The Underground Railroad
fifteen years of age, bright mulatto, well grown, smart and
good-looking. For the last three years, or about that length of
time, she has been owned by Charles M. Price, a negro trader, of
Rockville, Maryland. Mr. P. was given to 'intemperance,' to a
very great extent, and gross 'profanity.' He buys and sells many
slaves in the course of the year. 'His wife is cross and
peevish.' She used to take great pleasure in 'torturing' one
'little slave boy.' He was the son of his master (and was owned
by him); this was the chief cause of the mistress' spite."
Ann Maria had always desired her freedom from childhood, and
although not thirteen, when first advised to escape, she
received the suggestion without hesitation, and ever after that
time waited almost daily, for more than two years, the chance to
flee. Her friends were, of course, to aid her, and make
arrangements for her escape. Her owner, fearing that she might
escape, for a long time compelled her to sleep in the chamber
with "her master and mistress;" indeed she was so kept until
about three weeks before she fled. She left her parents living
in Washington. Three of her brothers had been sold South from
their parents. Her mother had been purchased for $1,000, and one
of her sisters for $1,600 for freedom. Before Ann Maria was
thirteen years of age $700 was offered for her by a friend, who
desired to procure her freedom, but the offer was promptly
refused, as were succeeding ones repeatedly made. The only
chance of procuring her freedom, depended upon getting her away
on the Underground Rail Road. She was neatly attired in male
habiliments, and in that manner came all the way from
Washington. After passing two or three days with her new friends
in Philadelphia, she was sent on (in male attire) to Lewis
Tappan, of New York, who had likewise been deeply interested in
her case from the beginning, and who held himself ready, as was
understood, to cash a draft for three hundred dollars to
compensate the man who might risk his own liberty in bringing
her on from Washington. After having arrived safely in New York,
she found a home and kind friends in the family of the Rev. A.N.
Freeman, and received quite an ovation characteristic of an
Underground Rail Road.
After having received many tokens of esteem and kindness from
the friends of the slave in New York and Brooklyn, she was
carefully forwarded on to Canada, to be educated at the "Buxton
Settlement."
An interesting letter, however, from the mother of Ann Maria, conveying
the intelligence of her late great struggle and anxiety in laboring to
free her last child from Slavery is too important to be omitted, and
hence is inserted in connection with this narrative.
LETTER FROM THE MOTHER.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19th, 1857.
WM. STILL, ESQ., Philadelphia, Pa. SIR:--I have just sent for my
son Augustus, in Alabama. I have sent eleven hundred dollars
which pays for his body and some thirty dollars to pay his fare
to Washington. I borrowed one hundred and eighty dollars to make
out the eleven hundred dollars. I was not very successful in
Syracuse. I collected only twelve dollars, and in Rochester only
two dollars. I did not know that the season was so unpropitious.
The wealthy had all gone to the springs. They must have returned
by this time. I hope you will exert yourself and help me get a
part of the money I owe, at least. I am obliged to pay it by the
12th of next month. I was unwell when I returned through
Philadelphia, or I should have called. I had been from home five
weeks.
My son Augustus is the last of the family in Slavery. I feel
rejoiced that he is soon to be free and with me, and of course
feel the greatest solicitude about raising the one hundred and
eighty dollars I have borrowed of a kind friend, or who has
borrowed it for me at bank. I hope and pray you will help me as
far as possible. Tell Mr. Douglass to remember me, and if he
can, to interest his friends for me.
You will recollect that five hundred dollars of our money was
taken to buy the sister of Henry H. Garnett's wife. Had I been
able to command this I should not be necessitated to ask the
favors and indulgences I do.
I am expecting daily the return of Augustus, and may Heaven
grant him a safe deliverance and smile propitiously upon you and
all kind friends who have aided in his return to me.
Be pleased to remember me to friends, and accept yourself the
blessing and prayers of your dear friend,
EARRO WEEMS.
P.S. Direct your letter to E.L. Stevens, in Duff Green's Row,
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
E.W.
That William Penn who worked so faithfully for two years for the
deliverance of Ann Maria may not appear to have been devoting all his
time and sympathy towards this single object it seems expedient that two
or three additional letters, proposing certain grand Underground Rail
Road plans, should have a place here. For this purpose, therefore, the
following letters are subjoined.
LETTERS FROM WILLIAM PENN.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 3, 1854
DEAR SIR:--I address you to-day chiefly at the suggestion of the
Lady who will hand you my letter, and who is a resident of your
city.
