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[Cover Image]
Isaac Mason.
[Frontispiece Image]
[Title Page Image]
I have known Isaac Mason very well since 1850. He has done a great deal of work for me and my household. I know him to be an honest, faithful and intelligent man. I have not had time to examine his book in manuscript, but I am sure his statements may be trusted, and that his experience will prove very interesting. I hope his book will have a good sale, and commend it to the public.
Having repeatedly been asked by my many friends to write the history of my life as a slave, especially by some who have heard me lecture on certain portions of that ever memorable period of my life, I have, after some hesitation as to its advisability, reluctantly concluded to accede to their wishes, and now present to them a truthful sketch of my eventful life in the dark days of slavery. As these checkered scenes of my early life reflectively present themselves to my mind at my advanced state of life, I wonder how I withstood all the abuse and cruelty of these early years. Our lives are largely composed of sorrow and joy, but my cup, it seems to me, has been full to overflowing with sorrow, but God has been my strength and my salvation, and has brought me thus far in the journey of life, and in him I trust, praying that in his good time he will take me to that heavenly home where our earthly trials will cease and where there will be no more sorrow.
My story is told in a plain matter-of-fact way, and I hope my readers will overlook and excuse the defects which must necessarily abound throughout the hook, owing to lack of educational advantages.
In Kent County, in the northern part of the State of
Maryland, there was at the time of my earliest recollections
(and I suppose it yet remains), a small town known as George
Town Cross Oats, having a population of about 500 or 600.
It was in this town, on the 14th day of May, 1822, A. D.,
that I inhaled my first supply of air, that my eyes, for
the first time, were brought in contact with the beautiful
light surrounding the terrestrial world, the earthly home of
mankind, and the first sound of my infant voice was raised
in shrill cries for a mother's tender care and parental affection.
This was the place of my nativity and the date of my
birth. It was also the time that my mistress became the
owner of one more slave and so much richer by my birth.
My mother was, unfortunately, numbered in the family of
slavedom, belonging to one Mrs. Hannah Woodland, and
according to the institution of slave law, I legally, or illegally,
became her property. Though my father was a free man still
he had no claim to me. My mother's name was Sophia
Thompson, and she served in the capacity of house servant.
She was the mother of five children, four sons and one daughter,
of whom I was the first born, and William Anderson, of
the city of Worcester, Mass., the second. My father,
Zekiel Thompson, was, as I said, a free man, and most of his
time served as a farm hand on one of the farms owned by my
mistress. Whether from his activity and knowledge of farm
My mistress, Mrs. H. Woodland, was a widow - her husband
being a sea captain and lost at sea before I was born
or had any knowledge of him. They were both natives of
Scotland. He owned two farms, and at his death his wife
became the owner of both, carrying on business until the
time of her death. She was the mother of five children,
one son and four daughters. The son, Samuel Woodland,
who was said to be rich, owning two farms, several houses,
and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty slaves,
was, as near as language can express it, a lifetime tyrant
to his farm hands and house servants. His alias Isaac, had to leave his mother's
knee and childish play to enter upon the duties of serving
his owners.
Accordingly, when between five and six years of age, I was assigned to the duties of housework, to wait on my mistress and to run errands. When she went out driving I had to accompany her in the capacity of a page, to open the gates and to take down guard fences for her to drive through. That I might be found at night as well as by day my sleeping apartment was in her chamber on a truckbed, which was during the day time snugly concealed under her bedstead and drawn out at night for the reposing place of Isaac's weary body while he dreamed of days yet to come. I remained in this distinguished position until I was about fifteen years old, when a change in common with all slave life had to he made either for the better or for the worse.
On the day that proved to be her last to be spent on this earth I was required to accompany her on a visit to the farm, the second farm, which was not so frequently visited, where she spent the afternoon in looking over the stock and products which detained her until towards evening. Her examinations were completed and she returned home. This visit was made in the gig drawn by the old black mare. My place was, as customary, by her side. We arrived home about seven o'clock in the evening. She told me to “take care of the old mare”; that meant to unharness and put her in the stable, and when I had completed my task to “come to her, as she wanted me to go on an errand.” I obeyed her orders and went direct to her chamber, where I found her lying on the floor in an unconscious state and unable to speak.
I immediately ran down stairs and informed my mother
how I had found mistress. She sent me at once after Mrs.
My grandfather, Richard Graham Grimes, was sent down that night to a place called Morgan's Creek, to a man by the name of Hugh Wallace, to come up immediately and make arrangements for the funeral. His first wife was the daughter of my mistress. He lost no time in answering the summons and attended to all the necessary requirements for the obsequies, and on the third day after her death my mistress was consigned to mother earth.
At last the day dawned when this group of slaves had to part, not only from the old homestead but from each other, and to go to scenes and climes unknown to them. At last the sunshine was passing and the gloom fast overspreading. Mother and children, brothers and sisters to separate, perhaps forever.
The farm with all of its contents were left, for the time
being, under the care and supervision of my grandfather.
He continued to hold charge till July of the same year,
about the space of three months, at which time Mr. H.
Wallace appeared on the estate to make arrangements for
settling the affairs. Everything belonging to the estate
excepting the slaves were sold. The farm with its contents
handsomely rewarded with his
freedom, an old horse called the “old bay horse” - which
was also past the stage of usefulness - and an old cart; but,
alas! no home to live in or a place to shelter his head from
the storm.
My father, as I said before, was a free man and had the privilege of purchasing my mother and my sister, who was then about a year old, for $600. My mother at this time was in very ill health, and it was thought by many she could not live very long. My father not being able to pay the amount asked, had to find a sufficient security before he could obtain a bill of sale. He was fortunate enough to find that assistance in the person of Dr. Hyde, with whom I was soon to become personally acquainted. The remainder of the slaves each received a note from the hands of Mr. H. Wallace, and were directed by him to carry it to a certain person named by him, which act showed that each slave had been previously disposed of. Some were sold and some were hired out for a certain time to pay debts due by the estate.
