JEFFERSON PIPKINS, ALIAS DAVID JONES, LOUISA PIPKINS, ELIZABETH BRIT,
HARRIET BROWN, ALIAS JANE WOOTON, GRACY MURRY, ALIAS SOPHIA SIMS, EDWARD
WILLIAMS, ALIAS HENRY JOHNSON, CHAS. LEE, ALIAS THOMAS BUSHIER.
Six very clever-looking passengers, all in one party from Baltimore,
Md., the first Sunday in April, 1853. Baltimore used to be in the days
of Slavery one of the most difficult places in the South for even free
colored people to get away from, much more for slaves. The rule forbade
any colored person leaving there by rail road or steamboat, without such
applicant had been weighed, measured, and then given a bond signed by
unquestionable signatures, well known. Baltimore was rigid in the
extreme, and was a never-failing source of annoyance, trouble and
expense to colored people generally, and not unfrequently to
slave-holders too, when they were traveling North with "colored
servants." Just as they were ready to start, the "Rules" would forbid
colored servants until the law was complied with. Parties hurrying on
would on account of this obstruction "have to wait until their hurry was
over." As this was all done in the interest of Slavery, the matter was
not very loudly condemned. But, notwithstanding all this weighing,
measuring and requiring of bonds, many travelers by the Underground Rail
Road took passage from Baltimore.
The enterprising individual, whose name stands at the head of this
narrative, came directly from this stronghold of Slavery. The widow
Pipkins held the title deed for Jefferson. She was unfortunate in losing
him, as she was living in ease and luxury off of Jefferson's sweat and
labor. Louisa, Harriet and Grace owed service to Geo. Stewart of
Baltimore; Edward was owned by Chas. Moondo, and Chas. Lee by the above
Stewart.
Those who would have taken this party for stupid, or for know-nothings,
would have found themselves very much mistaken. Indeed they were far
from being dull or sleepy on the subject of Slavery at any rate. They
had considered pretty thoroughly how wrongfully they, with all others in
similar circumstances, had been year in and year out subjected to
unrequited toil so resolved to leave masters and mistresses to shift for
themselves, while they would try their fortunes in Canada.
Four of the party ranged in age from twenty to twenty-eight years of
age, and the other two from thirty-seven to forty. The Committee on whom
they called, rendered them due aid and advice, and forwarded them to the
Committee in New York.
The following letter from Jefferson, appealing for assistance on behalf
of his children in Slavery, was peculiarly touching, as were all similar
letters. But the mournful thought that these appeals, sighs, tears and
prayers would continue in most cases to be made till death, that nothing
could be done directly for the deliverance of such sufferers was often
as painful as the escape from the auction block was gratifying.