The party whose narratives are here given brought grave charges against
a backsliding member of the Society of Friends--a renegade Quaker.
Doubtless rare instances may be found where men of the Quaker
persuasion, emigrating from free and settling in slave States and among
slaveholders, have deserted their freedom-loving principle and led
captive by the force of bad examples, have linked hands with the
oppressor against the oppressed. It is probable, however, that this is
the only case that may turn up in these records to the disgrace of this
body of Christians in whom dwelt in such a signal degree large sympathy
for the slave and the fleeing bondman. Many fugitives were indebted to
Friends who aided them in a quiet way, not allowing their left hand to
know what their right hand did, and the result was that Underground Rail
Road operations were always pretty safe and prosperous where the line of
travel led through "Quaker settlements." We can speak with great
confidence on this point especially with regard to Pennsylvania, where a
goodly number might be named, if necessary, whose hearts, houses,
horses, and money were always found ready and willing to assist the
fugitive from the prison-house. It is with no little regret that we feel
that truth requires us to connect the so-called owner of Asbury,
Ephraim, and Lydia with the Quakers.
Asbury was first examined, and his story ran substantially thus: "I run
away because I was used bad; three years ago I was knocked dead with an
axe by my master; the blood run out of my head as if it had been poured
out of a tumbler; you can see the mark plain enough--look here," (with
his finger on the spot). "I left Millington, at the head of Chester in
Kent County, Maryland, where I had been held by a farmer who called
himself Michael Newbold. He was originally from Mount Holly, New Jersey,
but had been living in Maryland over twenty years. He was called a
Hickory Quaker, and he had a real Quaker for a wife. Before he was in
Maryland five years he bought slaves, became a regular slave-holder, got
to drinking and racing horses, and was very bad--treated all hands bad,
his wife too, so that she had to leave him and go to Philadelphia to her
kinsfolks. It was because he was so bad we all had to leave," &c.
While Asbury's story appeared truthful and simple, a portion of it was
too shocking to morality and damaging to humanity to be inserted in
these pages.
Asbury was about forty years of age, a man of dark hue, size and height
about mediocrity, and mental ability quite above the average.
Ephraim was a fellow-servant and companion of Asbury. He was a man of
superior physical strength, and from all outward appearance, he
possessed qualities susceptible of ready improvement. He not only spoke
of Newbold in terms of strong condemnation but of slave-holders and
slavery everywhere. The lessons he had learned gave him ample
opportunity to speak from experience and from what he had observed in
the daily practices of slave-holders; consequently, with his ordinary
gifts, it was impossible for him to utter his earnest feelings without
making a deep impression.
Lydia also fled from Michael Newbold. She was a young married woman,
only twenty-two years of age, of a chestnut color and a pleasant
countenance. Her flight for liberty cost her her husband, as she was
obliged to leave him behind. What understanding was entered into between
them prior to her departure we failed to note at the time. It was very
clear that she had decided never to wear the yoke again.
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