The above named individuals were brothers from Delaware. They were
young; the eldest being about twenty, the youngest not far from
seventeen years of age.
Edward was serving on a farm, under a man named Booth. Perceiving that
Booth was "running through his property" very fast by hard drinking,
Edward's better judgment admonished him that his so-called master would
one day have need of more rum money, and that he might not be too good
to offer him in the market for what he would bring. Charles resolved
that when his brothers crossed the line dividing Delaware and
Pennsylvania, he would not be far behind.
The mother of these boys was freed at the age of twenty-eight, and lived
in Wilmington, Delaware. It was owing to the fact that their mother had
been freed that they entertained the vague notion that they too might be
freed; but it was a well established fact that thousands lived and died
in such a hope without ever realizing their expectations. The boys, more
shrewd and wide awake than many others, did not hearken to such "stuff."
The two younger heard the views of the elder brother, and expressed a
willingness to follow him. Edward, becoming satisfied that what they
meant to do must be done quickly, took the lead, and off they started
for a free State.
John was owned by one James B. Rodgers, a farmer, and "a most every kind
of man," as John expressed himself; in fact John thought that his owner
was such a strange, wicked, and cross character that he couldn't tell
himself what he was. Seeing that slaves were treated no better than dogs
and hogs, John thought that he was none too young to be taking steps to
get away.
Charles was held by James Rodgers, Sr., under whom he said that he had
served nine years with faint prospects of some time becoming free, but
when, was doubtful.
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