Arriving as usual in due time these fugitives were examined, and all
found to be extra field hands.
Plymouth was forty-two years of age, of a light chestnut color, with
keen eyes, and a good countenance, and withal possessed of shrewdness
enough to lead double the number that accompanied him. He had a strong
desire to learn to read, but there was no possible way of his gaining
the light; this he felt to be a great drawback.
The name of the man who had made merchandise of Plymouth was Nat Horsey,
of Horsey's Cross Roads. The most striking characteristic in Horsey's
character, according to Plymouth's idea was, that he was very "hard to
please, did not know when a slave did enough, had no idea that they
could get tired or that they needed any privileges." He was the owner of
six slaves, was engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits, and the
postmaster of the borough in which he lived.
When Plymouth parted with his wife with a "full heart," he bade her
good-night, without intimating to her that he never expected to see her
again in this world; she evidently supposed that he was going home to
his master's place as usual, but instead he was leaving his companion
and three children to wear the yoke as hitherto. He sympathized with
them deeply, but felt that he could render them no real good by
remaining; he could neither live with his wife nor could he have any
command over one of his children. Slavery demanded all, but allowed
nothing.
Notwithstanding, Plymouth admitted that he had been treated even more
favorably than most slaves. The family thus bound consisted of his wife
Jane, and four children, as follows: Dorsey, William Francis, Mary
Ellen, and baby.
Horatio was a little in advance of Plymouth in years, being forty-four
years of age. His physical outlines gave him a commanding appearance for
one who had worn the yoke as he had for so many years. He was of a
yellow complexion, and very tall.
As a slave laborer he had been sweating and toiling to enrich a man by
the name of Thomas J. Hodgson, a farmer on a large scale, and owning
about a dozen slaves.
Horatio gave him the character of being "a man of a hidden temper," and
after the election of Buchanan he considered him a great deal worse than
ever. Horatio told of a visit which his master made to Canada, and
which, on his return, he had taken much pains to report to the slaves to
the effect that he had been there the previous summer, and saw the
country for himself, adding in words somewhat as follows: "Canada is the
meanest part of the globe that I ever found or heard of;--did not see
but one black or colored person in Canada,--inquired at the custom-house
to know what became of all the blacks from the South, and was told that
they shipped them off occasionally and sent them round Cape Horn and
sold them." In addition to this report he said that "the suffering from
deep snows and starvation was fearful," all of which Horatio believed
"to be a lie." Of course he concealed this opinion from his master. Many
such stories were sounded in the ears of slaves but without much effect.
Lemuel, John and Josiah were brothers. Lemuel was thirty-five, and might
be called a jet-black. He was uncommonly stout, with a head indicative
of determination of purpose, just suited to an Underground Rail Road
passenger. He fled from James R. Lewis, "a tall, stout man, very wealthy
and close." Lemuel said that he fed and clothed the slaves pretty well.
He had invested to the extent of twelve head. No money or privileges
were allowed, and for a small offence the threat to sell was made. It
was Lemuel's opinion that his master's wife made him worse than he
otherwise would have been.
John was twenty-four years of age, of unmixed blood, and of a quiet
demeanour. He belonged to Miss Catharine Cornwell, of Viana. John
described her as "tolerable good-looking, but real bad." His sister and
one other slave besides himself comprised her entire stock (of slaves).
According to John's story, his mistress was in the habit of telling her
slaves that she did not "intend that any of them should be free if she
could help it;" this sentiment was uttered so "scornfully" that it
"insulted" Jack very much. Indeed, it was this that put the idea of
Canada into his mind. The more she kept the idea of perpetual Slavery
before the slaves, the more Jack resolved to make her arrogance cost her
one slave at least.
Miss Cornwell was not only a warm advocate of Slavery, but was likewise
a member of the Methodist church, under the pastoral charge of the Rev.
J.C. Gregg. On one occasion, when the minister was visiting Miss C., the
subject of Slavery was introduced in John's hearing. The reverend
gentleman took the ground that it was not right to hold slaves,--said
there were none in Pennsylvania, etc. The young mistress showed little
or no sign of thinking otherwise while he remained, "but, after he was
gone, she raved and went on in a great way, and told her brother if he
(the minister), ever married her, he would have to come out of his
notions about freedom." It was John's opinion that the subject of
matrimony was then under consideration between them. For himself, he was
highly delighted with the minister's "notions of freedom," as he had
heard so many high notions of Slavery.
In reference to the labor usage under the young mistress, John said that
they had been "worked very hard, and especially last, and the present
year." "Last year," he stated, "they had hardly any meat, but were fed
chiefly on herring. Seeing that it was going to be the same thing this
year too, I thought that if I could make my escape to Canada, I would do
it." He had strong parental and kindred ties to break, but resolved to
break them rather than remain under Miss Cornwell.
Josiah was twenty-three. A more promising-looking subject to represent
the fugitives in Canada, was not readily to be found. His appearance
indicated that he was a young man of extra physical powers, at least,
one not likely to turn his face again towards Egypt.
Josiah's gain was the loss of Thomas J. Hodgson (above alluded to). For
full three years this desire and determination to be free had been in
Josiah's heart. The denial of his manhood nerved him to seek for refuge
in a foreign clime.
George, the last named in this party, gave his age as twenty-six. In
appearance he was not behind any of his comrades. He fled from a farmer,
(the late William Jackson), who owned, it was said, "sixteen head." He
had recently died, leaving all his slaves in bondage. Seeing that the
settlement of the estate might necessitate the sale of some of the
slaves, George thought that he had better not wait for the division of
the property or anything else, but push ahead with the first train for
Canada. Slavery, as he viewed it, was nothing more nor less than
downright robbery. He left his mother, one sister, and other near kin.
After George went to Canada, his heart yearned tenderly after his mother
and sister, and, as the following letter will show, he was prepared to
make commendable exertions in their behalf:
ST. CATHARINES, JULY 19th, 1858.
DEAR SIR:--With pleasure I now inform you that I am well, and
hope this may find you and yours the same also. I hope kind sir
you will please to see Mr. Paul Hammon, to know when he will try
to get my Mother and Sister I wish him to send me word when he
will go so I may meet him in Philadelphia.
And I will Endevor to meet him there With some money to assist
him in getting them. Let me know when you start for them so I
may be able to meet you there, please after this letter passes
from you sir, give it to John Camper tell him to give it to his
Mother, so that my Mother can get it, be careful and not let no
white man get hold of it. I am now living with my cousin Leven
Parker, near Saint Catharines, $10 a month. No more at present,
from your friend,