The Underground Railroad
Arrival No. 5. Miles Hooper. This subject came from North Carolina; he
was owned by George Montigue, who lived at Federal Mills, was a decided
opponent to the no-pay system, to flogging, and selling likewise. In
fact nothing that was auxiliary to Slavery was relished by him.
Consequently he concluded to leave the place altogether. At the time
that Miles took this stand he was twenty-three years of age, a
dark-complexioned man, rather under the medium height, physically, but a
full-grown man mentally. "My owner was a hard man," said Miles, in
speaking of his characteristics. His parents, brothers, and sisters were
living, at least he had reason to believe so, although they were widely
scattered.
Arrival No. 6. Samuel Miles, alias Robert King. Samuel was a
representative of Revel's Neck, Somerset Co., Md. His master he regarded
as a "very fractious man, hard to please." The cause of the trouble or
unpleasantness, which resulted in Samuel's Underground adventure, was
traceable to his master's refusal to allow him to visit his wife. Not
only was Samuel denied this privilege, but he was equally denied all
privileges. His master probably thought that Sam had no mind, nor any
need of a wife. Whether this was really so or not, Sam was shrewd enough
to "leave his old master with the bag to hold," which was sensible.
Thirty-one years of Samuel's life were passed in Slavery, ere he
escaped. The remainder of his days he felt bound to have the benefit of
himself. In leaving home he had to part with his wife and one child,
Sarah and little Henry, who were fortunately free.
On arriving in Canada Samuel wrote back for his wife, &c., as follows:
ST. CATHARINES, C.W., Aug. 20th, 1855.
To MR. WM. STILL, DEAR FRIEND:--It gives me pleasure to inform
you that I have had the good fortune to reach this northern
Canaan. I got here yesterday and am in good health and happy in
the enjoyment of Freedom, but am very anxious to have my wife
and child here with me.
I wish you to write to her immediately on receiving this and let
her know where I am you will recollect her name Sarah Miles at
Baltimore on the corner of Hamburg and Eutaw streets. Please
encourage her in making a start and give her the necessary
directions how to come. She will please to make the time as
short as possible in getting through to Canada. Say to my wife
that I wish her to write immediately to the friends that I told
her to address as soon as she hears from me. Inform her that I
now stop in St. Catharines near the Niagara Falls that I am not
yet in business but expect to get into business very soon--That
I am in the enjoyment of good health and hoping that this
communication may find my affectionate wife the same. That I
have been highly favored with friends throughout my journey I
wish my wife to write to me as soon as she can and let me know
how soon I may expect to see her on this side of the Niagara
River. My wife had better call on Dr. Perkins and perhaps he
will let her have the money he had in charge for me but that I
failed of receiving when I left Baltimore. Please direct the
letter for my wife to Mr. George Lister, in Hill street between
Howard and Sharp. My compliments to all enquiring friends.
Very respectfully yours,
SAMUEL MILES.
P.S. Please send the thread along as a token and my wife will
understand that all is right. S.M.
Arrival No. 7. James Henson, alias David Caldwell. James fled from Cecil
Co., Md. He claimed that he was entitled to his freedom according to law
at the age of twenty-eight, but had been unjustly deprived of it. Having
waited in vain for his free papers for four years, he suspected that he
was to be dealt with in a manner similar to many others, who had been
willed free or who had bought their time, and had been shamefully
cheated out of their freedom. So in his judgment he felt that his only
hope lay in making his escape on the Underground Rail Road. He had no
faith whatever in the man who held him in bondage, Jacob Johnson, but no
other charges of ill treatment, &c., have been found against said
Johnson on the books, save those alluded to above.
James was thirty-two years of age, stout and well proportioned, with
more than average intelligence and resolution. He left a wife and child,
both free.
Arrival No. 8. Laura Lewis. Laura arrived from Louisville, Kentucky. She
had been owned by a widow woman named Lewis, but as lately as the
previous March her mistress died, leaving her slaves and other property
to be divided among her heirs. As this would necessitate a sale of the
slaves, Laura determined not to be on hand when the selling day came, so
she took time by the forelock and left. Her appearance indicated that
she had been among the more favored class of slaves. She was about
twenty-five years of age, quite stout, of mixed blood, and intelligent,
having traveled considerably with her mistress. She had been North in
this capacity. She left her mother, one brother, and one sister in
Louisville.
Arrival No. 9. Elizabeth Banks, from near Easton, Maryland. Her lot had
been that of an ordinary slave. Of her slave-life nothing of interest
was recorded. She had escaped from her owner two and a half years prior
to coming into the hands of the Committee, and had been living in
Pennsylvania pretty securely as she had supposed, but she had been
awakened to a sense of her danger by well grounded reports that she was
pursued by her claimant, and would be likely to be captured if she
tarried short of Canada. With such facts staring her in the face she was
sent to the Committee for counsel and protection, and by them she was
forwarded on in the usual way. She was about twenty-five years of age,
of a dark, and spare structure.
