No one Southern city furnished a larger number of brave, wide-awake and
likely-looking Underground Rail Road passengers than the city of
Richmond. Lewis and Nancy were fair specimens of the class of travelers
coming from that city. Lewis was described as a light yellow man, medium
size, good-looking, and intelligent. In referring to bondage, he spoke
with great earnestness, and in language very easily understood;
especially when speaking of Samuel Myers, from whom he escaped, he did
not hesitate to give him the character of being a very hard man, who was
never satisfied, no matter how hard the slaves might try to please him.
Myers was engaged in the commission and forwarding business, and was a
man of some standing in Richmond. From him Lewis had received very
severe floggings, the remembrance of which he would not only carry with
him to Canada, but to the grave. It was owing to abuse of this kind that
he was awakened to look for a residence under the protection of the
British Lion. For eight months he longed to get away, and had no rest
until he found himself on the Underground Rail Road.
His master was a member of the Century Methodist Church, as was also his
wife and family; but Lewis thought that they were strangers to practical
Christianity, judging from the manner that the slaves were treated by
both master and mistress. Lewis was a Baptist, and belonged to the
second church. Twelve hundred dollars had been offered for him. He left
his father (Judville), and his brother, John Harris, both slaves. In
view of his prospects in Canada, Lewis' soul overflowed with pleasing
anticipations of freedom, and the Committee felt great satisfaction in
assisting him.
Nancy was also from Richmond, and came in the same boat with Lewis. She
represented the most "likely-looking female bond servants." Indeed her
appearance recommended her at once. She was neat, modest, and
well-behaved--with a good figure and the picture of health, with a
countenance beaming with joy and gladness, notwithstanding the late
struggles and sufferings through which she had passed. Young as she was,
she had seen much of slavery, and had, doubtless, profited by the
lessons thereof. At all events, it was through cruel treatment, having
been frequently beaten after she had passed her eighteenth year, that
she was prompted to seek freedom. It was so common for her mistress to
give way to unbridled passions that Nancy never felt safe. Under the
severest infliction of punishment she was not allowed to complain.
Neither from mistress nor master had she any reason to expect mercy or
leniency--indeed she saw no way of escape but by the Underground Rail
Road.
It was true that the master, Mr. William Bears, was a Yankee from
Connecticut, and his wife a member of the Episcopal Church, but Nancy's
yoke seemed none the lighter for all that. Fully persuaded that she
would never find her lot any better while remaining in their hands, she
accepted the advice and aid of a young man to whom she was engaged; he
was shrewd enough to find an agent in Richmond, with whom he entered
into a covenant to have Nancy brought away. With a cheerful heart the
journey was undertaken in the manner aforesaid, and she safely reached
the Committee. Her mother, one brother and a sister she had to leave in
Richmond. One thousand dollars were lost in the departure of Nancy.
Having been accommodated and aided by the Committee, they were forwarded
to Canada. Lewis wrote back repeatedly and expressed himself very
gratefully for favors received, as will be seen by the appended letters
from him:
TORONTO, April 25, 1857.
To MR. WM. STILL--Dear Sir:--I take this opportunity of
addressing these few lines to inform you that I am well and hope
that they may find you and your family enjoying the same good
health. Please to give my love to you and your family. I had a
very pleasant trip from your house that morning. Dear sir, you
would oblige me much, if you have not sent that box to Mr.
Robinson, to open it and take out the little yellow box that I
tied up in the large one and send it on by express to me in
Toronto. Lift up a few of the things and you will find it near
the top. All the clothes that I have are in that box and I stand
in need of them. You would oblige me much by so doing. I stopped
at Mr. Jones' in Elmira, and was very well treated by him while
there. I am now in Toronto and doing very well at present. I am
very thankful to you and your family for the attention you paid
to me while at your house. I wish you would see Mr. Ormsted and
ask him if he has not some things for Mr. Anthony Loney, and if
he has, please send them on with my things, as we are both
living together at this time. Give my love to Mr. Anthony, also
to Mr. Ormsted and family. Dear sir, we both would be very glad
for you to attend to this, as we both do stand very much in need
of them at this time. Dear sir, you will oblige me by giving my
love to Miss Frances Watkins, and as she said she hoped to be
out in the summer, I should like to see her. I have met with a
gentleman here by the name of Mr. Truehart, and he sends his
best love to you and your family. Mr. Truehart desires to know
whether you received the letter he sent to you, and if so,
answer it as soon as possible. Please answer this letter as soon
as possible. I must now come to a close by saying that I remain
your beloved friend,