These individuals escaped from the eastern shore of Maryland, in the
Spring of 1853, but were led to conclude that they could enjoy the
freedom they had aimed to find, in New Jersey. They procured employment
in the neighborhood of Haddonfield, some six or eight miles from Camden,
New Jersey, and were succeeding, as they thought, very well.
Things went on favorably for about three months, when to their alarm
"slave-hunters were discovered in the neighborhood," and sufficient
evidence was obtained to make it quite plain that, John, William and
James were the identical persons, for whom the hunters were in "hot
pursuit." When brought to the Committee, they were pretty thoroughly
alarmed and felt very anxious to be safely off to Canada. While the
Committee always rendered in such cases immediate protection and aid,
they nevertheless, felt, in view of the imminent dangers existing under
the fugitive slave law, that persons disposed to thus stop by the way,
should be very plainly given to understand, that if they were captured
they would have themselves the most to blame. But the dread of Slavery
was strong in the minds of these fugitives, and they very fully realized
their folly in stopping in New Jersey. The Committee procured their
tickets, helped them to disguise themselves as much as possible, and
admonished them not to stop short of Canada.
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