The Underground Railroad
lays in Norfolk Jail and have Been there for three month i Would open
myself in that frank and hones manner. Which should convince you of my
cencerity of Purpoest don't shut your ears to the cry's of the Widow and
the orphant & i can but ask in the name of humanity and God for he knows
the heart of all men. Please ask the friends humanity to do something
for her and her two lettle ones i cant do any thing Place as i am for i
have to lay low Please lay this before the churches of Philadelphaise
beg them in name of the Lord to do something for him i love my freedom
and if it would do her and her two children any good i mean to change
with her but cant be done for she is Jail and you most no she suffer for
the jail in the South are not like yours for any thing is good enough
for negros the Slave hunters Says & may God interpose in behalf of the
demonstrative Race of Africa Whom i claim desendent i am sorry to say
that friendship is only a name here but i truss it is not so in Philada
i would not have taken this liberty had i not considered you a friend
for you treaty as such Please do all you can and Please ask the Anti
Slavery friends to do all they can and God will Reward them for it i am
shure for the earth is the Lords and the fullness there of as this note
leaves me not very well but hope when it comes to hand it may find you
and family enjoying all the Pleasure life Please answer this and Pardon
me if the necessary sum can be required i will find out from my
brotherinlaw i am with respectful consideration.
SHERIDAN W. FORD.
Yesterday is the fust time i have heard from home Sence i left and i
have not got any thing yet i have a tear yet for my fellow man and it is
in my eyes now for God knows it is tha truth i sue for your Pity and all
and may God open their hearts to Pity a poor Woman and two children. The
Sum is i believe 14 hundred Dollars Please write to day for me and see
if the cant do something for humanity.
LETTER FROM E.F. PENNYPACKER (U.G.R.R. DEPOT).
SCHUYLKILL, 11th mo., 7th day, 1857.
WM. STILL:--_Respected Friend_--There are three colored friends at my
house now, who will reach the city by the Phil. & Reading train this
evening. Please meet them.
Thine, &c.,
E.F. PENNYPACKER.
We have within the past 2 mos. passed 43 through our hands, transported
most of them to Norristown in our own conveyance. E.F.P.
LETTER FROM JOS. C. BUSTILL (U.G.R.R. DEPOT).
HARRISBURG, March 24, '56.
FRIEND STILL:--I suppose ere this you have seen those five large and
three small packages I sent by way of Reading, consisting of three men
and women and children. They arrived here this morning at 8-1/2 o'clock
and left twenty minutes past three. You will please send me any
information likely to prove interesting in relation to them.
Lately we have formed a Society here, called the Fugitive Aid Society.
This is our first case, and I hope it will prove entirely successful.
When you write, please inform me what signs or symbols you make use of
in your despatches, and any other information in relation to operations
of the Underground Rail Road.
Our reason for sending by the Reading Road, was to gain time; it is
expected the owners will be in town this afternoon, and by this Road we
gained five hours' time, which is a matter of much importance, and we
may have occasion to use it sometimes in future. In great haste,
Yours with great respect,
Jos. C. BUSTILL,
LETTER FROM A SLAVE SECRETED IN RICHMOND.
RICHMOND, VA, Oct. 18th, 1860.
To MR. WILLIAM STILL:--_Dear Sir_--Please do me the favor as to write to
my uncle a few lines in regard to the bundle that is for John H. Hill,
who lives in Hamilton, C.W. Sir, if this should reach you, be assured
that it comes from the same poor individual that you have heard of
before; the person who was so unlucky, and deceived also. If you write,
address your letter John M. Hill, care of Box No. 250. I am speaking of
a person who lives in P.va. I hope, sir, you will understand this is
from a poor individual.
LETTER FROM G.S. NELSON (U.G.R.R. DEPOT).
MR. STILL:--_My Dear Sir_--I suppose you are somewhat uneasy because the
goods did not come safe to hand on Monday evening, as you
expected--consigned from Harrisburg to you. The train only was from
Harrisburg to Reading, and as it happened, the goods had to stay all
night with us, and as some excitement exists here about goods of the
kind, we thought it expedient and wise to detain them until we could
hear from you. There are two small boxes and two large ones; we have
them all secure; what had better be done? Let us know. Also, as we can
learn, there are three more boxes still in Harrisburg. Answer your
communication at Harrisburg. Also, fail not to answer this by the return
of mail, as things are rather critical, and you will oblige us.
G.S. NELSON.
_Reading, May 27, '57_.
We knew not that these goods were to come, consequently we were all
taken by surprise. When you answer, use the word, goods. The reason of
the excitement, is: some three weeks ago a big box was consigned to us
by J. Bustill, of Harrisburg. We received it, and forwarded it on to J.
Jones, Elmira, and the next day they were on the fresh hunt of said box;
it got safe to Elmira, as I have had a letter from Jones, and all is
safe.
Yours,
G.S.N.
LETTER FROM JOHN THOMPSON.
MR. STILL:--You will oblige me much Iff you will Direct this Letter to
Vergenia for me to my Mother & iff it well sute you Beg her in my Letter
to Direct hers to you & you Can send it to me iff it sute your
Convenience. I am one of your Chattle.
JOHN THOMPSON,
Syracuse, Jeny 6th.
