For three years Leeds had been thirsting for his liberty; his heart was
fixed on that one object. He got plenty to eat, drink, and wear, but was
nevertheless dissatisfied.
The name of his master was Rev. John Wesley Pearson, who was engaged in
school teaching and preaching, and belonged to the more moderate class
of slave-holders. Once when a boy Leeds had been sold, but being very
young, he did not think much about the matter.
For the last eight or ten years previous to his escape he had not seen
his relatives, his father (George Wright) having fled to Canada, and the
remainder of the family lived some fifty miles distant, beyond the
possibility of intercourse; therefore, as he had no strong ties to
break, he could look to the time of leaving the land of bondage without
regret.
Abram, the companion of Leeds, had been less comfortably situated. His
lot in Slavery had been cast under Samuel Jarman, by whom he had been
badly treated.
Abram described him as a "big, tall, old man, who drank and was a real
wicked man; he followed farming; had thirteen children. His wife was
different; she was a pretty fine woman, but the children were all bad;
the young masters followed playing cards." No chance at all had been
allowed them to learn to read, although Abram and Leeds both coveted
this knowledge. As they felt that they would never be able to do
anything for their improvement by remaining, they decided to follow the
example of Abram's father and others and go to Canada.
* * * * *