LEWIS LEE, ENOCH DAVIS, JOHN BROWN, THOMAS EDWARD DIXON, AND WILLIAM
OLIVER.
Slavery brought about many radical changes, some in one way and some in
another. Lewis Lee was entirely too white for practical purposes. They
tried to get him to content himself under the yoke, but he could not see
the point. A man by the name of William Watkins, living near Fairfax,
Virginia, claimed Lewis, having come by his title through marriage.
Title or no title, Lewis thought that he would not serve him for
nothing, and that he had been hoodwinked already a great while longer
than he should have allowed himself to be. Watkins had managed to keep
him in the dark and doing hard work on the no-pay system up to the age
of twenty-five. In Lewis' opinion, it was now time to "strike out on his
own hook;" he took his last look of Watkins (he was a tall, slim fellow,
a farmer, and a hard drinker), and made the first step in the direction
of the North. He was sure that he was about as white as anybody else,
and that he had as good a right to pass for white as the white folks, so
he decided to do so with a high head and a fearless front. Instead of
skulking in the woods, in thickets and swamps, under cover of the
darkness, he would boldly approach a hotel and call for accommodations,
as any other southern gentleman. He had a little money, and he soon
discovered that his color was perfectly orthodox. He said that he was
"treated first-rate in Washington and Baltimore;" he could recommend
both of these cities. But destitute of education, and coming among
strangers, he was conscious that the shreds of slavery were still to be
seen upon him. He had, moreover, no intention of disowning his origin
when once he could feel safe in assuming his true status. So as he was
in need of friends and material aid, he sought out the Vigilance
Committee, and on close examination they had every reason to believe his
story throughout, and gave him the usual benefit.
Enoch Davis came from within five miles of Baltimore, having been held
by one James Armstrong, "an old grey-headed man," and a farmer, living
on Huxtown Road. Judged from Davis' stand-point, the old master could
never be recommended, unless some one wanted a very hard place and a
severe master. Upon inquiry, it was ascertained that Enoch was moved to
leave on account of the "riot," (John Brown's Harper's Ferry raid),
which he feared would result in the sale of a good many slaves, himself
among the number; he, therefore, "laid down the shovel and the hoe," and
quit the place.
John Brown (this was an adopted name, the original one not being
preserved), left to get rid of his connection with Thomas Stevens, a
grocer, living in Baltimore. John, however, did not live in the city
with said Stevens, but on the farm near Frederick's Mills, Montgomery
county, Maryland. This place was known by the name of "White Hall Farm;"
and was under the supervision of James Edward Stevens, a son of the
above-named Stevens. John's reasons for leaving were not noted on the
book, but his eagerness to reach Canada spoke louder than words,
signifying that the greater the distance that separated him from the old
"White Hall Farm" the better.
Thomas Edward Dixon arrived from near the Trap, in Delaware. He was only
about eighteen years of age, but as tall as a man of ordinary
height;--dark, with a pleasant countenance. He reported that he had had
trouble with a man known by the name of Thomas W.M. McCracken, who had
treated him "bad;" as Thomas thought that such trouble and bad treatment
might be of frequent occurrence, he concluded that he had better go away
and let McCracken get somebody else to fill his place, if he did not
choose to fill it himself. So off Thomas started, and as if by instinct,
he came direct to the Committee. He passed a good examination and was
aided.
William Oliver, a dark, well-made, young man with the best of country
manners, fled from Mrs. Marshall, a lady living in Prince George's
county, Maryland. William had recently been in the habit of hiring his
time at the rate of ten dollars per month, and find himself everything.
The privilege of living in Georgetown had been vouchsafed him, and he
preferred this locality to his country situation. Upon the whole he said
he had been treated pretty well. He was, nevertheless, afraid that times
were growing "very critical," and as he had a pretty good chance, he
thought he had better make use of it, and his arrangements were wisely
made. He had reached his twenty-sixth year, and was apparently well
settled. He left one child, Jane Oliver, owned by Mrs. Marshall.
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