Contemporary with Esther Moore, and likewise an intimate personal friend
of hers, Abigail Goodwin, of Salem, N.J., was one of the rare, true
friends to the Underground Rail Road, whose labors entitle her name to
be mentioned in terms of very high praise.
A.W.M. a most worthy lady, in a letter to a friend, refers to her in the
following language:
"From my long residence under the same roof, I learned to know well her
uncommon self-sacrifice of character, and to be willing and glad,
whenever in my power, to honor her memory. But, yet I should not know
what further to say about her than to give a very few words of testimony
to her life of ceaseless and active benevolence, especially toward the
colored people.
"Her life outwardly was wholly uneventful; as she lived out her whole
life of seventy-three years in the neighborhood of her birth-place."
With regard to her portrait, which was solicited for this volume, the
same lady thus writes: "No friend of hers would for a moment think of
permitting that miserable caricature, the only picture existing meant to
represent her, to be given to the public. I cannot even bear to give a
place in my little album to so mournful and ridiculous a
misrepresentation of her in face."
* * * * *
"You wonder why her sister, E., my loved and faithful friend, seems to
be so much less known among anti-slavery people than Abbie? One reason
is, that although dear Betsy's interest in the subject was quite equal
in _earnestness_, it was not quite so absorbingly _exclusive_. Betsy
economized greatly in order to give to the cause, but Abby denied
herself even _necessary apparel_, and Betsy has often said that few
beggars came to our doors whose garments were so worn, forlorn, and
patched-up as Abby's. Giving to the colored people was a perfect
_passion_ with her; consequently she was known as a larger giver than
Betsy.
"Another and greater reason why she was more known abroad than her
sister E., was that she wrote with facility, and corresponded at
intervals with many on these matters, Mr. McKim and others, and for many
years."
* * * * *
Abigail was emphatically of the type of the poor widow, who cast in all
her living. She worked for the slave as a mother would work for her
children. Her highest happiness aad pleasure in life seemed to be
derived from rendering acts of kindness to the oppressed. Letters of
sympathy accompanied with bags of stockings, clothing, and donations of
money were not unfrequent from her.
New Jersey contained a few well-tried friends, both within and without
the Society of Friends, to which Miss Goodwin belonged; but among them
all none was found to manifest, at least in the Underground Rail Road of
Philadelphia, such an abiding interest as a co-worker in the cause, as
did Abigail Goodwin.
The sympathy which characterized her actions is clearly evinced in her
own words, as contained in the appended extracts from her letter, as
follows:
"DEAR FRIEND:--I sent E.M. (Esther Moore) forty-one dollars more
by half than I expected to when I set about it. I expect that
abolitionists there are all opposed to buying slaves, and will
not give anything. I don't like buying them, or giving money to
slave-holders either; but this seems to be a peculiar case, can
be had so cheap, and so many young ones that would be separated
from their parents; slavery is peculiarly hard for children,
that cannot do anything to protect themselves, nor can their
parents, and the old too, it is hard for them; but it is a
terrible thing altogether. The case of the fugitive thee
mentioned was indeed truly affecting; it makes one ashamed as
well as sad to read such things, that human beings, or any other
beings should be so treated. I cannot but hope and believe that
slavery will ere long cease. I have a strong impression that the
colored people and the women are to have a day of prosperity and
triumph over their oppressors. We must patiently wait and
quietly hope; but not keep too much 'in the quiet.' Shall have
to work our deliverance from bondage. 'Who would be free,
themselves must strike the blow.'
"I regret very much that I have not more clothing to send than
the stockings. I have not had time since I thought of it, to
make anything; am ashamed that I was so inconsiderate of the
poor runaways. I will go to work as soon as I have earned money
to buy materials; have managed so as to spend my little annual
allowance in nine months, and shall not be able to give you any
money for some months, but if more stockings are wanted let me
know, our benevolent society have plenty on hand; and I have
some credit if not money; they will trust me till I have; they
furnish work for poor women and sell it. I get them for fifty
cents a pair.
"My sister says Lucretia (Mott) told her that there was not much
clothing in the trunk, only a few old things. I think she told
me there was nothing in it, she meant, I suppose, of any
consequence. * * *
"I should like to know if the fugitives are mostly large. I have
an idea they are generally small in stature; that slavery stunts
the body as well as mind. I want to know in regard to the
clothes that I intend making; it's best to have them fit as well
as can be. I shall work pretty much for women. I hope and expect
there are many friends of the cause who furnish clothing in the
city. They ought to be fitted out for Canada with strong, warm
clothing in cold weather, and their sad fate alleviated as much
as can be."
