Richard stated that a man named "Rudolph Massey, a merchant tailor, hard
rum-drinker, card player, etc." claimed to own him, and had held him, up
to the time of his escape, as with bands of brass.
Richard said, "I was hired out for ten dollars a month, but I never
suffered like many--didn't leave because I have been abused, but simply
to keep from falling into the hands of some heirs that I had been willed
to." In case of a division, Richard did not see how he could be divided
without being converted into money. Now, as he could have no
fore-knowledge as to the place or person into whose hands he might be
consigned by the auctioneer, he concluded that he could not venture to
risk himself in the hands of the young heirs. Richard began to consider
what Slavery was, and his eyes beheld chains, whips, hand-cuffs,
auction-blocks, separations and countless sufferings that had partially
been overlooked before; he felt the injustice of having to toil hard to
support a drunkard and gambler. At the age of twenty-three Richard
concluded to "lay down the shovel and the hoe," and look out for
himself. His mother was owned by Massey, but his father belonged to the
"superior race" or claimed so to do, and if anything could be proved by
appearances it was evident that he was the son of a white man. Richard
was endowed with a good share of intelligence. He not only left his
mother but also one sister to clank their chains together.
Carter, who accompanied Richard, had just reached his majority. He
stated that he escaped from a "maiden lady" living in Alexandria, known
by the name of Miss Maria Fitchhugh, the owner of twenty-five slaves.
Opposed to Slavery as he was, he nevertheless found no fault with his
mistress, but on the contrary, said that she was a very respectable
lady, and a member of the Episcopal Church. She often spoke of freeing
her servants when she died; such talk was too uncertain for Carter, to
pin his faith to, and he resolved not to wait. Such slave-holders
generally lived a great while, and when they did die, they many times
failed to keep their promises. He concluded to heed the voice of reason,
and at once leave the house of bondage. His mother, father, five
brothers and six sisters all owned by Miss Fitchhugh, formed a strong
tie to keep him from going; he "conferred not with flesh and blood," but
made a determined stroke for freedom.
Benjamin, the third in this company, was only twenty years of age, but a
better-looking specimen for the auction-block could hardly be found. He
fled from the Meed estate; his mistress had recently died leaving her
affairs, including the disposal of the slaves, to be settled at an early
date. He spoke of his mistress as "a very clever lady to her servants,"
but since her death he had realized the danger that he was in of being
run off south with a coffle gang. He explained the course frequently
resorted to by slave-holders under similar circumstances thus:
"frequently slaves would be snatched up, hand cuffed and hurried off
south on the night train without an hour's notice." Fearing that this
might be his fate, he deemed it prudent to take a northern train via the
Underground Rail Road without giving any notice.
He left no parents living, but six brothers and four sisters, all slaves
with the exception of one brother who had bought himself. In order to
defend themselves if molested on the road, the boys had provided
themselves with pistols and dirks, and declared that they were fully
bent on using them rather than be carried back to slavery.
* * * * *