In order to economize time and space, with a view to giving an account
of as many of the travelers as possible, it seems expedient, where a
number of arrivals come in close proximity to each other, to report them
briefly, under one head.
Henry Anderson, _alias_ WILLIAM ANDERSON. In outward appearance Henry
was uninteresting. As he asserted, and as his appearance indicated, he
had experienced a large share of "rugged" usage. Being far in the South,
and in the hands of a brutal "Captain of a small boat," chances of
freedom or of moderate treatment, had rarely ever presented themselves
in any aspect. On the 3d of the preceding March he was sold to a negro
trader--the thought of having to live under a trader was so terrible, he
was moved to escape, leaving his wife, to whom he had only been married
three months. Henry was twenty-five years of age, quite black and a
little below the medium size.
He fled from Beaufort, North Carolina. The system of slavery in all the
region of country whence Henry came, exhibited generally great brutality
and cruelty.
CHARLES CONGO AND WIFE, MARGARET. Charles and his wife were fortunate in
managing to flee together. Their attachment to each other was evidently
true. They were both owned by a farmer, who went by the name of David
Stewart, and resided in Maryland. As Charles' owner did not require
their services at home, as he had more of that kind of stock than he had
use for--he hired them out to another farmer--Charles for $105 per
annum; how much for the wife they could not tell. She, however, was not
blessed with good health, though she was not favored any more on that
account. Charles' affection for his wife, on seeing how hard she had to
labor when not well, aroused him to seek their freedom by flight. He
resolved to spare no pains, to give himself no rest until they were both
free. Accordingly the Underground Rail Road was sought and found.
Charles was twenty-eight, with a good head and striking face, as well as
otherwise well made; chestnut color and intelligent, though unable to
read. Left two sisters in bondage. Margaret was about the same age as
her husband, a nice-looking brown-skinned woman; worth $500. Charles was
valued at $1200.
The atmosphere throughout the neighborhood where Charles and Margaret
had lived and breathed, and had their existence, was heavily oppressed
with slavery. No education for the freeman of color, much less for the
slave. The order of the day was literally, as far as colored men were
concerned: "No rights which white men were bound to respect."
Chaskey Brown, Wm. Henry Washington, James Alfred Frisley, and Charles
Henry Salter. Chaskey is about twenty-four years of age, quite black,
medium size, sound body and intelligent appearance, nevertheless he
resembled a "farm hand" in every particular. His master was known by the
name of Major James H. Gales, and he was the owner of a farm with
eighteen men, women and children, slaves to toil for him. The Major in
disposition was very abusive and profane, though old and grey-headed.
His wife was pretty much the same kind of a woman as he was a man; one
who delighted in making the slaves tremble at her bidding. Chaskey was a
member of the "Still Pond church," of Kent county, Md. Often Chaskey was
made to feel the lash on his back, notwithstanding his good standing in
the church. He had a wife and one child. In escaping, he was obliged to
leave them both. Chaskey was valued at $1200.
William Henry was about 20 years of age, and belonged to Doctor B.
Grain, of Baltimore, who hired him out to a farmer. Not relishing the
idea of having to work all his life in bondage, destitute of all
privileges, he resolved to seek a refuge in Canada. He left his mother,
four sisters and two brothers.
James is twenty-four years of age, well made, quite black and pretty
shrewd. He too was unable to see how it was that he should be worked,
and flogged, and sold, at the pleasure of his master and "getting
nothing;" he "had rather work for himself." His master was a
"_speckled-faced--pretty large stomach man_, but was not very abuseful."
He only owned one other.
Charles Henry is about thirty years of age, of good proportion,
nice-looking and intelligent; but to rough usage he was no stranger. To
select his own master was a privilege not allowed; privileges of all
kinds were rare with him. So he resolved to flee. Left his mother, three
sisters and five brothers in slavery. He was a member of "Albany
Chapel," at Massey's Cross Roads, and a slave of Dr. B. Crain. Charles
left his wife Anna, living near the head of Sassafras, Md. The
separation was painful, as was everything belonging to the system of
Slavery.
