My Post office is Laurel, N.C. no. 21.
The above advertisement, which was cut from a Southern paper, brought
light in regard to one of the passengers at least. It was not often that
a slave was so fortunate as to get such a long sketch of himself in a
newspaper. The description is so highly complimentary, that we simply
endorse it as it stands. The sketch as taken for the record book is here
transcribed as follows:
"Edward reported himself from Franklin county, N.C., where, according to
statement, a common farmer by the name of Carter Gay owned him, under
whose oppression his life was rendered most unhappy, who stinted him
daily for food and barely allowed him clothing enough to cover his
nakedness, who neither showed justice nor mercy to any under his
control, the 'weaker vessels' not excepted; therefore Edward was
convinced that it was in vain to hope for comfort under such a master.
Moreover, his appetite for liquor, combined with a high temper, rendered
him a being hard to please, but easy to excite to a terrible degree.
Scarcely had Edward lived two years with this man (Gay) when he felt
that he had lived with him long enough. Two years previous to his coming
into the hands of Gay, he and his wife were both sold; the wife one day
and he the next. She brought eleven hundred and twenty-five dollars, and
he eight hundred and thirty-five dollars; thus they were sold and resold
as a matter of speculation, and husband and wife were parted."
After the fugitives had been well cared for by the Committee, they were
forwarded on North; but for some reason they were led to stop short of
Canada, readily finding employment and going to work to take care of
themselves. How they were received and in what way they were situated,
the subjoined letter from Edward will explain:
SKANEATELES, Dec. 17, 1857.
DEAR SIR:--As I promised to let you hear from me as soon as I
found a home, I will now fulfill my promise to you and say that
I am alive and well and have found a stopping place for the
winter.
When we arrived at Syracuse we found Mr. Loguen ready to receive
us, and as times are rather hard in Canada he thought best for
us not to go there, so he sent us about twenty miles west of
Syracuse to Skaneateles, where George Upshur and myself soon
found work. Henry Grimes is at work in Garden about eight miles
from this place.
If you should chance to hear any of my friends inquiring for me,
please direct them to Skaneateles, Onondaga county, N.Y.
If you can inform me of the whereabouts of Miss Alice Jones I
shall be very much obliged to you, until I can pay you better. I
forgot to ask you about her when I was at your house. She
escaped about two years ago.
Please not to forget to inquire of my wife, Rachel Land, and if
you should hear of her, let me know immediately, George Upshur
and myself send our best respects to you and your family.
Remember us to Mrs. Jackson and Miss Julia. I hope to meet you
all again, if not on earth may we so live that we shall meet in
that happy land where tears and partings are not known.
Let me hear from you soon. This from your friend and well
wisher,