Lewis' grey hairs signified that he had been for many years plodding
under the yoke. He was about fifty years of age, well set, not tall, but
he had about him the marks of a substantial laborer. He had been brought
up on a farm under H. Lynch, whom Lewis described as "a mean man when
drunk, and very severe on his slaves." The number that he ruled over as
his property, was about twenty. Said Lewis, about two years ago, he shot
a free man, and the man died about two hours afterwards; for this
offence he was not even imprisoned. Lynch also tried to cut the throat
of John Waters, and succeeded in making a frightful gash on his left
shoulder (mark shown), which mark he will carry with him to the grave;
for this he was not even sued. Lewis left five children in bondage,
Horace, John, Georgiana, Louisa and Louis, Jr., owned by Bazil and John
Benson.
John was forty years of age, dark, medium size, and another of Lynch's
"articles." He left his wife Anna, but no children; it was hard to leave
her, but he felt that it would be still harder to live and die under the
usage that he had experienced on Lynch's farm.
Alfred was twenty-two years of age; he was of a full dark color, and
quite smart. He fled from John Bryant, a farmer. Whether he deserved it
or not, Alfred gave him a bad character, at least, with regard to the
treatment of his slaves. He left his father and mother, six brothers and
sisters. Traveling under doubts and fears with the thought of leaving a
large family of his nearest and dearest friends, was far from being a
pleasant undertaking with Alfred, yet he bore up under the trial and
arrived in peace.
"William is twenty-two, black, tall, intelligent, and active," are the
words of the record.
* * * * *