning I received your letter wishing
an accurate description of my Negroes which ran away on the 24th
of last month and the amt of reward offered &c &c. The
description is as follows. _Kit_ is about 35 years old, five
feet, six or seven inches high, dark chestnut color and has a
scar on one of his thumbs, he has a very quick step and walks
very straight, and can read and write. _Joe_, is about 30 years
old, very black and about five feet eight inches high, has a
very pleasing appearance, he has a free wife who left with him
she is a light molatoo, she has a child not over one year old.
_Henry_ is about 22 years old, five feet, ten inches high, of
dark chestnut coller and large front teeth, he stoops a little
in his walk and has a downward look. _Joe_ is about 20 years
old, about five feet six inches high, heavy built, and has a
grum look and voice dull, and black. _Tom_ is about 16 years old
about five feet high light chestnut coller, smart active boy,
and swagers in his walk. Susan is about 35 years old, dark
chesnut coller and stout built, speaks rather slow and has with
her _four children, three boys_ and one _girl_--the girl has a
thumb or finger on her left hand (part of it) cut off, the
children are from 9 months to 8 years old. (the youngest a boy 9
months and the oldest whose name is Lloyd is about 8 years old)
The husband of Susan (Joe Viney) started off with her, he is a
slave, belonging to a gentleman in Alexandria D.C. he is about
40 years old and dark chesnut coller rather slender built and
about five feet seven or eight inches high, he is also the
Father of Henry, Joe and Tom. A _reward_ of $400. will be given
for his apprehension. _Leah_ is about 28 years old about five
feet high dark chesnut coller, with three children. 2 Boys and 1
girl, they are from one to eight years old, the oldest boy is
called Adam, Leah is the wife of Kit, the first named man in the
list. _Sarah Jane_ is about 25 years old, stout built and
chesnut coller, quick and active in her walk. Making in all 15
head, men, women and children belonging to me, or 16 head
including Joe Viney, the husband of my woman Susan.
_A Reward_ of $2250. will be given for my negroes if taken out
of the State of Maryland and lodged in Cambridge or Baltimore
Jail, so that I can get them or a fair proportion for any part
of them. And including Joe Viney's reward $2650.00.
At the same time eight other negroes belonging to a neighbor of
mine ran off, for which a reward of $1400.00 has been offered
for them.
If you should want any information, witnesses to prove or
indentify the negroes, write immediately on to me. Or if you
should need any information with regard to proving the negroes,
before I could reach Philadelphia, you can call on Mr. Burroughs
at Martin & Smith's store, Market Street, No 308. Phila and he
can refer you to a gentleman who knows the negroes.
Yours &c SAML. PATTISON.
This letter was in answer to one written in Philadelphia and signed,
"L.W. Thompson." It is not improbable that Mr. Pattison's loss had
produced such a high state of mental excitement that he was hardly in a
condition for cool reflection, or he would have weighed the matter a
little more carefully before exposing himself to the U.G.R.R. agents.
But the letter possesses two commendable features, nevertheless. It was
tolerably well written and prompt.
Here is a wonderful exhibition of affection for his contented and happy
negroes. Whether Mr. Pattison suspended on suddenly learning that he was
minus fifteen head, the writer cannot say. But that there was a great
slave hunt in every direction there is no room to doubt. Though much
more might be said about the parties concerned, it must suffice to add
that they came to the Vigilance Committee in a very sad plight--in
tattered garments, hungry, sick, and penniless; but they were kindly
clothed, fed, doctored, and sent on their way rejoicing.
Daniel Stanly, Nat Amby, John Scott, Hannah Peters, Henrietta Dobson,
Elizabeth Amby, Josiah Stanly, Caroline Stanly, Daniel Stanly, jr., John
Stanly and Miller Stanly (arrival from Cambridge.) Daniel is about 35,
well-made and wide-awake. Fortunately, in emancipating himself, he also,
through great perseverance, secured the freedom of his wife and six
children; one child he was compelled to leave behind. Daniel belonged to
Robert Calender, a farmer, and, "except when in a passion," said to be
"pretty clever." However, considering as a father, that it was his "duty
to do all he could" for his children, and that all work and no play
makes Jack a dull boy, Daniel felt bound to seek refuge in Canada. His
wife and children were owned by "Samuel Count, an old, bald-headed, bad
man," who "had of late years been selling and buying slaves as a
business," though he stood high and was a "big bug in Cambridge." The
children were truly likely-looking.
Nat is no ordinary man. Like a certain other Nat known to history, his
honest and independent bearing in every respect was that of a natural
hero. He was full black, and about six feet high; of powerful physical
proportions, and of more than ordinary intellectual capacities. With the
strongest desire to make the Port of Canada safely, he had resolved to
be "carried back," if attacked by the slave hunters, "only as a dead
man." He was held to service by John Muir, a wealthy farmer, and the
owner of 40 or 50 slaves. "Muir would drink and was generally devilish."
Two of Nat's sisters and one of his brothers had been "sold away to
Georgia by him." Therefore, admonished by threats and fears of having to
pass through the same fiery furnace, Nat was led to consider the
U.G.R.R. scheme. It was through the marriage of Nat's mistress to his
present owner that he came into Muir's hands. "Up to the time of her
death," he had been encouraged to "hope" that he would be "free;"
indeed, he was assured by her "dying testimony that the slaves were not
to be sold." But regardless of the promises and will of his departed
wife, Muir soon extinguished all hopes of freedom from that quarter. But
not believing that God had put one man here to "be the servant of
another--to work," and get none of the benefit of his labor, Nat armed
himself with a good pistol and a big knife, and taking his wife with
him, bade adieu forever to bondage. Observing that Lizzie (Nat's wife)
looked pretty decided and resolute, a member of the committee remarked,
"Would your wife fight for freedom?" "I have heard her say she would
wade through blood and tears for her freedom," said Nat, in the most
serious mood.
The following advertisement from _The Cambridge Democrat_ of Nov. 4,
speaks for itself--
$300 REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber, on Saturday night
last, 17th inst., my negro woman Lizzie, about 28 years old. She
is medium sized, dark complexion, good-looking, with rather a
down look. When spoken to, replies quickly. She was well
dressed, wearing a red and green blanket shawl, and carried with
her a variety of clothing. She ran off in company with her
husband, Nat Amby (belonging to John Muir, Esq.), who is about 6
feet in height, with slight impediment in his speech, dark
chestnut color, and a large scar on the side of his neck.