SAM ARCHER, LEWIS PECK, DAVID EDWARDS, EDWARD CASTING, JOE HENRY, GEORGE
AND ALBERT WHITE, JOSEPH C. JOHNSON, DAVID SNIVELY, AND HENRY DUNMORE.
Sam Archer was to "become free at thirty-five years of age." He had
already served thirty years of this time; five years longer seemed an
age to him. The dangers from other sources presented also a frightful
aspect. Sam had seen too many who had stood exactly in the same
relations to Slavery and freedom, and not a few were held over their
time, or cheated out of their freedom altogether. He stated that his own
mother was "kept over her time," simply "that her master might get all
her children." Two boys and two girls were thus gained, and were slaves
for life. These facts tended to increase Sam's desire to get away before
his time was out; he, therefore, decided to get off via the Underground
Rail Road. He grew very tired of Bell Air, Harford county, Maryland, and
his so-called owner, Thomas Hayes. He said that Hayes had used him
"rough," and he was "tired of rough treatment." So when he got his plans
arranged, one morning when he was expected to go forth to an unrequited
day's labor, he could not be found. Doubtless, his excited master
thought Sam a great thief, to take himself away in the manner that he
did, but Sam was not concerned on this point; all that concerned him was
as to how he could get to Canada the safest and the quickest. When he
reached the Philadelphia station, he felt that the day dawned, his joy
was full, despite the Fugitive Slave Law.
Lewis Peck was a man six feet high, and of the darkest hue. He reported
that he fled from Joseph Bryant, a farmer, who lived near Patapsco
River. Bryant was in the habit of riding around to look after the
slaves. Lewis had become thoroughly disgusted with this manner of
superintending. "I got tired of having Bryant riding after me, working
my life out of me," said Lewis. He was also tired of Bryant's wife; he
said "she was always making mischief, and he didn't like a mischief
maker."
Thus he complained of both master and mistress, seeming not to
understand that he "had no rights which they were bound to respect."
David Edwards broke away from the above named Bryant, at the age of
twenty-four. His testimony fully corroborated that of his comrade, Lewis
Peck. He was also a man of the darkest shade, tall, intellect good, and
wore a pleasant countenance. The ordinary difficulties were experienced,
but all were surmounted without serious harm.
Edward Casting and Joseph Henry were each about seventeen years of age.
Boys, as they were, with no knowledge of the world, they had wisely
resolved not to remain in that condition. Edward fled from Robert Moore,
who lived at Duck Creek. He gave his master the name of being a "bad
man," and refused to recommend him for anything. Being a likely-looking
chattel, he would have doubtless brought seven hundred dollars in the
market.
Joseph Henry came from Queen Ann county, Maryland. He was a well-grown
lad, and showed traces of having been raised without proper care, or
training. For deficiencies in this direction, he charged Greenberry
Parker, his claimant, who he said had treated him "bad." Friends had
helped these boys along.
George and Albert White were brothers. They fled from Cecil county,
Maryland. They escaped from William Parker. "What kind of a man was
William Parker?" they were asked. "He was a big, bad man, no goodness in
him," quickly replied one of the brothers. Their lot in Slavery had not
been different from that of numbers coming from that section of the
State.
Joseph G. Johnson fled from William Jones of Baltimore. He said that his
master kept a grocery store in Pratt street, and owned six head of
slaves; that he was a "good man, and always treated his servants very
well," until about three weeks before he escaped. For some reason
unknown to Joseph, within the time just alluded to, he had sold all his
slaves, with the exception of himself. Joseph was far from being at
ease, as he hourly felt oppressed with the fear that he was to be sold
at an early day.
Summoning courage he started by the Baltimore and Wilmington Rail Road.
In this way he reached Wilmington where he unfortunately fell into the
hands of his master's son, who resided in Wilmington, and happened to
discover Joseph in the cars, (most likely he had been telegraphed to)
and had him arrested and returned. But Joseph did not allow a week to
pass over him before he was ready to make even a still more daring
adventure for his liberty. This time he concluded to try the water; by
great economy he had saved up twenty-five dollars. This was a great deal
to him, but he resolved to give it all willingly to any man who would
secrete him, or procure him a passage to Philadelphia. The right man was
soon found, and Joseph was off again. Good luck attended him, and he
reached the Committee safely. He was in his twenty-third year, a man of
medium size, copper-colored, and of a prepossessing countenance.
David Snively ran away from Frederick, Maryland. He was moved to escape
solely by the love of freedom. His services had been required in the
blacksmith shop, and on the farm under Charles Preston, who claimed to
own him. He had been sold once and brought nine hundred dollars; he
resolved that a similar fate should never overtake him, unless his owner
moved very suddenly in that direction. While Joseph was working daily in
the blacksmith shop, he was planning how to make good his escape. No way
was open but the old route, which led "hard by" many dangers, and was
only accessible now and then through regions where friends were few and
far between. Howbeit he possessed the faith requisite, and was
victorious.
Joseph was twenty-six years of age, of unmixed blood, ordinary size, and
had a commendable share of courage and intellect. He could recommend no
good traits as his master's.
Henry Dunmore had served as a slave up to the age of thirty-five, and
was then on the eve of being sold. As he had endured severe hardship
under his old master John Maldon he was unwilling to try another. While
he gave Maldon credit for being a member of the Methodist Church, he
charged him with treating himself in a most unchristian-like manner. He
testified that Maldon did not allow him half enough to eat; and once he
kept him out in the cold until his toes were frozen off. Consequently it
was not in the heart of Henry to give his master any other than a bad
name. He lived about sixteen miles from Elkton, near Charleston,
Maryland. He was of a dark chestnut color, well-made, and active.
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