I received my little note and was told to carry it to
Dr. Hyde, who was living in the same place where I was
born. I was not sold, but only hired out to pay a small bill
of $25 which would not take very long as regards to time,
but by an economical table of work I was destined to fill
the place of more than one servant. The Doctor and his
considerate wife were determined to utilize my whole time
in their service. My work at this place consisted in cooking,
washing, sweeping, taking care of the horses, attending
Some persons may suppose that by accomplishing all this work in one day would satisfy an employer, master or mistress, but satisfaction was hard to find. I was only the property of another, working to pay the debt of another, who I suppose thought he ought to receive interest on his bill; and that interest had to be paid by me in addition to the daily labor, by receiving a whipping every day besides losing a meal - either a breakfast, a dinner, or a supper - according to their best judgment. Some may wonder which I regretted most, the whipping or the meal. I sorrowed the loss of the meal more than anything else. To me this certainly was a great punishment.
The last day I stayed with the Doctor he told me that
he wanted me to stay at home for he was going away and
would not he back till after nightfall. I had made arrangements
with some other boys to go rabbit hunting. Knowing
it was Christmas week, and I was not bound to stay there,
as my time was out, I concluded to have my rabbit hunt as
agreed; so off I went with my associates. I did not get
back to the house till after dark. Wanting to complete my
day's work before the Doctor arrived I made my way into
the kitchen, as I thought unseen by any person, to get the
milk pail which was always kept in there, and milk the
cows. Mrs. Hyde, the Doctor's wife, saw me, skipped out
from somewhere and locked the kitchen door behind me.
This was not a very pleasant situation, for a slave and the
I went to the barn and crept away under the back part of the hay, where I knew I would be secure for the night. I stayed there lamenting over my stripes till midnight; then I came out and went to my mother's, which was about half a mile off. She told me the Doctor had been there hunting for me. Thinking he might soon return I did not stay there very long. I next started off for my grandfather's, which was about four miles away. I found him at home and he let me in. I did not learn that my pursuer had been to this place, so I thought myself safe for a while. He told me he had received a letter from Mr. H. Wallace directing him to bring me down to Morgan's Creek, as the Doctor had nothing more to do with me and that I was going to another place.
Next morning grandfather rose, shelled a bushel of corn
and was going to Headchester to dispose of it for other
necessary comforts, telling me I might go along with him.
Soon the old bay horse and cart, the legacy from the Woodland
This Doctor Hyde had become security for the payment
of the $600 required from my father for the purchase of my
mother and sister. He was so much enraged on account of
this trouble with me, that he demanded immediate payment
of the money. This brought a gloom over my father and
mother's humble but happy home. He had no money nor
the means of getting it. The spiteful bondsman could soon
find the way to get it, and that was by selling mother and
sister. This means was well understood by them, and plans
were considered to avoid this sacrifice when mother resolved
to take her young child and flee to Baltimore, Md. Her
conclusions were soon put in practice, and it was not long
before she found herself and child in that famous city.
There she found a philanthropic Quaker, who had saved a
To return to my own personal narrative - by jumping
from the old cart to escape from Dr. Hyde and rejoining
grandfather. We rode on to Headchester, which is now
known as Millerton, remained there until night and then
returned home. I stayed there all night and next morning
after breakfast we started for Morgan's Creek, which was to
be my new home. We had to ride a distance of twenty-two
Chestertown was quite a thriving place, having five thousand or more inhabitants, and was the county seat for Kent County. It bordered on the Chesapeake Bay, where we had ready transportation to Baltimore, Md., three or four times a week. There were a large number of wealthy families living there at that time who owned large plantations. On being introduced to my master the next morning I was informed what I was expected to do. I was told that I was coming sixteen years old the next spring, and he had bought me for the special purpose to work about the house and to do whatever was wanted of me; and, also, I was expected to do what I was set about, and to do it well and quick. He said he would not overlook one fault. If I did as he said I would be properly treated; if I did not I would get the hickory wottel. I assured him faithfully I would do the best I could. I found that my work was precisely the same as that I had performed at Dr. Hyde's, my last place, so I got along for the first two weeks very nicely. I gave them satisfaction, as I thought; they, that is my master and his wife, appeared pleased. I concluded I was all right and was going to have a nice time at my new home. At this time there was not the dread of a daily whipping and the loss of one meal a day. It was not long before I was to learn that storms followed calms, and war came after peace.
One Friday morning, after being there about four weeks, I well remember the day, I was busy at work on my hand-irons. My mistress came out and wanted to know what I had been doing all the morning. I turned round and looked at her, and saw that her face was awfully red; there was something wrong but I could not divine it. She hurriedly went out of the room where I was, into the back room, and got her cowhide; without the least ceremony she lit on me - the same as a hungry hawk on an innocent chicken. Her descent upon me was so sudden that I did not know what to do. I begged, I entreated her to stop; but she grew worse and worse. The blows came faster and faster, and every one brought the blood streaming from my head and back till I was covered from head to foot. Being a large, fleshy woman, she at last became fatigued and exhausted, and had to quit her inhuman chastisement. I was so unmercifully beaten that I was unfit for work that day.
Next morning I could not stand up I was so weak and
exhausted from loss of blood. My eyes and head were
completely swollen, and for a few days I had to remain a
poor sufferer - the victim of a woman's spite and hatred for
a poor despised race. What I had done to deserve all this
treatment I knew not. Here I was, no one to care for me,
no one to console me. After awhile I got so that I could
resume work. She never repeated that kind of treatment
again, but consigned me to a worse fate for the future -
I may say for a limited period. Whenever I did anything
that was considered wrong after that I had to go to the
cellar, where I was stripped naked, my hands tied to a
beam over head, and my feet to a post, and then I was
whipped by master till the blood ran down to my heels.
