The steamship Pennsylvania, on one of her regular trips from Richmond,
brought one passenger, of whom the Captain had no knowledge; no
permission had been asked of any officer of the boat. Nevertheless,
Verenea Mercer managed, by the most extraordinary strategy, to secrete
herself on the steamer, and thus succeeded in reaching Philadelphia. She
was following her husband, who escaped about nine months before her.
Verenea was about forty-one years of age, of a dark chestnut color,
prepossessing in manners, intelligent and refined. She belonged to the
slave population of Richmond, and was owned by Thomas W. Quales.
According to her testimony, she had not received severe treatment during
the eight and a half years that she had been in his hands. Previous to
his becoming the owner of Verenea, it might have been otherwise,
although nothing is recorded in proof of this inference, except that she
had the misfortune to lose her first husband by a sale. Of course she
was left a widow, in which state she remained nine years, at the
expiration of which period, she married a man by the name of James
Mercer, whose narrative may be found on p. 54.
How James got off, and where he went, Verenea knew quite well;
consequently, in planning to reach him, she resorted to the same means
by which he achieved success. The Committee rendered her the usual aid,
and sent her on direct to her husband in Canada. Without difficulty of
any kind she reached there safely, and found James with arms wide open
to embrace her. Frequent tidings reached the Committee, that they were
getting along quite well in Toronto.
On the same day (January 1st), PETER DERRICKSON and CHARLES PURNELL
arrived from Berlin, Worcester county, Maryland. Both were able-bodied
young men, twenty-four and twenty-six years of age, just the kind that a
trader, or an experienced slave-holder in the farming business, would be
most likely to select for doing full days' work in the field, or for
bringing high prices in the market.
Peter toiled and toiled, with twenty others, on John Derrickson's farm.
And although Derrickson was said to be a "mild master," Peter decidedly
objected to working for him for nothing. He thought over his situation a
great deal, and finally came to the conclusion, that he must get from
under the yoke, if possible, before entering another New Year. His
friend Charles he felt could be confided in, therefore he made up his
mind, that he would broach the question of Canada and the Underground
Rail Road to him. Charles was equally ready and willing to enter into
any practical arrangements by which he could get rid of his no-pay
task-master, and be landed safely in Canada. After taking into account
the dangers likely to attend such a struggle, they concluded that they
would risk all and try their luck, as many had done before them.
"What made you leave, Charles?" said a member of the Committee.
"I left because I wanted my time and money for myself."
No one could gainsay such a plain common-sense answer as that. The fact,
that he had to leave his parents, three brothers, and five sisters, all
in slavery, brought sad reflections.
LLOYD HACKET, alias Perry Watkins and WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON, alias John
Wesley.
No weather was too cold for travel, nor way too rough, when the slave
was made to feel by his heartless master, that he was going to sell him
or starve him to death.
Lloyd had toiled on until he had reached fifty-five, before he came to
the conclusion, that he could endure the treatment of his master, John
Griffin, no longer, simply because "he was not good to feed and clothe,"
and was a "great fighter." Moreover, he would "never suffer his slaves
to stop work on account of bad weather." Not only was his master cruel
in these particulars, but he was equally cruel with regard to selling.
Georgia was continually held up to the slaves with a view of producing a
wholesome fear, but in this instance, as in many similar ones, it only
awakened desires to seek flight via the Underground Rail Road.
Lloyd, convinced by experience, that matters with him would be no
better, but worse and worse, resolved that he would start with the
opening of the New Year to see if he could not find a better country
than the one that he was then in.
He consulted William, who, although a young man of only twenty-four
years of age, had the hate of slavery exceedingly strong in his heart,
and was at once willing to accompany Lloyd--ready to face cold weather
and start on a long walk if freedom could be thus purchased, and his
master, John Hall, thus defeated. So Lloyd took a heroic leave of his
wife, Mary Ann, and their little boy, one brother, one sister, and two
nieces, and at once set out with William, like pilgrims and strangers
seeking a better country--where they would not have to go "hungry" and
be "worked hard in all weather," threatened with the auction-block, and
brutally flogged if they merely seemed unwilling to endure a yoke too
grievous to be borne. Both these travelers were mulattoes, and but for
the crushing influences that they had lived under would have made smart
men--as it was they showed plainly, that they were men of shrewd sense.