After stating to you, that the case about which I have
previously written, remains just as it was when I wrote
last--full of difficulty--I thought I would call your attention
to another enterprise; it is this: to find a man with a large
heart for doing good to the oppressed, who will come to
Washington to live, and who will _walk out to Penn'a., or a part
of the way there, once or twice a week_. He will find parties
who will _pay him for doing so_. Parties of say, two, three,
five or so, who will pay him _at least_ $5 each, for the
privilege of following him, but _will never speak to him_; but
will keep just in sight of him and obey any sign he may give;
say, he takes off his hat and scratches his head as a sign for
them to go to some barn or wood to rest, &c. No living being
shall be found to say he ever spoke to them. A white man would
be best, and then even parties led out by him could not, if they
would, testify to any _understanding_ or anything else against a
white man. I think he might make a good living at it. Can it not
be done?
If one or two safe stopping-places could be found on the
way--such as a barn or shed, they could walk quite safely all
night and then sleep all day--about two, or _easily_ three
nights would convey them to a place of safety. The traveler
might be a peddler or huckster, with an old horse and cart, and
bring us in eggs and butter if he pleases.
Let him once plan out his route, and he might then take ten or a
dozen at a time, and they are often able and willing to pay $10
a piece.
I have a hard case now on hand; a brother and sister 23 to 25
years old, whose mother lives in your city. They are cruelly
treated; they want to go, they _ought_ to go; but they are
utterly destitute. Can nothing be done for such cases? If you
can think of anything let me know it. I suppose you know me?
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 3, 1856.
DEAR SIR:--I sent you the recent law of Virginia, under which
all vessels are to be searched for fugitives within the waters
of that State.
It was long ago suggested by a sagacious friend, that the
"powder boy" might find a better port in the Chesapeake bay, or
in the Patuxent river to communicate with this vicinity, than by
entering the Potomac river, even were there no such law.
Suppose he opens a trade with some place south-west of
Annapolis, 25 or 30 miles from here, or less. He might carry
wood, oysters, &c., and all his customers from this vicinity
might travel in _that direction_ without any of the suspicions
that might attend their journeyings _towards this city_. In this
way, doubtless, a good business might be carried on without
interruption or competition, and provided the plan was conducted
without affecting the inhabitants along that shore, no suspicion
would arise as to the manner or magnitude of his business
operations. How does this strike you? What does the "powder boy"
think of it?
I heretofore intimated a _pressing necessity_ on the part of
several females--they are variously situated--two have children,
say a couple each; some have none--of the latter, one can raise
$50, another, say 30 or 40 dollars--another who was gazetted
last August (a copy sent you), can raise, through her friends,
20 or 30 dollars, &c., &c. None of these can walk so far or so
fast as scores of _men_ that are constantly leaving. I cannot
shake off my anxiety for these poor creatures. Can you think of
anything for any of these? Address your other correspondent in
answer to this at your leisure.
Yours,
WM. PENN.
P.S.--April 3d. Since writing the above, I have received yours
of 31st. I am rejoiced to hear that business is so successful
and prosperous--may it continue till _the article_ shall cease
to be merchandize.
I spoke in my last letter of the departure of a "few friends." I
have since heard of their good health in Penn'a. Probably you
may have seen them.
In reference to the expedition of which you think you can "hold
out some little encouragement," I will barely remark, that I
shall be glad, if it is undertaken, to have all the notice of
the _time and manner_ that is possible, so as to make ready.
A friend of mine says, anthracite coal will always pay here from
Philadelphia, and thinks a small vessel might run often--that
she never would be searched in the Potomac, unless she went
outside.
You advise caution towards Mr. P. I am precisely of your opinion
about him, that he is a "queer stick," and while I advised him
carefully in reference to his own undertakings, I took no
counsel of him concerning mine.
Yours,
W.P.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 23d, 1856.
DEAR SIR:--I have to thank you for your last two encouraging
letters of 31st of March and 7th April. I have seen nothing in
the papers to interest you, and having bad health and a press of
other engagements, I have neglected to write you.
Enclosed is a list of persons referred to in my last letter, all
most anxious to travel--all meritorious. In some of these I feel
an especial interest for what they have done to help others in
distress.
I suggest for yours and the "powder boy's" consideration the
following plan: that he shall take in coal for Washington and
come directly here--sell his coal and go to Georgetown for
freight, and _wait_ for it. If any fancy articles are sent on
board, _I understand he has a place_ to put them in, and _if he
has_ I suggest that he lies still, still waiting for freight
till the first anxiety is over. Vessels that have _just left_
are the ones that will be inquired after, and perhaps chased. If
he lays still a day or two all suspicion will be prevented. If
there shall be occasion to refer to any of them hereafter, it
may be by their numbers in the list.
The family--5 to 11--will be missed and inquired after soon and
urgently; 12 and 13 will also be soon missed, but _none of the
others_.