One day, to my great astonishment, I found that my work was to be changed from a domestic servant to a farm hand. Having been trained to do a little of both it did not seem hard for me to work at either. Mr. Mansfield had purchased a little farm a few years before I went to live with him, containing sixty acres. It cost him three dollars an acre, and was very poor land. I, together with an older hand, was placed on this farm to work. It was about a mile out of Chestertown and had no house or barn on it, so we had to travel the distance four times a day to get meals and to feed the horses. Having to carry manure to the farm we had the privilege of riding there and back every time. I continued to work on this farm a little over five years. When we commenced reaping the first year it yielded only from five to six bushels of corn and wheat to the acre; after five years it yielded thirty bushels to the acre. The last three years I worked on the farm it was under my charge.
Besides attending to the work of the farm I had to drive
the hearse which conveyed the dead to the grave, for my
master being a cabinet-maker, was also an undertaker. I
had to attend the funerals of all the prominent men and
women within a radius of twenty miles of that place. My
boss had so much confidence in me that he would send me
twenty miles alone with a coffin to bury some great person,
During the five years and over that I worked on the
farm I was never struck a blow. There was no one to find
fault with my work. The boss was but seldom there and I
was taken from under the control of my mistress. In the
year 1845 I had done so well for my master, or at least he
thought so - and I knew I had - that just before Christmas
he told me to take the other man that was with me and shell
out one hundred bushels of corn, and the same of wheat
and put them on board the sloop General Washington, to be
taken to Baltimore. On the following Tuesday, after this
was done, he gave me a new suit of clothes, and at ten
o'clock we went on board the sloop and sailed for Baltimore
to dispose of the corn and wheat. We arrived there the
next morning, which was Wednesday. Mr. Mansfield went
Our freight was unloaded and disposed of, and on the
following Friday we returned home. As usual, I resumed
my customary work. Everything went along quite smoothly
at the farm, at the hearse business, and at the house, until
At this time the family became short of meat. We
had two steers that had been turned loose in what was
called the “common” - a tract of land about twelve miles
off, containing two hundred acres of forest land - a pleasure
and pasture ground for unused cattle. Another hand, with
myself, was told to go to the common and capture one of the
steers, and to bring it home to be slaughtered and packed
away for the use of the family. According to orders we
started on our journey, which was the last day of August.
We labored hard all that day trying to find them, among a
number of others, in the dense forest. As night began to
set in we discovered our search, by the private mark that
had been placed on them when they were put there. To our
disappointment, the fast overspreading darkness prevented
our capturing them that night, so we had to take the horses
and return home, with the intention of renewing our labors
early next day. At an early hour next morning we started
on our journey. On our arrival we soon found our search,
the lasso was thrown with steady, true aim, and the prize was
captured. We mounted our horses and were soon on our
way home - one leading and the other driving. Our captive
At this time my mistress had become the mother of
another child; it was about two weeks old. She had stopping
with her a young girl, a niece of hers, who performed
the duty of housekeeper. She was the daughter of Hugh
Wallace. When this miss of a housekeeper discovered the
great calamity that had befallen the store of beef - making it
unfit for the delicate stomachs of her aunt, uncle-in-law,
cousins, and her own - she ordered that some of it be taken
to the kitchen and boiled for the hands. After it had gone
through the culinary department, its flavor and unpalatable
taste made it too much for human stomachs of the strongest
kind to endure. A slave's stomach was considered not to be
human, but this
This remarkable event happened on a Saturday, at
noon. Mr. Mansfield had that day gone away from home
and was not to return before night. When he had been
home but a short time he came out and met me in the yard,
after I had put the horse up that he had been using, and
wanted to know what I had done. Before I could think of
any serious fault he picked up a stick four feet long and
began to fire away at me with all his force, crying out,
“What have you been doing?” I told him I had done
nothing, and he exclaimed, “You are a liar!” He told me
to go to the cellar and he would see. Though a slave, and
his property, yet I dared to assert the lion of my manhood that
he had aroused in me, and I replied, “I will not do it!”
then he renewed the attack with the stick. I caught hold of
it to prevent him from using it. He wrung and I twisted;
he twisted and I wrung. At last I lost control of my temper
and pushed him over a pile of wood that was in the yard.
As he fell he cried out for Mary, his wife, to bring him his
gun. Before she arrived with the deadly instrument I was
over one fence and across the street. As I ascended the
second fence to find refuge in the field he aimed his gun,
firing three shots at me. The first shot grazed my head,
removing a little hair; the second touched my ear, and the
third passed through my hat; but they did not stop me
from running. On reaching the mulberry thicket, where I
At last Sunday morning dawned and found me hiding from the fierce anger of a man who would soon be making his way to church; but I could not go. I had no one to speak to but God. Alone, yet not alone. My thoughts may he somewhat surmised when I inform my readers of the sacred relationship of the man who had just attempted to take my life. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Church, and considered one of its most pious and consistent members. His religious fervor was so great that he could not content himself with his own church, but also identified his name with the colored Methodist Church of which I was a member. He would frequently attend our meetings, jump, shout and sing, like the rest of us. He was the leader of my class, my spiritual adviser and counsellor in the time of trouble. Now, by his merciless treatment, I am driven from the shelter of his home. What could I think of him? How could I judge of his religious profession? How could I receive his religious instructions? The more I thought of him this day the more my confidence in him grew weaker. He was my master, and by the inhuman law of slavery I was his property and must obey his mandates. During the day my hiding-place was discovered by a fellow-slave who brought me food, which removed a portion of sorrow from my wounded breast. In this affliction I found, as in former instances, that by turning my heart towards God, He would take care of me and provide for my wants. The Sabbath day drearily passed away, and night found me still among the mulberry bushes to spend a second night without shelter, bed or covering.
On Monday morning my pious master told one of the
slave hands if he saw me to tell me to “come home!”
When I received the message I immediately returned. On
my arrival I met the would-be murderer, and he wanted to
know “why I acted so; why I threw the meat to the dog?”
