William might be described as a good-looking mulatto, thirty-one years
of age, and capable of thinking for himself. He made no grave complaints
of ill-usage under his master, "Joseph Reynolds," who lived at Newton,
Portsmouth, Va. However, his owner had occasionally "threatened to sell
him." As this was too much for William's sensitive feelings, he took
umbrage at it and made a hasty and hazardous move, which resulted in
finding himself on the U.G.R.R. The most serious regret William had to
report to the Committee was, that he was compelled to "leave" his
"wife," Catharine, and his little daughter, Louisa, two years and one
month, and an infant son seven months old. He evidently loved them very
tenderly, but saw no way by which he could aid them, as long as he was
daily liable to be put on the auction block and sold far South. This
argument was regarded by the Committee as logical and unanswerable;
consequently they readily endorsed his course, while they deeply
sympathized with his poor wife and little ones. "Before escaping," he
"dared not" even apprise his wife and child, whom he had to leave behind
in the prison house.
* * * * *