Considering themselves trampled upon by their fellow-men, unitedly
resolved to seek a better country.
William was pained with the idea that so much of his time had already
been used up, as he was then thirty-six years of age. Yet he thought
that it would do no good to mourn over the past, but do what he intended
to do quickly. The master whom he had served, he called, "Master
Lynchum." He was a farmer, and knew full well how to use severity with
the slaves; but had never practiced showing favors, or allowing
privileges of any kind. True he did not flog, but he resorted to other
means of punishment when he desired to make the slaves feel that he was
master. William left his mother, Harriet Brown, three sisters, and one
brother,--Francis, Mary, Eliza, and Robert. They were all free but
Eliza.
Seven weeks William and James were under the painful anxiety of trying
to escape, but conscious of the snares and dangers on the road, and
desirous of success, they did not feel at liberty to move, save as they
saw their way clear. This well-exercised sagacity was strongly marked in
the intellectual region of William's head.
James Henson was a man of rather slender build. From exposure in
traveling he took a severe cold and was suffering with sore throat. He
and Mrs. Maria Thomas disagreed. She set herself up to be "Jim's"
mistress and owner. For some cause or other Jim was unwilling to fill
this station longer. He had been hired out by his mistress, who received
one hundred dollars per annum; and, for aught Jim knew, she was pretty
well pleased with him and the money also. She coolly held eleven others
in the same predicament. While Jim found no fault with the treatment
received at the hands of his mistress, he went so far as to say that
"she was a right fine woman," yet, the longer he lived her slave, the
more unhappy he became. Therefore, he decided that he would try and do
better, and accordingly, in company with William he started, success
attending their efforts. James left three sisters and one brother,
Charlotte, Susan, Ellen and Johnson, all slaves.
* * * * *