In an instant the cause of Saturday's conflict and Sunday's
sorrow came to my mind. Refusing to eat rotten beef and
casting it to the dog had brought down his vengeance on my
much-defenceless head. The secret was revealed. Miss
Wallace had witnessed the act, taking it as a great insult
to herself. To use his own expression: “It was an insult
to Miss Wallace, for she had sent it out to the kitchen.” I
replied that I did not know it was an insult, I did not mean
to insult her, and she did not know how bad it smelled. He
abruptly told me to go to work and he would see about it.
So we parted; he to counsel other methods of punishment or
revenge, and I to my work on the farm. At this season we
were busily engaged hauling lime to the farm. We completed
this job in three weeks, then we had to gather in the
corn and tread out some wheat. The treading was done by
horses in what was called the “treading yard.” It was
about the middle of November when this portion of our
annual work was completed.
The first important job that was assigned to Will (for
my master always called me by that name), after finishing
the farm work, was to take the horse and cart, with a note,
and go to Mr. H. Wallace's for a barrel of turkeys and
geese that were to be sent to Baltimore, Md. During all this
time I had not heard anything about the spoiled meat
trouble. I concluded it had all passed by, and to me almost
forgotten. My conception of the trickery of mankind were
At this sudden change of affairs I suddenly started on
the run, with he and his son after me like hounds in full
chase after the fleeing fox. My safety depended upon my
agile movements. My active feet did me good service and
soon left my pursuers far behind. My impulsive thought
was to flee directly home and secure the protection of him
whom I was compelled to call master. Alas! alas! I was
placing my trust in one who was betraying me, who was
deceiving me; and soon I was to discover the blackness of
his heart toward me. The vigorous efforts of the maddened
foe pressed on me so great that the road for home had to be
abandoned, and I had to flee to the dense woods for refuge.
They were safely reached, and I could once more breathe
easily. Here I remained till after midnight, when I thought
I could venture out and try to find my way home. The
great wonder was, how could I succeed. I knew Mr. W.
always kept his boats in such a manner that I could get one
and row across the creek; but then came the dread that they
might be watching that means of escape and would capture
me. That route had to be abandoned and another found.
Blinded with grief and darkness I started up the creek in
search of some shallow place where I might walk across.
On I walked till at last I halted at a spot that I thought
would do. The stream here was narrow; in I ventured.
Step after step brought me into deeper water. Suddenly I
found that I was beyond my depth. I could not swim, I
could not go back. The scenes of death were before me.
There was no one near by to call upon to save me. In the
midst of my dilemma I remembered the Lord; upon Him
with my whole heart I did call. If ever I prayed in my life
I did this time. Soon my eyes became dim, my mind
Once more on terra firma I started for home, arriving there about four o'clock in the morning. I found that the horse and cart had arrived home during the night, having been brought there by one of Mr. Wallace's men. Next morning my boss met me when I was coming from the barn. He informed me that “Mr. W. was going to whip me for being impudent to his daughter in throwing that meat to the dog, and I had better have stayed and got it and had it over.” I told him that I belonged to him, and if he wanted to do it I would submit - I did not want anybody else to do it. He bade me take off the wet clothes and put on the hearse clothes. I did so, and was quickly on my way with the hearse to the shop.
Though I was but a poor, despised slave, having no
rights that I could call my own, even to the refusal of such
food that I could not eat, yet I possessed that principle of
true manhood to despise deceit in my employers. Here I
found a man who had told me from time to time how to
serve God, how to live right, and now had proved to be a
base deceiver and a falsifier. Instead of the note asking for
turkeys and geese, it was to whip me for what they deemed
impudence. Could I believe him hereafter? Could I trust
him any more? No! he had told me a lie my confidence
in him was gone, and my feelings towards him were
changed. Was I happy or contented? No! for I did not
know how soon another trap would be set for me to fall
On December 15 Mr. Mansfield sent me down to the wharf to Jim Frisby, to get his scow, and proceed up to Mr. Wallace's and get ten cords of hickory wood. I was told to take another man with me. As I had to enter within the bounds of Wallace's estate again, I concluded to prepare myself for emergencies and a hasty retreat. I had come to know the trickery of the man I was dealing with and was determined to disappoint him. Jim Frisby was an old colored man who owned the scow, and he owned, besides, a small boat - just what was needed, and served my purpose admirably. While arranging for the scow I also bargained for the boat, taking care not to divulge my secret to any one. About ten o'clock we started on our journey. The distance was but five miles, the tide was running in our favor, and we were soon at our journey's end. We found the wood piled up on the shore ready for us. We began to load up the scow, but night came on us so fast that we could not finish. We took our lunch into the small boat and rowed to the other side of the creek, and sought out an old barn that I had frequently seen in that neighborhood, where we rested for the night. Being tired after our day's work we soon sought sweet sleep for our weary bodies.
Next morning we were both up by daylight and resumed
our work, and by nine o'clock we were ready to return with
our load of wood. My readers must not suppose that my
eyes were idle while working here. My hands were working
to serve Mansfield, and my eyes were working or watching
alias Isaac. I knew my man, and I felt he was
on the watch and only waiting for a chance to pounce
down upon me. As we were preparing to start I looked up
the road and saw Mr. W. coming towards the scow. I
remarked to my fellow-workman that he was coming and
there would be trouble for me. On he came with his silver-headed
stick in hand. He drew near and jumped on board,
the scow, and I very deliberately stepped into Jim Frisby's
little boat and struck out for the opposite shore. He was so
sorely disappointed at his second defeat, that he took a keen
aim at my head with his stick; but oh! he missed me and off
I went. He tried another plan by sending two of his men
in another boat after me, with instructions to bring me back
dead or alive. I out-rowed them and jumped ashore with
paddle in hand. I was making for a place of safety, but
before I could secure myself they had overtaken me. Then
a desperate struggle took place. They rushed for me. I
dodged, threatening them to stand back or I would kill them.