* * * * *
The forty-one dollars, referred to in the above letter, and sent to
"E.M." was to go especially towards buying an interesting family of ten
slaves, who were owned in North Carolina by a slave-holder, whose rare
liberality was signalized by offering to take $1,000 for the lot, young
and old. In this exceptional case, while opposed to buying slaves, in
common with abolitionists generally, she was too tender-hearted to
resist the temptation so long as "they could be bought so cheap."
To rid men of their yoke was her chief desire. Such was her habit of
making the sad lot of a slave a personal matter; that let her view him,
in any light whatever, whether in relation to young ones that would be
separated from their parents, or with regard to the old, the life of a
slave was "peculiarly hard," "a terrible thing" in her judgment.
The longer she lived, and the more faithfully she labored for the
slave's deliverance, the more firmly she became rooted in the
soul-encouraging idea, that "Slavery will ere long cease." Whilst the
great masses were either blind, or indifferent, she was nerved by this
faith to bear cheerfully all the sacrifices she was called on to make.
From another letter we copy as follows:
JANUARY 25th, 1855.
DEAR FRIEND:--The enclosed ten dollars I have made, earned in
two weeks, and of course it belongs to the slave. It may go for
the fugitives, or Carolina slaves, whichever needs it most. I am
sorry the fugitives' treasury is not better supplied, if money
could flow into it as it does into the Tract Fund; but that is
not to be expected.
Thy answer in regard to impostors is quite satisfactory. No
doubt you take great pains to arrive at the truth, but cannot at
all times avoid being imposed on. Will that little boy of seven
years have to travel on foot to Canada? There will be no safety
for him here. I hope his father will get off. John Hill writes
very well, considering his few advantages. If plenty of good
schools could be established in Canada for the benefit of
fugitives, many bright scholars and useful citizens would be
added to society. I hope these will be in process of time.
It takes the most energetic and intelligent to make their way
out of bondage from the most Southern States. It is rather a
wonder to me that so many can escape, the masters are so
continually watching them. The poor man that secreted himself so
long, must, indeed, have suffered dreadfully, and been
exceedingly resolute to brave dangers so long.
It was so characteristic of her to take an interest in everything that
pertained to the Underground Rail Road, that even the deliverance of a
little nameless boy was not beneath her notice. To her mind, his freedom
was just as dear to him as if he had been the son of the President of
the United States.
How they got on in Canada, and the question of education, were matters
that concerned her deeply; hence, occasional letters received from
Canada, evincing marked progress, such as the hero John H. Hill was in
the habit of writing, always gave her much pleasure to peruse.
In the Wheeler slave-case, in which Passmore Williamson and others were
engaged, her interest was very great. From a letter dated Salem,
September 9, 1855, we quote the subjoined extract:
DEAR FRIEND:--I am truly rejoiced and thankful that the right
has triumphed. But stranger had it been otherwise, in your
intelligent community, where it must be apparent to all who
inquire into it, that you had done nothing but what was
deserving of high commendation, instead of blame and punishment;
and shame on the jury who would bring in the two men guilty of
assault and battery. They ought to have another trial; perhaps
another jury would be more just. It is well for the credit of
Philadelphia, that there is one upright judge, as Kelley seems
to be, and his sentence will be a light one it is presumed,
showing he considered the charge a mere pretence.
I hope and trust, that neither thyself nor the other men will
have much if any of the expense to bear; your lawyers will not
charge anything I suppose, and the good citizens will pay all
else. It seems there are hopes entertained that Passmore
Williamson will soon be set at liberty. It must be a great
comfort to him and wife, in their trials, that it will conduce
to the furtherance of the good cause.
If Philadelphians are not aroused now after this great stretch
of power, to consider their safety, they must be a stupid set of
people, but it must certainly do good. * * * You will take
good care of Jane Johnson, I hope, and not let her get kidnapped
back to Slavery. Is it safe for her to remain in your city or
anywhere else in our "free land?" I have some doubts and fears
for her; do try to impress her with the necessity of being very
cautious and careful against deceivers, pretended friends. She
had better be off to Canada pretty soon.
Thy wife must not sit up washing and ironing all night again.
She ought to have help in her sympathy and labors for the poor
fugitives, and, I should think there are many there who would
willingly assist her.
I intended to be careful of trespassing upon thy time, as thee
must have enough to do; the fugitives are still coming I expect.
With kind regards, also to thy wife, your friend,