"This certainly is a likely-looking party," are the first words which
greet the eye, on turning to the record, under which their brief
narratives were entered at the Philadelphia station, September 7th,
1857.
Edward was about forty-four years of age, of unmixed blood, and in point
of natural ability he would rank among the most intelligent of the
oppressed class. Without owing thanks to any body he could read and
write pretty well, having learned by his own exertions.
Tabby and Eliza Fortlock, sisters, and single women, had been deriving
years of leisure, comfort, and money from the sweat of Edward's brow.
The maiden ladies owned about eighteen head of this kind of property,
far more than they understood how to treat justly or civilly. They bore
the name of being very hard to satisfy. They were proverbially "stingy."
They were members of the Christ Episcopal Church.
Edward, however, remembered very sensibly that his own brother had been
sold South by these ladies; and not only he, but others also, had been
sent to the auction-block, and there made merchandise of. Edward,
therefore, had no faith in these lambs of the flock, and left them
because he thought there was reason in all things. "Yearly my task had
been increased and made heavier and heavier, until I was pressed beyond
what I could bear." Under this pressure no hope, present, or future,
could be discerned, except by escaping on the Underground Rail Road.
Joseph was also one of the chattels belonging to the Misses Portlock. A
more active and wide-awake young man of twenty years of age, could not
easily be found among the enslaved; he seemed to comprehend Slavery in
all its bearings. From a small boy he had been hired out, making money
for the "pious ladies" who owned him. His experience under these
protectors had been similar to that of Edward given above. Joseph was of
a light brown color, (some of his friends may be able to decide by this
simple fact whether he is a relative, etc.).
Tom, a full-faced, good-natured-looking young man, was also of this
party. He was about twenty-seven years of age, and was said to be the
slave of John Hatten, Esq., Cashier of the Virginia Bank of Portsmouth.
Tom admitted that he was treated very well by Mr. Hatten and his family,
except that he was not allowed his freedom; besides he felt a little
tired of having to pay twelve dollars a month for his hire, as he hired
his time of his master. Of course he was not insensible to the fact also
that he was liable to be sold any day.
In pondering over these slight drawbacks, Tom concluded that Slavery was
no place for a man who valued his freedom, it mattered not how kind
masters or mistresses might be. Under these considerations he made up
his mind that he would have to let the cashier look out for himself, and
he would do the same. In this state of mind he joined the party for
Canada.
James was another associate passenger, and the best-looking "article" in
the party; few slaves showed a greater degree of intelligence and
shrewdness. He had acquired the art of reading and writing very well,
and was also a very ready talker. He was owned by Mrs. Maria Hansford of
New York. When he was quite small he remembered seeing his mistress, but
not since. He was raised with her sister, who resided in Norfolk, the
place of James' servitude.
James confessed that he had been treated very kindly, and had been
taught to read by members of the family. This was an exceptional case,
worthy of especial note.
Notwithstanding all the kindness that James had received, he hated
Slavery, and took a deep interest in the Underground Rail Road, and used
his intelligence and shrewdness to good purpose in acting as an
Underground Rail Road agent for a time. James was a young man, about
twenty-five years of age, well made, and of a yellow complexion.
Although none of this party experienced brutal treatment personally,
they had seen the "elephant" quite to their satisfaction in Norfolk and
vicinity.
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