Still they tried to carry out the demand of the tyrant. In
my struggles I looked on them as men in slavish bondage
like myself, and executors of a master's will. They fought
to obey him, I fought to save my body from bruises,
and for aught I know, my life from sacrifice. Finding
words of persuasion and threat of no avail, I brought my
weapon down with full strength and true aim on the head of
one of the attacking party, when he fell to the ground like a
log. The other fellow ran off and left me to make good my
flight from the avenger - not of blood, but of pretended
impudence to his presumptuous daughter.
To return to the boat was impossible. To render
assistance in carrying home the scow was out of the
In the evening his son came to me, looking sad, and appeared anxious to say something. I was then working in the barn, and it was a convenient place for a kind of private interview, for no one at the house could see us. He informed me that his Uncle Wallace had that day urged his father to sell me to him, promising to give his boy, George, who was twenty-two years old, and $300 into the bargain. His father, after a little persuasion, had agreed to do so, though he did not want to part with me till after the second day of January next. At that time the papers were to be made out and signed. I gained further information from him concerning my future destiny - arranged by those ungenerous slave-holders. His uncle, H. Wallace, had a nephew living in New Orleans, a slave owner; he had a supply about once a year, and the time having arrived for a batch to be sent on I found I was to form one of the number, January being the month allotted for the transportation. By their unjust treatment they had forced me to form plans to make my escape from slavery. To New Orleans I did not intend to go if I could prevent it. These tidings caused me to devise means to put into execution an immediate flight. Whatever I was to do must be done at once. Christmas was drawing near, and New Year's was soon to follow; if alive, then my fate would be determined, and Wallace and Will had to decide that. Mr. Mansfield had put me out of his reach by making the bargain to sell.
On the following Saturday night, after hearing this news,
I hired a horse from an old colored man, Jim Willmer,
for a bushel of oats. These were waste oats that I had
saved from time to time from the horse's feed. That night
I rode to George Town Cross Oats, the place of my nativity.
I went in search of a colored man by the name of Joe
Brown, arriving at his house about eleven o'clock that night.
He had not gone to bed but was smoking his pipe; his wife
had retired for the night, so everything was favorable as the
business was highly important and only required two to
discuss it at this time. I had known him ever since I was a
boy, and he appeared kindly disposed toward me, so there
was no feeling of scrupulousness in telling him what I
intended and wanted. I related all my troubles to him, and
finally told him that I wanted to get away and that he must
assist me. He listened attentively to my statement and
wishes, then he asked how many there were of us. I told
him I thought I could bring two more with me. He
arranged that I was to come to his house a week from that
night, and if there were three to bring along with us nine
dollars, and if we stood by him he would stand by us,
landing us safely in Philadelphia. The coming Thursday
from this night would be Christmas day, consequently the
day of meeting would be in Christmas week during the
Mr. Mansfield had secured from his father's estate a
young fellow by the name of Joshua. He had been with
him about two years this Christmas. We were very intimate
and I had placed the utmost confidence in him.
Feeling he would not betray my secret, I ventured to inform
him where I had been and what I had done. He felt much
elated over the project and said he would go with me. We
had a little money saved up that was earned by sawing
wood and doing odd jobs at night for some of the neighbors,
but that was not sufficient, therefore we had to enter into
ways and means to secure the balance. We solicited work
and were fortunate enough to find it, and by Saturday night
our treasury showed the sum of $12. At last Christmas
day had come - the bright and hopeful day of all christendom
when master and mistress with their friends were to make
merry, and the poor slave to hope that he might be happy
for a few hours at least. Mrs. Mary Mansfield attempted to
make her slaves feel cheerful by giving them a Christmas
breakfast, consisting of one quart of molasses, being one and
one-third of a gill for each servant as there were six of us,
The young man George that I made mention of as coming to take my place, came to Chestertown on Friday, as he thought, to spend Christmas. I informed him that he was sold to Mansfield to take my place, and that the plot was to send me to New Orleans; that Joshua and myself had made arrangements to run away, and if he wanted to go with us he could do so. It did not take him long to decide to make one of the number. There was one difficulty in the way with him - he had no money. In order to obviate that difficulty Joshua and myself agreed to furnish it. I told George to return home and meet us at a certain place about nine o'clock with a boat to take us across the creek. Instead of my going away in the morning as permitted I remained until Saturday night, in order that we might be together, as Joshua was not acquainted with the route.
When night came we bade farewell to the Mansfield house with its cares and lashes, and started for the land of liberty and a city where we could breathe the refreshing air of freedom. When we reached our place of meeting, according to previous arrangement, about nine o'clock George was there with the boat waiting for us. The creek was soon crossed and our course was shaped for George Town Cross Oats, a distance of about twenty miles. We reached the town about two o'clock in the morning. The most interesting place to be found by us was the house of our guide, Joe Brown. To the horror of all we found Joe lying on the floor dead drunk. Joshua and George did not know Brown's failings; they became alarmed at the situation and talked strongly about going back home. This increased my anxiety considerably, for if they went back my plans would be destroyed and I returned into the hands of my enemies, or else hunted down and killed. I at last prevailed on them to go with me to my mother's and stay a few hours. This was Sunday morning, the distance was but half a mile, and we were soon sheltered and out of sight of Joe Brown. We stayed there all day concealed away up in the attic. This was a day of great suspense. No one could advise what would be the next best step to take. We were three helpless beings fleeing from the cruel chains of bondage.
To my happy surprise that afternoon Joe Brown put
in his appearance. He did not remain long nor have much
to say, but told us to meet him that night at Price's Woods
at seven o'clock. As a signal of our meeting in safety he
would give the sign by crying out, “yea! yo!” and we were
to answer “Friend to the guard!” The place was well
The night of march had come, and with our anxious faces directed northward we started for Wilmington, Delaware, it being about thirty-five miles away. When we had arrived within eight miles of Wilmington, Brown took us to the house of an old colored man who was an acquaintance of his. I did not understand why he went there, but I judged it was to seek for information; and we did receive some very important news. The old man told him not to go any further on that road as there was a gang of body-snatchers waiting by the bridge to mob every colored person that came that way. He directed him to return about eight miles and take the first left hand road he came to, and that would bring him into Wilmington another way where he would not meet with any trouble. The old man's advice was heeded. We accordingly went back, and by the time we got there the grey dawn of morning began to appear. Day was breaking, and travelers like the three of this band had to seek a hiding-place while the glorious rays of the king of light prevailed, and men were abroad upon the face of the earth.