Inadvertently at the time of their arrival, the names of the State and
place whence they fled were not entered on the book.
In traveling they suffered severely from hunger and the long distance
they had to walk, but having succeeded victoriously they were prepared
to rejoice all the more.
DAVID EDWARDS. John J. Slater, coachmaker of Petersburg, Virginia, if he
is still living, and should see these items, may solve what may have
been for years a great mystery to him--namely, that David, his
man-servant, was enjoying himself in Philadelphia about the first week
in January, 1855, receiving free accommodations and obtaining letters of
introduction to friends in Canada. Furthermore, that David alleged that
he was induced to escape because he (the coachmaker) was a very hard
man, who took every dollar of his earnings, from which he would dole out
to him only one dollar a week for board, etc., a sum less than David
could manage to get along with.
David was thirty years of age, black, weighed one hundred and forty-five
pounds, and was worth one thousand dollars. He left his wife behind.
BEVERLY GOOD and GEORGE WALKER, alias Austin Valentine. These passengers
came from Petersburg, per steamship Pennsylvania. Richard Perry was
lording it over Beverly, who was a young man of twenty-four years of
age, dark, medium size, and possessed of a quick intellect--just the man
that an Underground Rail Road agent in the South could approach with
assurance with questions such as these--"What do you think of Slavery?"
"Did you ever hear of the Underground Rail Road?" "How would you like to
be free?" "Would you be willing to go to Canada if you could get off
safely," etc., etc.
Such questions at once kindled into a flame the sparks of freedom lying
dormant in the heart. Although uttered in a whisper, they had a wondrous
ring about them, and a wide-awake bondman instantly grasped their
meaning. Beverly was of this class; he needed no arguments to prove that
he was daily robbed of his rights--that Slavery was merciless and
freedom the God-given right of all mankind. Of him, therefore, there was
no fear that he would betray his trust or flinch too soon when cramped
up in his hiding-place on the steamer.
His comrade, George, was likewise of the same mettle, and was aided in
the same way. George, however, had more age on his side, being about
forty-three. He was about six feet high, with marked physical and mental
abilities, but Slavery had had its heel upon his neck. And who could
then have risen?
Eliza Jones held the deed for George, and by her he was hired as foreman
in a tobacco factory, in which position his duties were
onerous--especially to one with a heavy, bleeding heart, throbbing daily
for freedom, while, at the same time, mournfully brooding over past
wrongs. Of these wrongs one incident must suffice. He had been married
twice, and had been the father of six children by his first wife; at the
command of his owner the wedded relations were abruptly broken, and he
was obliged to seek another wife. In entering this story on the book at
the time of the arrival, the concluding words were written thus: "This
story is thrilling, but time will not allow its being penned."
Although safely under the protection of the British Lion, George's heart
was in Virginia, where his wife was retained. As he could not return for
her deliverance, he was wise enough to resort to the pen, hoping in this
way to effect his grand object, as the following letter will show:
TORONTO, January 25th, 1855.
DEAR FRIEND STILL:--George Walker, of Petersburg, Va., is now in
my office, and requests me to write a letter to you, and request
you to write to his wife, after or according to the instructions
he gave to his friend, John Brown, in your city, with whom he
says you are acquainted. You will understand, of course, his
reason for wanting the letter wrote and posted at Philadelphia.
You will please attend to it and address a letter to him
(Walker) in my care. He and Beverly Good, his comrade, tender
much love to you. Send them on; we are prepared for them. Yours
in great haste, J.B. SMITH.
P.S.--Be sure and follow the directions given to Brown.
ADAM BROOKS, alias William Smith. Hardtown, Montgomery county, Maryland,
lost a rather promising "article of merchandise," in the person of Adam.
The particulars of his going are on this wise: John Phillips, his
so-called master, believed in selling, and practiced accordinglv, to the
extent at least of selling Adam's mother, brother, and sister only two
years before his escape.
If Adam had known nothing else against Phillips, this was enough in all
conscience to have awakened his deadly hate; but, added to this,
Phillips was imprudent in his habit of threatening to "sell," etc. This
kept the old wound in Adam's heart continually bleeding and forced him
to the conclusion, that his master was not only a hard man, as a driver
on the farm, but that at heart he was actually a bad man. Furthermore,
that it was his duty to break his fetters and seek his freedom in
Canada.
