These passengers all arrived together, concealed, per steamship City of
Richmond, December, 1853. Isaac Forman, the youngest of the
party--twenty-three years of age and a dark mulatto--would be considered
by a Southerner capable of judging as "very likely." He fled from a
widow by the name of Mrs. Sanders, who had been in the habit of hiring
him out for "one hundred and twenty dollars a year." She belonged in
Norfolk, Va.; so did Isaac. For four years Isaac had served in the
capacity of steward on the steamship Augusta. He stated that he had a
wife living in Richmond, and that she was confined the morning he took
the U.G.R.R. Of course he could not see her. The privilege of living in
Richmond with his wife "had been denied him." Thus, fearing to render
her unhappy, he was obliged to conceal from her his intention to escape.
"Once or twice in the year was all the privilege allowed" him to visit
her. This only added "insult to injury," in Isaac's opinion; wherefore
he concluded that he would make one less to have to suffer thus, and
common sense said he was wise in the matter. No particular charges are
found recorded on the U.G.R.R. books against the mistress. He went to
Canada.
In the subjoined letters (about his wife) is clearly revealed the
sincere gratitude he felt towards those who aided him: at the same time
it may be seen how the thought of his wife being in bondage grieved his
heart. It would have required men with stone hearts to have turned deaf
ears to such appeals. Extract from letter soon after reaching
Canada--hopeful and happy--