Fortune, thus far, had bountifully smiled on our path, and nature had lent us her aid; bidding us good-speed on our journey. As daylight lifted the sable curtain of night we saw but a short distance from us a dense wood, and we made for it in haste. On entering this forest we found a very large white oak tree that could not endure the mighty winds of the early fall, and it had been ruthlessly torn up by the roots before its leaves had fallen. There it lay, forming a complete arbor and place of safety. When the full light of day came, under it we crept, not knowing how long we were to remain nor what might be the result. Joe Brown left us with strict orders to remain where we were until his return, that he was going to Wilmington. We had voluntarily placed ourselves under his care and direction for the safety of our escape, consequently it was no more than just that we should submit to his judgment and obey orders for the time being. We stayed all day - or as long as daylight lasted. This was the greatest and most memorable day in this undertaking for liberty. Fugitives from slavery.
While lying on the cold ground under this tree, our
“city of refuge,” we were greatly surprised at seeing a
number of fox hounds, numbering, I suppose, from twenty
to fifty, running about the forest near to us. They were
accompanied by about fifty men on horseback, who were all
white. The reader may judge the terrible anxiety we had to
endure. We were slaves fleeing from bondage, they were
freemen and to have fallen into their hands would have
been so much added to their gain, and to us, perhaps, a
more sorrowful condition than the one we were fleeing from.
They rode and hunted after a fox throughout the whole day.
After it got dark, I waited until the north star had
risen, for I determined, as Joe Brown had not returned, that
Having taken leave of our former friend and guide we
continued to the goal of our ambition under the care of our
new leader. There are a great many venturesome things a
man will do, when determined to escape from danger or an
evil, that he would not do when otherwise situated. To
I had no means of keeping the days of the month, but
was fortunate enough to remember the day of the week. So
it was on a Tuesday morning that our eyes rested on a State
where liberty for the negro slave could be enjoyed. Perry
Augustus, our guide, with much seeming satisfaction and
delight, informed us that we had crossed out of slavery into
freedom. We had had our faithful guides, and they had
discharged their obligations to us to the letter ; but I had
not forgotten my early impressions of the existence of an
ever kind Providence, for which gratitude should be shown,
consequently I suggested that we should have a season of
prayer and return thanks to God for this safe deliverance.
The old man readily consented to the proposal, and we all
knelt down on the snow-covered ground and offered up
When the other two boys learned that we had been successful in crossing into the land of freedom, they became reconciled, and expressed themselves as being sorry for the unnecessary trouble they had caused me, especially while concealed in the forest. We journeyed on for a distance of about ten miles when we came to a place called New Garden. At this place we were made acquainted with an old man by the name of Nelson Wiggins. This we found also to be the resting place of Perry Augustus. Further developments showed that it was more than a resting place, it was a temporal home, a little heaven on earth for a fugitive. The old man had two daughters, who had charge of the house, as his wife was dead; one of these tender-hearted and benevolent ladies, with her father, bid us welcome and make ourselves at home. The invitation was readily accepted and we were comfortably housed and seated. Her agile step and busy hands were soon employed in preparing a breakfast for the weary travelers. When it had been prepared we were bid to partake of it. Breakfast over we were directed to go up stairs where we would find beds upon which to rest ourselves. The directions were soon followed, and we laid us down to rest and sleep, to dream of the past and plan for the future. We remained there all day.
The next night a great number of persons called to see us and congratulate us on our successful venture. Some of them we had known in by-gone days. This was delight added to pleasure. Companions in slavery once, now companions in freedom. Two days were spent in this state of ease and comfort, and on the third day it was deemed best that we should start out in search of employment. It being winter time, work, as a general thing, was very scarce; there did not seem to be anything to do in New Garden, so we concluded to make our way to Philadelphia.
On Saturday morning, we bid our kind host and benevolent daughters good-by and started on our journey. On account of not being acquainted with the road, we did not reach our destination until about seven o'clock that night. Going down (what we afterwards learned to be Market Street,) we found the markets open and crowded with people. I cannot say we were surprised, but I must confess that we were wonderfully frightened at seeing so many people at one place at the same time. The like was never seen by either of us before.
We continued down Market Street until we came to the ferry boat. Not daring to look to the right or left, we walked on board supposing all the while we were walking on the street. If it had not been for the guard chain at the bow of the boat, we would have walked overboard, when the waters below would have informed us of the blunder. Soon the whistle sounded, the engine was put in motion, and in a very short time we found ourselves in a little town called Camden. Here we wandered about for a short time, but at last concluded to seek the woods for shelter. We remained in seclusion all day Sunday, not daring to go to any body's house for fear of being kidnapped or imprisoned. When night came, we started back by the same way we came, for we had neither money or friends. We knocked around there until the following Sunday; sometimes visiting somebody's house, and sometimes secreting ourselves in the woods.
One day we were successful in obtaining a job in cutting
wood for a farmer who very liberally paid us for our services
by giving us a supper and a night's lodging in his barn.
Whether from the fear of us robbing his house, or for the
welfare of our safe keeping I know not, but this I do know
and well remember, that after we had gone into the barn, he
locked the door and, I suppose, put the key in his pocket.
By this ingenious precaution of safety, we had to remain
whether we wanted to or not.
On the following Sunday during our travels, probably it
would seem better to say wanderings, we met an old colored
gentleman who very kindly took us to his home, a distance
of about half a mile. Our feet at this time had become very
much swollen and painful; and we were exceedingly tired.
He proved to be “a friend in need as well as a friend indeed.”
