These passengers came from the field where as slaves very few privileges
had been afforded them.
Jim was about thirty-five years of age, a dark brown skin with average
intellect for one in his condition. He had toiled under John Burnham, in
Dorchester county, from whom he had received hard treatment, but harder
still from his mistress. He averred that she was the cause of matters
being so hard with the slaves on the place. Jim contented himself under
his lot as well as be could until within a short time of his escape when
he learned that measures were on foot to sell him. The fear of this
change brought him directly to meditate upon a trip to Canada. Being a
married man he found it hard to leave his wife, Mary, but as she was
also a slave, and kept in the employment of her owners at some distance
from where he lived, he decided to say nothing to her of his plans, but
to start when ready and do the best he could to save himself, as he saw
no chance of saving her.
"GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON." When the above "article" gave the Committee
his name they were amused and thought that he was simply jesting, having
done a smart thing in conquering his master by escaping; but on a fuller
investigation they found that he really bore the name, and meant to
retain it in Canada. It had been given him when a child, and in Slavery
he had been familiarly called "Andy," but since he had achieved his
freedom he felt bound to be called by his proper name.
General Andrew was about twenty-seven years of age, a full black, and a
man of extraordinary muscular powers, with coarse hard features, such as
showed signs that it would not be safe for his master to meddle with him
when the General's blood was up.
He spoke freely of the man who claimed him as a slave, saying that his
name was Shepherd Houston, of Lewistown, Delaware, and that he owned
seven head of "God's poor," whom he compelled to labor on his farm
without a cent of pay, a day's schooling, or an hour's freedom;
furthermore, that he was a member of the Ebenezer Methodist Church, a
class-leader, and an exhorter, and in outward show passed for a good
Christian. But in speaking of his practical dealings with his slaves,
General said that he worked them hard, stinted them shamefully for food,
and kept them all the time digging.
Also when testifying with regard to the "weaker vessel," under whose
treatment he had suffered much, the General said that his master's wife
had a meaner disposition than he had; she pretended to belong to church
too, said General, but it was nothing but deceit.
This severe critic could not read, but he had very clear views on the
ethics of his master and mistress, agreeing with Scripture concerning
whited sepulchres, etc.
The question of Christian slave-holders, for a great while, seriously
puzzled the wise and learned, but for the slave it was one of the
easiest of solution. All the slaves came to the same conclusion,
notwithstanding the teaching of slave-holders on the one idea, that
"servants should obey their masters," etc.
General had a brother in Baltimore, known by the name of Josephus, also
two sisters Anna and Annie; his father was living at Cannon's Ferry.
Anna Perry was the intended of General. She was about nineteen years of
age, of a dark brown color, and came from the same neighborhood.
According to law Anna was entitled to her freedom, but up to the time of
her escape she had not been permitted to enjoy the favor. She found that
if she would be free she would have to run for it.
John Smith. A better specimen of one who had been ill treated, and in
every way uncared for, could not be easily found. In speech, manners,
and whole appearance he was extremely rude. He was about twenty years of
age, and in color was of a very dark hue.
That John had received only the poorest kind of "corn-field fare" was
clearly evidenced both by body and mind. Master George H. Morgan was
greatly blamed for John's deficiencies; it was on his farms, under mean
overseers that John had been crushed and kept under the harrow.
His mother, Mary Smith, he stated, his master had sold away to New
Orleans, some two years before his escape. The sad effect that this
cruel separation had upon him could only be appreciated by hearing him
talk of it in his own untutored tongue. Being himself threatened with
the auction-block, he was awakened to inquire how he could escape the
danger, and very soon learned that by following the old methods which
had been used by many before him, resolution and perseverance, he might
gain the victory over master and overseers. As green as he seemed he had
succeeded admirably in his undertaking.
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