Arrival No. 10. Simon Hill. This fugitive had escaped from Virginia. The
usual examination was made, and needed help given him by the Committee
who felt satisfied that he was a poor brother who had been shamefully
wronged, and that he richly deserved sympathy. He was aided and directed
Canada-ward. He was a very humble-looking specimen of the peculiar
institution, about twenty-five years of age, medium size, and of a dark
hue.
Arrival No. 11. Anthony and Albert Brown (brothers), Jones Anderson and
Isaiah.
This party escaped from Tanner's Creek, Norfolk, Virginia, where they
had been owned by John and Henry Holland, oystermen. As slaves they
alleged that they had been subjected to very brutal treatment from their
profane and ill-natured owners. Not relishing this treatment, Albert and
Anthony came to the conclusion that they understood boating well enough
to escape by water. They accordingly selected one of their master's
small oyster-boats, which was pretty-well rigged with sails, and off
they started for a Northern Shore. They proceeded on a part of their
voyage merely by guess work, but landed safely, however, about
twenty-five miles north of Baltimore, though, by no means, on free soil.
They had no knowledge of the danger that they were then in, but they
were persevering, and still determined to make their way North, and
thus, at last, success attended their efforts. Their struggles and
exertions having been attended with more of the romantic and tragical
elements than had characterized the undertakings of any of the other
late passengers, the Committee felt inclined to make a fuller notice of
them on the book, yet failed to do them justice in this respect.
The elder brother was twenty-nine, the younger twenty-seven. Both were
mentally above the average run of slaves. They left wives in Norfolk,
named Alexenia and Ellen. While Anthony and Albert, in seeking their
freedom, were forced to sever their connections with their companions,
they did not forget them in Canada.
How great was their delight in freedom, and tender their regard for
their wives, and the deep interest they felt for their brethren and
friends generally, may be seen from a perusal of the following letters
from them:
HAMELTON, March 7th 1856.
MR. WM. STILL--_Sir_--I now take the opportunity of writing you
a few lins hoping to find yourself and famly well as thes lines
leves me at present, myself and brother, Anthony & Albert
brown's respects. We have spent quite agreeable winter, we ware
emploied in the new hotel, name Anglo american, wheare we
wintered and don very well, we also met with our too frends ho
came from home with us, Jonas anderson and Izeas, now we are all
safe in hamilton, I wish to cale you to youre prommos, if
convenient to write to Norfolk, Va, for me, and let my wife mary
Elen Brown, no where I am, and my brothers wife Elickzener
Brown, as we have never heard a word from them since we left,
tel them that we found our homes and situation in canady much
better than we expected, tel them not to think hard of us, we
was boun to flee from the rath to come, tel them we live in the
hopes of meting them once more this side of the grave, tel them
if we never more see them, we hope to meet them in the kingdom
of heaven in pece, tel them to remember my love to my cherch and
brethren, tel them I find there is the same prayer-hearing God
heare as there is in old Va; tel them to remember our love to
all the enquiring frends, I have written sevrel times but have
never reseived no answer, I find a gret meny of my old
accuiantens from Va, heare we are no ways lonesom, Mr. Still, I
have written to you once before, but reseve no answer. Pleas let
us hear from you by any means. Nothing more at present, but
remane youre frends,
ANTHONY & ALBERT BROWN.
HAMILTON June 26th, 1856,
MR. WM. STILL:--_kine Sir_:--I am happy to say to you that I
have jus reseved my letter dated 5 of the present month, but
previeously had bin in form las night by Mr. J.H. Hall, he had
jus reseved a letter from you stating that my wife was with you,
oh my I was so glad it case me to shed tears.
Mr. Still, I cannot return you the thanks for the care of my
wife, for I am so Glad that I don't now what to say, you will
pleas start her for canaday. I am yet in hamilton, C.W., at the
city hotel, my brother and Joseph anderson is at the angle
american hotel, they send there respects to you and family my
self also, and a greater part to my wife. I came by the way of
syracruse remember me to Mrs. logins, tel her to writ back to my
brothers wife if she is living and tel her to com on tel her to
send Joseph Andersons love to his mother.
i now send her 10 Dollers and would send more but being out of
employment some of winter it pulls me back, you will be so kine
as to forward her on to me, and if life las I will satisfie you
at some time, before long. Give my respects and brothers to Mr.
John Dennes, tel him Mr. Hills famly is wel and send there love
to them, I now bring my letter to a close, And am youre most
humble Servant,
ANTHONY BROWN.
P.S. I had given out the notion of ever seeing my wife again, so
I have not been attending the office, but am truly sorry I did
not, you mention in yours of Mr. Henry lewey, he has left this
city for Boston about 2 weeks ago, we have not herd from him
yet.
A. BROWN.
Arrival No. 12. George Williams and Charles Holladay. These two
travelers were about the same age. They were not, however, from the same
neighborhood--they happened to meet each other as they were traveling
the road. George fled from St. Louis, Charles from Baltimore. George