These were all gladly received by the Vigilance Committee, and the hand
of friendship warmly extended to them; and the best of counsel and
encouragement was offered; material aid, food and clothing were also
furnished as they had need, and they were sent on their way rejoicing to
Canada.
Stephen Taylor, Charles Brown, Charles Henry Hollis, and Luther Dorsey.
Stephen was a fine young man, of twenty years of age; he fled to keep
from being sold. He "supposed his master wanted money." His master was a
"tall, spare-faced man, with long whiskers, very wicked and very
quick-tempered," and was known by the name of James Smithen, of Sandy
Hook, Harford county, Md. His wife was also a very "close woman." They
had four children growing up to occupy their places as oppressors.
Stephen was not satisfied to serve either old or young masters any
longer, and made up his mind to leave the first opportunity. Before this
watchful and resolute purpose the way opened, and he soon found it
comparatively easy to find his way from Maryland to Pennsylvania, and
likewise into the hands of the Vigilance Committee, to whom he made
known fully the character of the place and people whence he had fled,
the dangers he was exposed to from slave-hunters, and the strong hope he
cherished of reaching free land soon. Being a young man of promise,
Stephen was advised earnestly to apply his mind to seek an education,
and to use every possible endeavor to raise himself in the scale of
manhood, morally, religiously and intellectually; and he seemed to drink
in the admonitions thus given with a relish. After recruiting, and all
necessary arrangements had been made for his comfort and passage to
Canada, he was duly forwarded. "One more slave-holder is minus another
slave worth at least $1200, which is something to rejoice over," said
Committee. Stephen's parents were dead; one brother was the only near
relative he left in chains.
Charles Brown was about twenty-five years of age, quite black, and bore
the marks of having been used hard, though his stout and hearty
appearance would have rendered him very desirable to a trader. He fled
from William Wheeling, of Sandy Hook, Md. He spoke of his master as a
"pretty bad man," who was "always quarreling," and "would drink, swear
and lie." Left simply because he "never got anything for his labor." On
taking his departure for Canada, he was called upon to bid adieu to his
mother and three brothers, all under the yoke. His master he describes
thus--
"His face was long, cheek-bones high, middling tall, and about
twenty-six years of age." With this specimen of humanity, Charles was
very much dissatisfied, and he made up his mind not to stand the burdens
of Slavery a day longer than he could safely make his way to the North.
And in making an effort to reach Canada, he was quite willing to suffer
many things. So the first chance Charles got, he started, and Providence
smiled upon his resolution; he found himself a joyful passenger on the
Underground Rail Road, being entertained free, and receiving attentions
from the Company all along the line through to her British Majesty's
boundlessly free territory in the Canadas.
True, the thought of his mother and brothers, left in the prison house,
largely marred his joy, as it did also the Committee's, still the
Committee felt that Charles had gained his Freedom honorably, and at the
same time, had left his master a poorer, if not a wiser man, by at least
$1200.
Charles Henry was a good-looking young man, only twenty years of age,
and appeared to possess double as much natural sense as he would require
to take care of himself. John Webster of Sandy Hook, claimed Charles'
time, body and mind, and this was what made Charles unhappy. Uneducated
as he was, he was too sensible to believe that Webster had any God-given
right to his manhood. Consequently, he left because his master "did not
treat him right." Webster was a tall man, with large black whiskers,
about forty years of age, and owned Charles' two sisters. Charles was
sorry for the fate of his sisters, but he could not help them if he
remained. Staying to wear the yoke, he felt would rather make it worse
instead of better for all concerned.
Luther Dorsey is about nineteen years of age, rather smart, black, well
made and well calculated for a Canadian. He was prompted to escape
purely from the desire to be "_free_." He fled from a "very insulting
man," by the name of Edward Schriner, from the neighborhood of
Sairsville Mills, Frederick Co., Md. This Schriner was described as a
"low chunky man, with grum look, big mouth, etc.," and was a member of
the German Reformed Church. "Don't swear, though might as well; he was
so bad other ways."
Luther was a member of the Methodist church at Jones Hill. Left his
father in chains; his mother had wisely escaped to Canada years back,
when he was but a boy. Where she was then, he could not tell, but hoped
to meet her in Canada.
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