John was a prisoner of hope under James Ray, of Portsmouth, Va., whom he
declared to be "a worthless sot." This character was fully set forth,
but the description is too disgusting for record. John was a dark
mulatto, thirty-one years of age, well-formed and intelligent. For some
years before escaping he had been in the habit of hiring his time for
$120 per annum. Daily toiling to support his drunken and brutal master,
was a hardship that John felt keenly, but was compelled to submit to up
to the day of his escape.
A part of John's life he had suffered many abuses from his oppressor,
and only a short while before freeing himself, the auction-block was
held up before his troubled mind. This caused him to take the first
daring step towards Canada,--to leave his wife, Mary, without bidding
her good-bye, or saying a word to her as to his intention of fleeing.
John came as a private passenger on one of the Richmond steamers, and
was indebted to the steward of the boat for his accommodations. Having
been received by the Committee, he was cared for and sent on his journey
Canada-ward. There he was happy, found employment and wanted for nothing
but his wife and clothing left in Virginia. On these two points he wrote
several times with considerable feeling.
Some slaves who hired their time in addition to the payment of their
monthly hire, purchased nice clothes for themselves, which they usually
valued highly, so much so, that after escaping they would not be
contented until they had tried every possible scheme to secure them.
They would write back continually, either to their friends in the North
or South, hoping thus to procure them.
Not unfrequently the persons who rendered them assistance in the South,
would be entrusted with all their effects, with the understanding, that
such valuables would be forwarded to a friend or to the Committee at the
earliest opportunity. The Committee strongly protested against fugitives
writing back to the South (through the mails) on account of the
liability of getting parties into danger, as all such letters were
liable to be intercepted in order to the discovery of the names of such
as aided the Underground Rail Road. To render needless this writing to
the South the Committee often submitted to be taxed with demands to
rescue clothing as well as wives, etc., belonging to such as had been
already aided.
The following letters are fair samples of a large number which came to
the Committee touching the matter of clothing, etc.:
ST. CATHARINES, Sept. 4th.
DEAR SIR:--I now embrace this favorable opportunity of writing
you a few lines to inform you that I am quite well and arrived
here safe, and I hope that these few lines may find you and your
family the same. I hope you will intercede for my clothes and as
soon as they come please to send them to me, and if you have not
time, get Dr. Lundy to look out for them, and when they come be
very careful in sending them. I wish you would copy off this
letter and give it to the Steward, and tell him to give it to
Henry Lewy and tell him to give it to my wife. Brother sends his
love to you and all the family and he is overjoyed at seeing me
arrive safe, he can hardly contain himself; also he wants to see
his wife very much, and says when she comes he hopes you will
send her on as soon as possible. Jerry Williams' love, together
with all of us. I had a message for Mr. Lundy, but I forgot it
when I was there. No more at present, but remain your ever
grateful and sincere friend,