This passenger brought rare intelligence respecting the manner in which
he had been treated in Slavery. He had been owned by a lady named Judith
Burton, who resided in Petersburg, and was a member of the Baptist
Church. She was the owner of five other slaves. James said that she had
been "the same as a mother" to him; and on the score of how he came to
escape, he said: "I left for no other cause than simply to get my
liberty." This was an exceptional case, yet he had too much sense to
continue in such a life in preference to freedom. When he fled he was
only twenty-four years of age. Had he remained, therefore, he might have
seen hard times before he reached old age; this fact he had well
considered, as he was an intelligent young man.
* * * * *