JACOB BROWN, JAMES HARRIS, BENJAMIN PINEY, JOHN SMITH, ANDREW JACKSON,
WILLIAM HUGHES, WESLEY WILLIAMS, ROSANNA JOHNSON, JOHN SMALLWOOD, AND
HENRY TOWNSEND.
Jacob Brown was eating the bread of Slavery in North Carolina. A
name-sake of his by the name of Lewis Brown, living in Washington,
according to the slave code of that city had Jacob in fetters, and was
exercising about the same control over him that he exercised over cattle
and horses. While this might have been a pleasure for the master, it was
painful for the slave. The usage which Jacob had ordinarily received
made him anything but contented.
At the age of twenty, he resolved that he would run away if it cost him
his life. This purpose was made known to a captain, who was in the habit
of bringing passengers from the South to Philadelphia. With an
unwavering faith he took his appointed place in a private part of the
vessel, and as fast as wind and tide would bring the boat he was wafted
on his way Canada-ward. Jacob was a dark man, and about full size, with
hope large.
James Harris escaped from Delaware. A white woman, Catharine Odine by
name, living near Middletown, claimed James as her man; but James did
not care to work for her on the unrequited labor system. He resolved to
take the first train on the Underground Rail Road that might pass that
way. It was not a great while ere he was accommodated, and was brought
safely to Philadelphia. The regular examination was made and he passed
creditably. He was described in the book as a man of yellow complexion,
good-looking, and intelligent. After due assistance, he was regularly
forwarded on to Canada. This was in the month of November, 1856.
Afterwards nothing more was heard of him, until the receipt of the
following letter from Prof. L.D. Mansfield, showing that he had been
reunited to his wife, under amusing, as well as touching circumstances:
AUBURN, Dec. 15th, '56.
DEAR BRO. STILL:--A very pleasant circumstance has brought you
to mind, and I am always happy to be reminded of you, and of the
very agreeable, though brief acquaintance which we made at
Philadelphia two years since. Last Thursday evening, while at my
weekly prayer meeting, our exercises were interrupted by the
appearance of Bro. Loguen, of Syracuse, who had come on with
Mrs. Harris in search of her husband, whom he had sent to my
care three weeks before. I told Bro. L. that no such man had
been at my house, and I knew nothing of him. But I dismissed the
meeting, and went with him immediately to the African Church,
where the colored brethren were holding a meeting. Bro. L.
looked through the door, and the first person whom he saw was
Harris. He was called out, when Loguen said, in a rather
reproving and excited tone, "What are you doing here; didn't I
tell you to be off to Canada? Don't you know they are after you?
Come get your hat, and come with us, we'll take care of you."
The poor fellow was by this time thoroughly frightened, and
really thought he had been pursued. We conducted him nearly a
mile, to the hotel where his wife was waiting for him, leaving
him still under the impression that he was pursued and that we
were conducting him to a place of safety, or were going to box
him up to send him to Canada. Bro. L. opened the door of the
parlor, and introduced him; but he was so frightened that he did
not know his wife at first, until she called him James, when
they had a very joyful meeting. She is now a servant in my
family, and he has work, and doing well, and boards with her. We
shall do all we can for them, and teach them to read and write,
and endeavor to place them in a condition to take care of
themselves. Loguen had a fine meeting in my Tabernacle last
night, and made a good collection for the cause of the
fugitives.
I should be happy to hear from you and your kind family, to whom
remember me very cordially. Believe me ever truly yours,