JACKSON is quite dark, medium size, and well informed for one in his
condition. In Slavery, he had been "pressed hard." His hire, "ten
dollars per month" he was obliged to produce at the end of each month,
no matter how much he had been called upon to expend for "doctor bills,
&c." The woman he called mistress went by the name of Ann Colley, a
widow, living near Petersburg. "She was very quarrelsome," although a
"member of the Methodist Church." Jackson seeing that his mistress was
yearly growing "harder and harder," concluded to try and better his
condition "if possible." Having a free wife in the North, who was in the
habit of communicating with him, he was kept fully awake to the love of
Freedom. The Underground Rail Road expense the Committee gladly bore. No
further record of Jackson was made. Jackson found his poor old father
here, where he had resided for a number of years in a state of almost
total blindness, and of course in much parental anxiety about his boys
in chains. On the arrival of Jackson, his heart overflowed with joy and
gratitude not easily described, as the old man had hardly been able to
muster faith enough to believe that he should ever look with his dim
eyes upon one of his sons in Freedom. After a day or two's tarrying,
Jackson took his departure for safer and more healthful localities,--her
"British Majesty's possessions." The old man remained only to feel more
keenly than ever, the pang of having sons still toiling in hopeless
servitude.
In less than seven months after Jackson had shaken off the yoke, to the
unspeakable joy of the father, Isaac and Edmondson succeeded in
following their brother's example, and were made happy partakers of the
benefits and blessings of the Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia. On
first meeting his two boys, at the Underground Rail Road Depot, the old
man took each one in his arms, and as looking through a glass darkly,
straining every nerve of his almost lost sight, exclaiming, whilst
hugging them closer and closer to his bosom for some minutes, in tears
of joy and wonder, "My son Isaac, is this you? my son Isaac, is this
you, &c.?" The scene was calculated to awaken the deepest emotion and to
bring tears to eyes not accustomed to weep. Little had the old man
dreamed in his days of sadness, that he should share such a feast of joy
over the deliverance of his sons. But it is in vain to attempt to
picture the affecting scene at this reunion, for that would be
impossible. Of their slave life, the records contain but a short notice,
simply as follows:
"Isaac is twenty-eight years of age, hearty-looking, well made, dark
color and intelligent. He was owned by Mrs. Ann Colley, a widow,
residing near Petersburg, Va. Isaac and Edmondson were to have been
sold, on New Year's day; a few days hence. How sad her disappointment
must have been on finding them gone, may be more easily imagined than
described."
Edmondson is about twenty-five, a brother of Isaac, and a smart,
good-looking young man, was owned by Mrs. Colley also. "This is just the
class of fugitives to make good subjects for John Bull," thought the
Committee, feeling pretty well assured that they would make good reports
after having enjoyed free air in Canada for a short time. Of course, the
Committee enjoined upon them very earnestly "not to forget their
brethren left behind groaning in fetters; but to prove by their
industry, uprightness, economy, sobriety and thrift, by the remembrance
of their former days of oppression and their obligations to their God,
that they were worthy of the country to which they were going, and so to
help break the bands of the oppressors, and undo the heavy burdens of
the oppressed." Similar advice was impressed upon the minds of all
travelers passing over this branch of the Underground Rail Road. From
hundreds thus admonished, letters came affording the most gratifying
evidence that the counsel of the Committee was not in vain. The appended
letter from the youngest brother, written with his own hand, will
indicate his feelings and views in Canada:
HAMILTON, CANADA WEST Mar. 1, 1858.
MR. STILL, DEAR SIR:--I have taken the oppertunity to enform you
yur letter came to hand 27th I ware glad to hear from you and
yer famly i hope this letter May fine you and the famly Well i
am Well my self My Brother join me in Love to you and all the
frend. I ware sorry to hear of the death of Mrs freaman. We all
must die sune or Late this a date we all must pay we must Perpar
for the time she ware a nise lady dear sir the all is well and
san thar love to you Emerline have Ben sick But is better at
this time. I saw the hills the war well and san thar Love to
you. I war sory to hear that My brother war sol i am glad that i
did come away when i did god works all the things for the Best
he is young he may get a long in the wole May god Bless hem ef
you have any News from Petersburg Va Plas Rite me a word when
you anser this Letter and ef any person came form home Letter Me
know. Please sen me one of your Paper that had the under grands
R wrod give My Love to Mr Careter and his family I am Seving
with a barber at this time he have promust to give me the trad
ef i can lane it he is much of a gentman. Mr Still sir i have
writing a letter to Mr Brown of Petersburg Va Pleas reed it and
ef you think it right Plas sen it by the Mail or by hand you
wall see how i have writen it the will know how sent it by the
way this writing ef the ancer it you can sen it to Me i have tol
them direc to yor care for Ed. t. Smith Philadelphia i hope it
may be right i promorst to rite to hear Please rite to me sune
and let me know ef you do sen it on write wit you did with that
ma a bught the cappet Bage do not fergit to rite tal John he
mite rite to Me. I am doing as well is i can at this time but i
get no wagges But my Bord but is satfid at that thes hard time
and glad that i am Hear and in good helth. Northing More at this
time
yor truly