The woman and child alluded to were received and noted on the record
book as follows:
Winnie Patty, and her daughter, Elizabeth, arrived safely from Norfolk,
Va. The mother is about twenty-two years of age, good-looking and of
chestnut color, smart and brave. From the latter part of October, 1855,
to the latter part of March, 1856, this young slave mother, with her
child, was secreted under the floor of a house. The house was occupied
by a slave family, friends of Winnie. During the cold winter weather she
suffered severely from wet and cold, getting considerably frosted, but
her faith failed not, even in the hour of greatest extremity. She chose
rather to suffer thus than endure slavery any longer, especially as she
was aware that the auction-block awaited her. She had already been sold
three times; she knew therefore what it was to be sold.
Jacob Shuster was the name of the man whom she spoke of as her tormentor
and master, and from whom she fled. He had been engaged in the farming
business, and had owned quite a large number of slaves, but from time to
time he had been selling off, until he had reduced his stock
considerably.
Captain Lambdin, spoken of in Thomas Garrett's letter, had, in the
kindness of his heart, brought away in his schooner some Underground
Rail Road passengers, but unfortunately he was arrested and thrust into
prison in Norfolk, Va., to await trial. Having no confidence in his
attorney there he found that he would have to defend himself as best he
could, consequently he wanted books, etc. He was in the attitude of a
drowning man catching at a straw. The Committee was powerless to aid
him, except with some money; as the books that he desired had but little
effect in the lions' den, in which he was. He had his trial, and was
sent to the penitentiary, of course.
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber,
living in Rockville. Montgomery county, Md., on Saturday, 31st
of May last, NEGRO MAN, ALFRED, about twenty-two years of age;
five feet seven inches high; dark copper color, and rather good
looking.
[Illustration: ]
He had on when he left a dark blue and green plaid frock coat,
of cloth, and lighter colored plaid pantaloons.
I will give the above reward if taken out of the county, and in
any of the States, or fifty dollars if taken in the county or
the District of Columbia, and secured so that I get him again.
JOHN W. ANDERSON.
j6-1wW2.
A man calling himself Alfred Homer, answering to the above description,
came to the Vigilance Committee in June, 1856. As a memorial we
transferred the advertisement of John W. Anderson to our record book,
and concluded to let that suffice. Alfred, however, gave a full
description of his master's character, and the motives which impelled
him to seek his freedom. He was listened to attentively, but his story
was not entered on the book.
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