FROM VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, NORTH CAROLINA, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND
SOUTH CAROLINA.
JAMES BURRELL, DANIEL WIGGINS, WM. ROBINSON, EDWARD PEADEN, AND WIFE,
ALEX BOGGS, SAMUEL STATER, HARRISON BELL AND DAUGHTER, HARRIET
ANN,DANIEL DAVIS, _alias_ DAVID SMITH, JAMES STEWART, _alias_ WILLIAM
JACKSON, HARRIET HALEY, _alias_ ANN RICHARDSON, BENJ. DUNCANS, _alias_
GEORGE SCOTT, MOSES WINES, SARAH SMITH, _alias_ MILDRETH PAGE, LUCY
GARRETT, _alias_ JULIA WOOD, ELLEN FORMAN, _alias_ ELIZABETH YOUNG, WM.
WOODEN, _alias_ WM. NELSON, JAMES EDWARD HANDY, _alias_ DENNIS CANNON,
JAMES HENRY DELANY _alias_ SMART STANLEY, JAMES HENRY BLACKSON, GEORGE
FREELAND, MILES WHITE, LOUISA CLAYTON, LEWIS SNOWDEN, _alias_ LEWIS
WILLIAMS, WM. JOHNSON, JOHN HALL _alias_ JOHN SIMPSON. In order to keep
this volume within due limits, in the cases to be noticed in this
chapter, it will be impossible to state more than a few of the
interesting particulars that make up these narratives. While some of
these passengers might not have been made in the prison house to drink
of the bitter cup as often as others, and in their flight might not have
been called upon to pass through as severe perils as fell to the lot of
others, nevertheless justice seems to require, that, as far as possible,
all the passengers passing over the Philadelphia Underground Rail Road
shall be noticed.
James Burrell. James was certainly justifiable in making his escape, if
for no other reason than on the score of being nearly related to the
chivalry of the South. He was a mulatto (the son of a white man
evidently), about thirty-two years of age, medium size, and of an
agreeable appearance. He was owned by a maiden lady, who lived at
Williamsburg, but not requiring his services in her own family, she
hired him out by the year to a Mr. John Walker, a manufacturer of
tobacco, for which she received $120 annually. This arrangement was not
satisfactory to James. He could not see why he should be compelled to
wear the yoke like an ox. The more he thought over his condition, the
more unhappy was his lot, until at last he concluded, that he could not
stand Slavery any longer. He had witnessed a great deal of the hardships
of the system of Slavery, and he had quite enough intelligence to
portray the horrors thereof in very vivid colors. It was the
auction-block horror that first prompted him to seek freedom. While
thinking how he would manage to get away safely, his wife and children
were ever present in his mind. He felt as a husband should towards his
"wife Betsy," and likewise loved his "children, Walter and Mary;" but
these belonged to another man, who lived some distance in the country,
where he had permission to see them only once a week. This had its
pleasure, it also had its painful influence. The weekly partings were a
never-failing source of unhappiness. So when James' mind was fully made
up to escape from Slavery, he decided that it would not be best to break
the secret to his poor wife and children, but to get off to Canada, and
afterwards to try and see what he could do for their deliverance. The
hour fixed to leave Virginia arrived, and he started and succeeded in
reaching Philadelphia, and the Committee. On arriving he needed
medicine, clothing, food, and a carriage for his accommodation, all
which were furnished freely by the Committee, and he was duly forwarded
to Canada. From Canada, with his name changed, he wrote as follows:
TORONTO, March 28th, 1854.
SIR, MR. STILL--It does me pleasure to forward you this letter
hopeing when this comes to hand it may find your family well, as
they leaves me at present. I will also say that the friends are
well. Allow me to say to you that I arrived in this place on
Friday last safe and sound, and feeles well under my safe
arrival. Its true that I have not been employed as yet but I
lives hopes to be at work very shortly. I likes this city very
well, and I am in hopes that there a living here for me as much
so as there for any one else. You will be please to write. I am
bording at Mr. Phillip's Centre Street.