In thus looking at his situation, his mind was worked up to fever heat,
and he resolved that, let the consequences be what they might, go he
must. In this promising state of mind he started, at an appointed time,
for Pennsylvania, and, sure enough, he succeeded. Having the appearance
of a desirable working-hand, a Pennsylvania farmer prevailed on him to
stop for a time. It was not long before the folly of this halt was
plainly discernible, as his master had evidently got wind of his
whereabouts, and was pretty hot in pursuit. Word reached Adam, however,
barely in time for him to make his escape through the aid of friends.
In coming into the hands of the Committee he needed no persuading to go
to Canada; he was occupied with two interesting problems, to go back or
to go forward. But he set his face hopefully towards Canada, and had no
thought of stopping short thereof. In stature, he was small; color,
black; countenance, pleasant, and intellect, medium. As to his fitness
for making a good citizen in Canada the Committee had no doubt.
SARAH A. DUNAGAN. Having no one to care for her, and, having been
threatened with the auction-block, Sarah mustered pluck and started out
in search of a new home among strangers beyond the borders of slave
territory. According to her story, she "was born free" in the State of
Delaware, but had been "bound out" to a man by the name of George
Churchman, living in Wilmington. Here she averred, that she "had been
flogged repeatedly," and had been otherwise ill-treated, while no one
interfered to take her part. Consequently she concluded, that although
she was born free, she would not be likely to be benefited thereby
unless she made her escape on the Underground Rail Road. This idea of
freedom continued to agitate Sarah's mind until she decided to leave
forthwith. She was a young mulatto woman, single, and told her story of
hardships and of the dread of being sold, in a manner to elicit much
sympathy. She had a mother living in New Castle, named Ann Eliza
Kingslow. It was no uncommon thing for free-born persons in slave States
to lose their birth-right in a manner similar to that by which Sarah
feared that she had lost hers.
"Arrived JOSEPH HALL, JR., son of Joseph Hall, of Norfolk, Virginia."
This is all that is recorded of this passenger, yet it is possible that
this item of news may lead to the recognition of Joseph, should he still
happen to be of the large multitude of fugitives scattered over the land
amongst the living.
ISAAC D. DAVIS. In fleeing from bondage, in Maryland, Davis was induced
to stop, as many others were, in Pennsylvania. Not comprehending the
Fugitive Slave Law he fancied that he would be safe so long as he kept
matters private concerning his origin. But in this particular he labored
under a complete delusion--when he least dreamed of danger the
slave-catchers were scenting him close. Of their approach, however, he
was fortunate enough to be notified in time to place himself in the
hands of the Committee, who soon held out Canada to him, as the only
sure refuge for him, and all others similarly situated. His fears of
being carried back opened his eyes, and understanding, so that he could
readily see the force of this argument, and accepting the proffered aid
of the Committee was sent on his way rejoicing. He had been away from
his master eighteen months, and in the meanwhile had married a wife in
Pennsylvania. What became of them after this flight the book contains no
record.
JACOB MATTHIAS BOYER left at about the age of twenty. He had no idea of
working in the condition of a slave, but if he had not been threatened
with the auction-block, he might have remained much longer than he did.
He had been owned by Richard Carman, cashier of one of the Annapolis
banks, and who had recently died. Jacob fled from Annapolis. Very little
record was made of either master or slave. Probably no incidents were
related of sufficient importance, still the Committee felt pleased to
receive one so young. Indeed, it always afforded the Committee especial
satisfaction to see children, young people, and females escaping from
the prison-house. Jacob was of a dark hue, a little below medium
stature.
ZECHARIAH MEAD, alias John Williams. This traveler had been in the house
of bondage in Maryland, doing service for Charles C. Owens, to whom he
belonged. According to Zechariah's statement, his mistress had been very
unfortunate with her slave property, having lost fifteen head out of
twenty in a similar manner to that by which she lost Zechariah. Thus she
had been considerably reduced in circumstances. But Zechariah had no
compassion on her whatever, but insisted that she was a hard mistress.
Doubtless Zechariah was prompted to flee by the "bad" example of others
who had succeeded in making good their escape, before he had made up his
mind to leave. He was not yet quite twenty-one, but was wide-awake, and
it appeared from his conversation, that he had done some close thinking
before he started for freedom. He left his father, mother, and three
brothers, all slaves except his father.
* * * * *