JERRY MILLS, AND WIFE, DIANA, SON, CORNELIUS, AND TWO DAUGHTERS,
MARGARET, AND SUSAN.
The father of this family was sixty-five years of age, and his working
days were apparently well nigh completed. The mother was fifty-seven
years of age; son twenty-seven; daughters seventeen and fifteen years of
age.
The old man was smart for his years, but bore evidence that much hard
labor had been wrung out of him by Slavery. Diana said that she had been
the mother of twelve children; five had escaped to Canada, three were in
their graves, and three accompanied her; one was left in Maryland. They
had seen hard times, according to the testimony of the old man and his
companion, especially under David Snively, who, however, had been
"removed by the Lord" a number of years prior to their escape; but the
change proved no advantage to them, as they found Slavery no better
under their mistress, the widow, than under their master. Mistress
Snively was said to be close and stingy, and always unfriendly to the
slave. "She never thought you were doing enough." For her hardness of
heart they were sure she would repent some time, but not while she could
hold slaves. The belief was pretty generally entertained with the slaves
that the slaveholder would have to answer for his evil doings in another
world.
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