This traveler arrived from Millsboro, Indian River, Delaware, where he
was owned by Wm. E. Burton. While Hansel did not really own himself, he
had the reputation of having a wife and six children. In June, some six
months prior to her husband's arrival, Hansel's wife had been allowed by
her mistress to go out on a begging expedition, to raise money to buy
herself; but contrary to the expectation of her mistress she never
returned. Doubtless the mistress looked upon this course as a piece of
the most highhanded stealing. Hansel did not speak of his owner as being
a hard man, but on the contrary he thought that he was about as "good"
as the best that he was acquainted with. While this was true, however,
Hansel had quite good ground for believing that his master was about to
sell him. Dreading this fate he made up his mind to go in pursuit of his
wife to a Free state. Exactly where to look or how to find her he could
not tell.
The Committee advised him to "search in Canada." And in order to enable
him to get on quickly and safely, the Committee aided him with money,
&c., in 1853.
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