George Rhoads is a young man of twenty-five years of age, chestnut
color, face round, and hating Slavery heartily. He had come from under
the control of John P. Dellum a farmer, and a crabbed master, who "would
swear very much when crossed, and would drink moderately every day,"
except sometimes he would "take a _spree_," and would then get pretty
high. Withal he was a member of the Presbyterian church at Perryville,
Maryland; he was a single man and followed farming. Within the last two
or three years, he had sold a man and woman; hence, George thought it
was time to take warning. Accordingly he felt it to be his duty to try
for Canada, via Underground Rail Road. As his master had always declared
that if one run off, he would sell the rest to Georgia, George very
wisely concluded that as an effort would have to be made, they had
better leave their master with as "few as possible to be troubled with
selling." Consequently, a consultation was had between the brothers,
which resulted in the exit of a party of eight. The market price for
George would be about $1400. A horrid example professed Christians set
before the world, while holding slaves and upholding Slavery.
James Rhoads, brother of George, was twenty-three years of age, medium
size, dark color, intelligent and manly, and would doubtless have
brought, in the Richmond market, $1700. Fortunately he brought his wife
and child with him. James was also held by the same task-master who held
George. Often had he been visited with severe stripes, and had borne his
full share of suffering from his master.
George Washington, one of the same party, was only about fifteen years
of age; he was tall enough, however, to pass for a young man of twenty.
George was of an excellent, fast, dark color. Of course, mentally he was
undeveloped, nevertheless, possessed of enough mother-wit to make good
his escape. In the slave market he might have been valued at $800.
George was claimed as the lawful property of Benjamin Sylves--a
Presbyterian, who owned besides, two men, three girls, and a boy. He was
"tolerable good" sometimes, and sometimes "bad." Some of the slaves
supposed themselves to be on the eve of being emancipated about the time
George left; but of this there was no certainty. George, however, was
not among this hopeful number, consequently, he thought that he would
start in time, and would be ready to shout for Freedom quite as soon as
any other of his fellow-bondmen. George left a father and three sisters.
Sarah Elizabeth Rhoads, wife of James Rhoads, was seventeen years of
age, a tall, dark, young woman, who had had no chances for mental
improvement, except such as were usual on a farm, stocked with slaves,
where learning to read the Bible was against the "rules." Sarah was a
young slave mother with a babe (of course a slave) only eight months
old. She was regarded as having been exceedingly fortunate in having
rescued herself and child from the horrid fate of slaves.
MARY ELIZABETH STEPHENSON is a promising-looking young woman, of twenty
years of age, chestnut color, and well made. Hard treatment had been her
lot. Left her mother, two sisters and four brothers in bondage. Worth
$1100.
Although these travelers were of the "field hand" class, who had never
been permitted to see much off of the farm, and had been deprived of
hearing intelligent people talk, yet the spirit of Freedom, so natural
to man, was quite uppermost with all of them. The members of the
Committee who saw them, were abundantly satisfied that these candidates
for Canada would prove that they were able to "take care of themselves."
Their wants were attended to in the usual manner, and they were sent on
their way rejoicing, the Committee feeling quite a deep interest in
them. It looked like business to see so many passing over the Road.
* * * * *