He fed us sumptuously, and took special care of us.
It was our happy lot to remain under his kind hospitality
until the following Sunday morning. As was his custom, he
went to church and should have us accompany him to the
place of worship. After the service was ended, he announced
in the church that he had with him three travelers,
and wanted some of the brethren to care for them. A
woman by the name of Mary Jackson arose and said that
her employers wanted a man, and if one of them could go
home with her, she thought she could get him a place. The
opportunity was too good to be lost, and there was no time
to be spent in thought. There was three of us, and one
place presented, and it may well be imagined I hastened to
speak up quickly, and said I would go. When she got
ready we started, leaving my old companions in sorrow.
We had to go a distance of five miles. The week's rest and
I remained in the employ of James Pile for nearly three months, and then renewed the agreement for an indefinite time, for eight dollars a month. I must mention something here with regard to a daughter of Mr. Pile's. It was a sight unseen by me in my southern home; and that was the daughter of a farmer or planter standing by the side of her father's workmen with a hay-fork in her hand, not idly standing by to see the work done properly, or that the men did not idle away their time, but to share in the labor of spreading and stacking the hay. When the time came to take it to the barn, she could do her part in pitching it on the cart. I continued to work on this farm until September.
When I left Mr. Pile's I went to a place called Chatham,
where I hired myself to a man by the name of Sam Hooper,
as a farmer; but my particular work was to thrash wheat.
He agreed to pay me thirteen dollars a month with board and
lodging. I did not remain in his employ very long. I
worked around in different places until the month of April of
As the time advanced and I was to enter upon my new contract, my hopes grew brighter and my joys expanded. When my expectations were at their height, three slaveholders drove up from Maryland in a team and went to a neighboring house that was occupied by a colored man named Tom Mitchell, knocked the door in, took the man out and drove off with him, leaving his wife and children screaming for the loss of a fond, industrious husband and a loving father. This Tom Mitchell was like myself, a runaway slave and came from the same county as I did. That kind of work thoroughly frightened me, and I resolved that I would break the Pusey bargain and leave that region immediately.
Mitchell's captors were drovers, and knew him as a slave and of his whereabouts, and they made good use of their knowledge; they got fifty dollars for him. The Quakers, moved with sympathy for the wife and children, and knowing the worth of the captive, raised five hundred dollars and went south, purchased his freedom and brought him back.
I had agreed to be married March the first and go housekeeping April the first, but Mitchell's mishap upset my plans, at least for the time being.
I left and went to Philadelphia where I thought safety would be best secured. I worked there as a hod carrier up to September 12, then I went back to Chester county to fulfil my promise, not as to time, but to the person with whom I had agreed to marry. This was in 1849. After we were married, I took my wife to Philadelphia and went housekeeping.
I had not been long settled at housekeeping before the
Fugitive Slave Law came into full force. One day while
climbing the ladder with a hod of bricks on my shoulder, I
looked down at the passers by, which was not an uncommon
thing to do, and who should I see but the son of the man
Wallace, who I had occasion to mention in my darkest
days of slavery life. I continued my course upwards until I
came to the staging. Discontent and fear would not permit
me to remain there any time; to descend by the same
way I ascended might prove dangerous, as young Wallace
might still he somewhere near by, so I concluded to
go down the back way. The first impression that came to
me was to seek for counsel, so I at once notified some of
the leading colored men, in whom I had confidence, of what I
had seen and of my great dilemma. They immediately undertook
Home was broken up, and travel or tramp was the
order of the hour. I had a letter of recommendation
given to me, which I was to present to a Mr. Gibbs, of
New York City, on my arrival there, enroute for Boston,
Mass. He was a worker in the Under Ground Railroad
scheme, and was a colored man. We left Philadelphia by
boat, and had a pleasant sail to New York. When we
arrived, we did not meet Mr. Gibbs as we anticipated. He
was late in getting to the boat. A hack driver came to me
and said he worked for Mr. Gibbs. Being an entire stranger
in that part of the country, and to the customs of the people,
I was easily deluded. Depending on the truthfulness of the
hackman, I handed my wife into the hack, put in my choice
bundles, and then got in myself, leaving the driver to get the
trunk and drive off. But while he was getting the trunk,
Mr. Gibbs came and told us we were in the wrong hack, and
to get out, to which the hackman objected. After considerable
word wrangling, the driver and two other men jumped
Mr. Gibbs was fortunate enough as to recover from the
effects of the beating, so as to be out the next day. He
came around to the place where we were stopping, and took
us to the Fall River boat. He gave me a recommendation
to a man in Boston by the name of Snowdon who would
help me as he said. He informed me that it would cost
four dollars each to go to Boston, Mass., and to give him
the money and he would purchase the tickets. As a
stranger I gave him the required sum supposing it was
all right, as I was under his direction. He bought the
tickets and gave them to me. We shook hands and bade
each other good-by. The steam whistle blew, the
moorings were loosed, the engine put in motion, the wheels
rotated, and we were on our way to Boston. To my surprise
I found, after we had reached the stream, that the
tickets were second-class and not first, as Mr. Gibbs represented.
He only paid two dollars each for them, and kept
half the amount for himself. We had got beyond hailing
Not knowing the difference at first my wife and self went
down in the first cabin and as we did not have the right kind
of tickets, were ordered out. This was bad for my wife; I
did not mind it so much. We had now been married about a
month, and for her to be placed in that embarrassing state
made me feel the condition more keenly. I paid one dollar
more for her so that she could enjoy the comforts of a cabin
passenger while I betook my weary self to the smoke-stack
and there roasted my sides against the boiler in order to keep
warm. So much for Mr. Gibbs' generosity. Onward glided
our steamboat through the quiet sea, bearing us rapidly to a
more northern home. Onward sped my wandering thoughts
of a near future; what kind of a reception was awaiting me,
and what would the prospects of employment and an income
for labor be? The arrival of the boat at Fall River, the
bustling crowd, the disembarking passengers aroused me
from mental roamings. I had to join the busy throng and
make my way to the cars, which was done and we were soon
comfortably seated. The whistle blew and the train rolled
out of the depot. My wife and I occupied seats together,
thinking that all was right, but another trouble awaited me,
another separation. Oh! those tickets. Oh! that man Gibbs.
we here is in reference to two young men, like
myself seeking liberty and employment. I left my wife in
Boston with the Hayden family. Mr. William C. Nell a
colored man, and an agent of the Anti-Slavery Society sent
us to Worcester with letters of introduction to Mr. William
Brown, now living and widely known. On arriving in this
city, we soon found Mr. Brown and stayed with him that
night. The next day we secured permanent lodging with
Mr. Ebenezer Hemenway.
