Arrival 1st. Frances Hilliard.
Arrival 2d. Louisa Harding, alias Rebecca Hall.
Arrival 3d. John Mackintosh.
Arrival 4th. Maria Jane Houston.
Arrival 5th. Miles Hoopes.
Arrival 6th. Samuel Miles, alias Robert King.
Arrival 7th. James Henson, alias David Caldwell.
Arrival 8th. Laura Lewis.
Arrival 9th. Elizabeth Banks.
Arrival 10th. Simon Hill.
Arrival 11th. Anthony and Albert Brown.
Arrival 12th. George Williams and Charles Holladay.
Arrival 13th. William Govan.
While none in this catalogue belonged to the class whose daring
adventures rendered their narratives marvellous, nevertheless they
represented a very large number of those who were continually on the
alert to get rid of their captivity. And in all their efforts in this
direction they manifested a marked willingness to encounter perils
either by land or water, by day or by night, to obtain their God-given
rights. Doubtless, even among these names, will be found those who have
been supposed to be lost, and mysteries will be disclosed which have
puzzled scores of relatives longing and looking many years in vain to
ascertain the whereabouts of this or that companion, brother, sister, or
friend. So, if impelled by no other consideration than the hope of
consoling this class of anxious inquirers, this is a sufficient
justification for not omitting them entirely, notwithstanding the risk
of seeming to render these pages monotonous.
Arrival No. 1. First on this record was a young mulatto woman,
twenty-nine years of age--orange color, who could read and write very
well, and was unusually intelligent and withal quite handsome. She was
known by the name of Frances Hilliard, and escaped from Richmond, Va.,
where she was owned by Beverly Blair. The owner hired her out to a man
by the name of Green, from whom he received seventy dollars per annum.
Green allowed her to hire herself for the same amount, with the
understanding that Frances should find all her own clothes, board
herself and find her own house to live in. Her husband, who was also a
slave, had fled nearly one year previous, leaving her widowed, of
course. Notwithstanding the above mentioned conditions, under which she
had the privilege of living, Frances said that she "had been used well."
She had been sold four times in her life. In the first instance the
failure of her master was given as the reason of her sale. Subsequently
she was purchased and sold by different traders, who designed to
speculate upon her as a "fancy article." They would dress her very
elegantly, in order to show her off to the best advantage possible, but
it appears that she had too much regard for her husband and her honor,
to consent to fill the positions which had been basely assigned her by
her owners.
Frances assisted her husband to escape from his owner--Taits--and was
never contented until she succeeded in following him to Canada. In
escaping, she left her mother, Sarah Corbin, and her sister, Maria. On
reaching the Vigilance Committee she learned all about her husband. She
was conveyed from Richmond secreted on a steamer under the care of one
of the colored hands on the boat. From here she was forwarded to Canada
at the expense of the Committee. Arriving in Toronto, and not finding
her hopes fully realized, with regard to meeting her husband, she wrote
back the following letter:
TORONTO, CANADA, U.C., October 15th, 1855.
MY DEAR MR. STILL:--Sir--I take the opportunity of writing you a
few lines to inform you of my health. I am very well at present,
and hope that when these few lines reach you they may find you
enjoying the same blessing. Give my love to Mrs. Still and all
the children, and also to Mr. Swan, and tell him that he must
give you the money that he has, and you will please send it to
me, as I have received a letter from my husband saying that I
must come on to him as soon as I get the money from him. I
cannot go to him until I get the money that Mr. Swan has in
hand. Please tell Mr. Caustle that the clothes he spoke of my
mother did not know anything about them. I left them with Hinson
Brown and he promised to give them to Mr. Smith. Tell him to ask
Mr. Smith to get them from Mr. Brown for me, and when I get
settled I will send him word and he can send them to me. The
letters that were sent to me I received them all. I wish you
would send me word if Mr. Smith is on the boat yet--if he is
please write me word in your next letter. Please send me the
money as soon as you possibly can, for I am very anxious to see
my husband. I send to you for I think you will do what you can
for me. No more at present, but remain Yours truly,