William was about twenty years of age, black, usual size, and a lover of
liberty. He had heard of Canada, had formed a very favorable opinion of
the country and was very desirous of seeing it. The man who had
habitually robbed him of his hire, was a "stout-built, ill-natured man,"
a farmer, by the name of William Hyson.
To meet the expenses of an extensive building enterprise which he had
undertaken, it was apparent that Hyson would have to sell some of his
property. William and some six others of the servants got wind of the
fact that they would stand a chance of being in the market soon. Not
relishing the idea of going further South they unanimously resolved to
emigrate to Canada. Accordingly they borrowed a horse from Dr. Wise, and
another from H.K. Tice, and a carriage from F.J. Posey, and Joseph P.
Mong's buggy (so it was stated in the Baltimore Sun, of May 27th), and
off they started for the promised land. The horses and carriages were
all captured at Chambersburg, a day or two after they set out, but the
rest of the property hurried on to the Committee. How Mr. Hyson raised
the money to carry out his enterprise, William and his "ungrateful"
fellow-servants seemed not to be concerned.
Belinda Bivans. Belinda was a large woman, thirty years of age, wholly
black, and fled from Mr. Hyson, in company with William, and those above
referred to, with the idea of reaching Canada, whither her father had
fled eight years before.
She was evidently pleased with the idea of getting away from her
ill-natured mistress, from poor fare and hard work without pay. She had
experienced much hardship, and had become weary of her trial in bondage.
She had been married, but her husband had died, leaving her with two
little girls to care for, both of whom she succeeded in bringing away
with her.
In reference to the church relations of her master and mistress, she
represented the former as a backslider, and added that money was his
church; of the latter she said, "she would go and take the sacrament,
come back and the old boy would be in her as big as a horse." Belinda
could see but little difference between her master and mistress.
Joseph Winston. In the Richmond Dispatch, of June 9th, the following
advertisement was found:
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.--Ran away from the subscriber,
RUNAWAY.--$200 REWARD will be given if taken in the state, and
$500 if taken out of the state.
[Illustration: ]
Run away, my negro boy JOE, sometimes called JOE WINSTON; about
23 years old, a little over 5 feet high, rather stout-built,
dark ginger-bread color, small moustache, stammers badly when
confused or spoken to, took along two or three suits of clothes,
one a blue dress coat with brass buttons, black pants, and
patent leather shoes, white hat, silver watch with gold chain;
was last seen in this city on Tuesday last, had a pass to
Hanover county, and supposed to be making his way towards York
River, for the purpose of getting on board some coasting vessel.