The Underground Railroad
"Sam" was obliged to leave his wife, who was owned by Christian Bourdon.
His attachment to her, judging from his frequent warm expressions of
affection, was very strong. But, as strong as it was, he felt that he
could not consent to remain in slavery any longer. "Sam" had luckily
come across a copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and in perusing it, all his
notions with regard to "Masters and Servants," soon underwent an entire
change, and he began to cast his eyes around him to see how he might get
his freedom. One who was thoroughly awake as he was to the idea of being
free, with a fair share of courage, could now and then meet with the
opportunity to escape by the steamers or schooners coming North. Thus
Samuel found the way open and on one of the steamers came to
Philadelphia. On arriving, he was put at once in the charge of the
Committee. While in their hands he seemed filled with astonishment at
his own achievements, and such spontaneous expressions as naturally
flowed from his heart thrilled and amazed his new found friends, and
abundant satisfaction was afforded, that Samuel Washington Johnson would
do no discredit to his fugitive comrades in Canada. So the Committee
gladly aided him on his journey.
After arriving in Canada, Samuel wrote frequently and intelligently. The
subjoined letter to his wife shows how deeply he was attached to her,
and, at the same time, what his views were of Slavery. The member of the
Committee to whom it was sent with the request, that it should be
forwarded to her, did not meet with the opportunity of doing so. A copy
of it was preserved with other Underground Rail Road documents.
LETTER FROM SAMUEL W. JOHNSON TO HIS WIFE.
My Dear Wife I now embrace this golden opportunity of writing a
few Lines to inform you that I am well at present engoying good
health and hope that these few lines may find you well also. My
dearest wife I have Left you and now I am in a foreign land
about fourteen hundred miles from you but though my wife my
thoughts are upon you all the time. My dearest Frances I hope
you will remember me now gust as same as you did when I were
there with you because my mind are with you night and day the
Love that I bear for you in my breast is greater than I thought
it was if I had thought I had so much Love for you I dont think
I ever could Left being I have escape I and has fled into a land
of freedom. I can but stop and look over my past Life and say
what a fool I was for staying in bondage as Long. My dear wife I
dont want you to get married before you send me some letters
because I never shall get married until I see you again. My mind
dont deceive and it appears to me as if I shall see you again at
my time of writing this letter I am desitute of money I have not
got in no business yet but when I do get into business I shall
write you and also remember you. Tell my Mother and Brother and
all enquiring friends that I am now safe in free state. I cant
tell where I am at present but Direct your Letters to Mr.
William Still in Philadelphia and I will get them. Answer this
as soon as you can if you please for if you write the same day
you receive it it will take a fortnight to reach me. No more to
relate at present but still remain your affectionate husband.
Mr. Still please defore this piece out if you please
SAMUEL WASHINGTON JOHNSON.
Whether Samuel ever met with the opportunity of communicating with his
wife, the writer cannot say. But of all the trials which Slaves had to
endure, the separations of husbands and wives were the most difficult to
bear up under. Although feeling keenly the loss of his wife, Samuel's
breast swelled with the thought of freedom, as will be seen from the
letter which he wrote immediately after landing in Canada:
ST. CATHARINE, UPPER CANADA WEST.
MR. WILLIAM STILL:--I am now in safety. I arrived at home safe
on the 11th inst at 12 o'clock M. So I hope that you will now
take it upon yourself to inform me something of that letter I
left at your house that night when I left there and write me
word how you are and how is your wife. I wish you may excuse
this letter for I am so full that I cannot express my mind at
all. I am only got $1.50 and I feel as if I had an independent
fortune but I don't want you to think that I am going to be idle
because I am on free ground and I shall always work though I am
not got nothing to do at present. Direct your letter to the post
office as soon as possible.
SAMUEL W. JOHNSON.
* * * * *
FAMILY FROM BALTIMORE.
STEPHEN AMOS, _alias_ HENRY JOHNSON, HARRIET, _alias_ MARY JANE JOHNSON
(man and wife), and their four children, ANN REBECCA, WM. H., ELIZABETH
and MARY ELLEN. Doubtless, in the eyes of a Slaveholder, a more
"likely-looking" family could not readily be found in Baltimore, than
the one to be now briefly noticed. The mother and her children were
owned by a young slave-holder, who went by the name of William Giddings,
and resided in Prince George's county, Md. Harriet acknowledged, that
she had been treated "tolerably well in earlier days" for one in her
condition; but, as in so many instances in the experience of Slaves,
latterly, times had changed with her and she was compelled to serve
under a new master who oft-times treated her "very severely." On one
occasion, seven years previously, a brother of her owner for a trifling
offence struck and kicked her so brutally, that she was immediately
thrown into a fit of sickness, which lasted "all one summer"--from this
she finally recovered.
On another occasion, about one year previous to her escape, she was
seized by her owner and thrust into prison to be sold. In this instance
the interference of the Uncle of Harriet's master saved her from the
auction block. The young master, was under age, and at the same time
under the guardianship of his Uncle. The young master had early acquired
an ardent taste for fast horses, gambling, etc. Harriet felt, that her
chances for the future in the hands of such a brutal master could not be
other than miserable. Her husband had formerly been owned by John S.
