Elizabeth fled in company with her brother the winter previous to her
arrival at the Philadelphia station. Although she reached free land the
severe struggle cost her the loss of all her toes. Four days and nights
out in the bitter cold weather without the chance of a fire left them a
prey to the frost, which made sad havoc with their feet
especially--particularly Elizabeth's. She was obliged to stop on the
way, and for seven months she was unable to walk.
Elizabeth was about twenty years of age, chestnut color, and of
considerable natural intellect. Although she suffered so severely as the
result of her resolution to throw off the yoke, she had no regrets at
leaving the prison-house; she seemed to appreciate freedom all the more
in consequence of what it cost her to obtain the prize.
In speaking of the life she had lived, she stated that her mistress was
"good enough," but her "master was a very bad man." His name was Samuel
Ward; he lived in Baltimore county, near Wrightstown. Elizabeth left her
mother, four brothers and one sister under the yoke.
* * * * *