Direction--Matilda Tate Care of Dudley M Pattee Worrenton Farkiear
County Verginia.
LETTER FROM JOHN THOMPSON, A FUGITIVE, TO HIS MOTHER.
MY DEAR MOTHER:--I have imbrace an opportunity of writing you
these few lines (hoping) that they may fine you as they Leave me
quite well I will now inform you how I am geting I am now a free
man Living By the sweet of my own Brow not serving a nother man
& giving him all I Earn But what I make is mine and iff one
Plase do not sute me I am at Liberty to Leave and go some where
elce & can ashore you I think highly of Freedom and would not
exchange it for nothing that is offered me for it I am waiting
in a Hotel I supose you Remember when I was in Jail I told you
the time would Be Better and you see that the time has come when
I Leave you my heart was so full & yours But I new their was a
Better Day a head, & I have Live to see it. I hird when I was on
the Underground R. Road that the Hounds was on my Track but it
was no go I new I was too far out of their Reach where they
would never smell my track when I Leave you I was carred to
Richmond & sold & From their I was taken to North Carolina &
sold & I Ran a way & went Back to Virginna Between Richmond &
home & their I was caught & Put in Jail & their I Remain till
the oner come for me then I was taken & carred Back to Richmond
then I was sold to the man who I now Leave he is nothing But a
But of a Feller Remember me to your Husband & all in quirin
Friends & say to Miss Rosa that I am as Free as she is & more
happier I no I am getting $12 per month for what Little work I
am Doing I hope to here from you a gain I your Son & ever By
JOHN THOMPSON.
LETTER FROM "WM. PENN" (OF THE BAR).
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 9th, 1856.
DEAR SIR:--I was unavoidably prevented yesterday, from replying to yours
of 6th instant, and although I have made inquiries, I am unable
_to-day_, to answer your questions satisfactorily. Although I know some
of the residents of Loudon county, and have often visited there, still I
have not practiced much in the Courts of that county. There are several
of my acquaintances here, who have lived in that county, and _possibly_,
through my assistance, your commissions might be executed. If a better
way shall not suggest itself to you, and you see fit to give me the
_facts_ in the case, I can better judge of my ability to help you; _but
I know not the man resident there, whom I would trust with an important
suit_. I think it is now some four or five weeks since, that some
packages left this vicinity, said to be from fifteen to twenty in
number, and as I suppose, went through your hands. It was at a time of
uncommon vigilance here, and to me it was a matter of extreme wonder,
_how and through whom_, such a work was accomplished. Can you tell me?
It is _needful_ that I should know! Not for curiosity merely, but for
the good of others. An enclosed slip contains the _marks_ of one of the
packages, which you will read and then _immediately burn_.
If you can give me any light that will _benefit others_, I am sure you
will do so.
A traveler here, _very reliable_, and who knows his business, has
determined not to leave home again till spring, at least not without
extraordinary temptations.
I think, however, he or others, might be tempted to travel in Virginia.
Yours,
WM. P.
LETTER FROM MISS THEODOCIA GILBERT.
SKANEATELES (GLEN HAVEN) CHUY., 1851.
WILLIAM STILL:--_Dear Friend and Brother_--A thousand thanks for
your good, generous letter!
It was so kind of you to have in mind my intense interest and
anxiety in the success and fate of poor Concklin! That he
desired and intended to hazard an attempt of the kind, I well
understood; but what particular one, or that he had actually
embarked in the enterprise, I had not been able to learn.
His memory will ever be among the sacredly cherished with me. He
certainly displayed more real disinterestedness, more earnest,
unassuming devotedness, than those who _claim_ to be the
sincerest friends of the slave can often boast. What more
_Saviour_-like than the _willing_ sacrifice he has rendered!
Never shall I forget that night of our extremest peril (as we
supposed), when he came and so heartily proffered his services
at the hazard of his liberty, of life even, in behalf of William
L. Chaplin.
_Such_ generosity! at _such_ a moment! The emotions it awakened
no words can bespeak! They are to be sought but in the inner
chambers of one's own soul! He as earnestly devised the means,
as calmly counted the cost, and as unshrinkingly turned him to
the task, as if it were his own freedom he would have won.
Through his homely features, and humble garb, the intrepidity of
soul came out in all its lustre! Heroism, in its native majesty,
_commanded_ one's admiration and love!
Most truly can I enter into your sorrows, and painfully
appreciate the pang of disappointment which must have followed
this sad intelligence. But so inadequate are words to the
consoling of such griefs, it were almost cruel to attempt to
syllable one's sympathies.
I cannot bear to believe, that Concklin has been actually
murdered, and yet I hardly dare hope it is otherwise.
And the poor slaves, for whom he periled so much, into what
depths of hopelessness and woe are they again plunged! But the
deeper and blacker for the loss of their dearly sought and
new-found freedom. How long must wrongs like these go
unredressed? "_How long, O God, how long_?"
Very truly yours,
THEODOCIA GILBERT.
WILLIAM PEEL, ALIAS WILLIAM BOX PEEL JONES.
ARRIVED PER ERRICSON LINE OF STEAMERS, WRAPPED IN STRAW AND BOXED UP,
APRIL, 1859.
William is twenty-five years of age, unmistakably colored, good-looking,
rather under the medium size, and of pleasing manners. William had