Giddings, who was said to have been a "mild man." He had allowed Stephen
(her husband) to buy himself, and for eighteen months prior to the
flight, he had been what was called a free man. It should also be
further stated in justice to Stephen's master, that he was so disgusted
with the manner in which Stephen's wife was treated, that he went so far
as to counsel Stephen to escape with his wife and children. Here at
least is one instance where a Maryland slave-holder lends his influence
to the Underground Rail Road cause. The counsel was accepted, and the
family started on their perilous flight. And although they necessarily
had manifest trials and difficulties to discourage and beset them, they
battled bravely with all these odds and reached the Vigilance Committee
safely. Harriet was a bright mulatto, with marked features of character,
and well made, with good address and quite intelligent. She was about
twenty-six years of age. The children also were remarkably fine-looking
little creatures, but too young to know the horrors of Slavery. The
Committee at once relieved them of their heavy load of anxiety by
cheering words and administering to their necessities with regard to
food, money, etc. After the family had somewhat recovered from the
fatigue and travel-worn condition in which they arrived, and were
prepared to resume their journey, the Committee gave them the strictest
caution with regard to avoiding slave-hunters, and also in reference to
such points on the road where they would be most in danger of going
astray from a lack of knowledge of the way. Then, with indescribable
feelings of sympathy, free tickets were tendered them, and they having
been conducted to the depot, were sent on their way rejoicing.
* * * * *
ELIJAH HILTON.
FROM RICHMOND.
After many years of hard toiling for the support of others, the yoke
pressed so heavily upon Elijah's shoulders, that he could not endure
Slave life any longer. In the hope of getting rid of his bondage, by
dexterous management and a resolute mind, which most determined and
thoughtful men exercise when undertaking to accomplish great objects, he
set about contriving to gain his freedom. In proof of Elijah's
truthfulness, the advertisement of Mr. R.J. Christians is here offered,
as taken from a Richmond paper, about the time that Elijah passed
through Philadelphia on the Underground Rail Road, in 1857.
RAN AWAY--$500 REWARD.--Left the Tobacco Factory of the
subscriber on the 14th inst., on the pretence of being sick, a
mulatto man, named ELIJAH, the property of Maj. Edward Johnson,
of Chesterfield county. He is about 5 feet 8 or 10 inches high,
spare made, bushy hair, and very genteel appearance; he is
supposed to be making his way North. The above reward will be
paid if delivered at my factory.
Ro. J. CHRISTIANS.
jy 21--ts.
From his infancy up to the hour of his escape, not a breath of free air
had he ever been permitted to breathe. He was first owned by Mrs.
Caroline Johnson, "a stingy widow, the owner of about fifty slaves, and
a member of Dr. Plummer's church." Elijah, at her death, was willed to
her son, Major Johnson, who was in the United States service. Elijah
spoke of him as a "favorable man," but added, "I'd rather be free. I
believe I can treat myself better than he can or anybody else." For the
last nineteen years he had been hired out, sometimes as waiter,
sometimes in a tobacco factory, and for five years in the _Coal Mines_.
At the mines he was treated very brutally, but at Cornelius Hall's
Tobacco factory, the suffering he had to endure seems almost incredible.
The poor fellow, with the scars upon his person and the unmistakable
earnestness of his manner, only needed to be seen and heard to satisfy
the most incredulous of the truth of his story. For refusing to be
flogged, one time at Hall's Factory, the overseer, in a rage, "took up a
hickory club" and laid his head "open on each side." Overpowered and
wounded, he was stripped naked and compelled to receive THREE HUNDRED
LASHES, by which he was literally excoriated from head to foot. For six
months afterwards he was "laid up." Last year he was hired out for "one
hundred and eighty dollars," out of which he "received but five
dollars." This year he brought "one hundred and ninety dollars." Up to
the time he escaped, he had received "two dollars," and the promise of
"more at Christmas." Left brothers and sisters, all ignorant of his way
of escape. The following pass brought away by Elijah speaks for itself,
and will doubtless be interesting to some of our readers who are
ignorant of what used to be Republican usages in the "land of the Free."
RICHMOND, July 3d, 1857.
Permit the Bearer _Elijah_ to pass to and from my FACTORY, to
_Frederick Williams, In the Vallie_, for one month, untill 11
o'clock at night.
By _A.B. Wells_,
R.J. CHRISTIAN.
[PINE APPLE FACTORY.]
As usual, the Vigilance Committee tendered aid to Elijah, and forwarded
him on to Canada, whence he wrote back as follows:
TORONTO, Canada West, July 28. Dear friend in due respect to
your humanity and nobility I now take my pen in hand to inform
you of my health. I am enjoying a reasonable proportion of
health at this time and hope when these few lines come to hand
they may find you and family the same dear Sir I am in Toronto