After jobbing around in various ways, I obtained steady
employment on the farm of the late Major Newton on Pleasant
On the fifteenth day of April, 1851, the three of us took
the train to Montreal, Dominion of Canada. We left on
Saturday and arrived at our destination about eleven o'clock
Sunday. The river being frozen over we had to cross on the
ice on runners, but I did not know of the change until I got
to the depot. The snow was packed up so high in the
streets that pedestrians could not see each other from opposite
sidewalks. It was soon discovered that Montreal was
not the place to welcome the laboring man when a stranger;
for there was nothing doing there, or anything we could find
to do that would give us an honest living. Consequently we
did not stay there but a few days. We went from there to a
place called Kingston, on the Lake, and stayed there but
Next we went to Toronto where we found the climate warmer, and general business a little better. We concluded to find a boarding place and try our luck there. The place we sought was soon obtained, and agreed to pay three dollars a week for board and lodging. Near the end of the second week after being there, we procured work with an old colored man who done a trucking business. At this time he had taken a contract to move a building, and being in want of assistance, he hired the three of us at rates of fifty cents a day. Just enough to meet our boarding charges. The distance the house was to be moved was about two miles. Work was begun by employers and employees arduously, and progressed as we thought safely. Well it did for nine days, but on the tenth day, a sad disaster was in store for us, and another draw-back to poor Isaac's progress. On this day we came to the descent of a hill over which our road lay. The old rope was not new nor none of the best, so when the weight of the building becoming greater and greater by the declivity of the road, the hempen or flaxen cords were strained beyond their strength. At last they snapped, they break asunder; and away went the house without the aid of man or beast down the hill. With almost breathless astonishment, we stood gazing at the sliding object, when suddenly a collision is observed, a crushing noise is heard, the house has collapsed and gone to pieces.
The man who owned the building sued the contractor
for damages, got judgment against him; and, also, got all the
old man owned, horses and trucks. So we unfortunates got
nothing for our work and were in debt for board to the
While in Toronto this time, I sought out a friend with
whom I had become acquainted with when there before, and
got him to write a letter for me to Mr. Joshua Spooner, who
was then living on the Major Newton farm in Worcester,
Mass., and asking him to send me six dollars as I wanted to
come home to Worcester. Within five days from the time I
sent the letter his reply came containing the amount I sent for.
I went to the steamboat pier every day at four o'clock, and became familiar with the faces of the different boats that plied between Toronto and Rochester, N. Y. On the receipt of the money from Worcester, I immediately paid the balance of four dollars due on board bill, redeeming my clothes, and leaving me two dollars for traveling expenses. As soon as I got my goods out of the possession of my former boarding master, I bade him good-by and started for the pier. This was on the night of the same Friday I received the money.
I sought the captain of the boat that left Saturday evening,
and asked him to allow me to work my way to
Rochester, N. Y. He quickly replied: “No; he would not
allow it.” I took out the letter I had received that day
from Worcester, Mass., containing an account of my wife's
sickness, and requesting him to read it. He did so, and I
informed him how I was compelled to pay away what money
I had received. The letter with my pleadings moved his
sympathy towards me; he turned and said, I could go but
that I should have to work every hour of the time. I said
his sympathy was towards me, but that only went as far as
being on board the steamboat; I had to pay by hard work
and no sleep. I was content to comply with his demands;
At the hour designated we left the pier and was stopping at different places off and on all night, putting off and taking on freight and passengers until eight o'clock Sunday morning, when we arrived in Rochester. I had not taken off my clothes or taken a wink of sleep all night. Being tired and sleepy after a day and night's hard toil, I took a conveyance and went to hunt for a lodging house, and my search was soon found. I went to bed and slept soundly until four o'clock in the afternoon. When I landed in Rochester I was the owner of two dollars and no more. This was the extent of my cash account. It cost me twenty-five cents for conveyance, and fifty cents for lodging and dinner. Here I was in the western part of New York state, miles from the city of Worcester, Mass., my place of destination, with one dollar and twenty-five cents to purchase a railroad ticket.
I went to the depot and inquired the fare to Worcester,
and was informed it would be fifteen dollars. My readers
who may have been placed in such a predicament can have
some idea of the situation and can extend some sympathy;
and those who have not may draw upon their imagination
and perhaps gain a faint knowledge of the condition of an
almost penniless traveler. With wishful eyes I gazed at the
departing trains with their freight of living beings, but that
Worcester and my sick wife loomed up before me demanding
my appearance. To purchase a ticket was impossible,
to beg one was decidedly out of the question. At
last I concluded it was no use of tarrying any longer in that
place. My feet and legs had done me good service in my
flight from Chestertown, Maryland to Philadelphia, Penn.
I now made up my mind to trust to them at this time to
reach my home, so off I started with the determination to
walk to Worcester. It was about half past five P. M. with
my knapsack on my back, I started on my long tedious
march without friend, guide or compass. I followed the
railroad track going east as a conductor on the way. Soon
night began to spread its dark mantle around me, yet undismayed,
I pressed forward deeply occupied with thoughts of
the future. Midnight came in its stillness finding me still
widening the distance between myself and the Rochester
depot. Midnight passes, the small hours of the morn increase,
until at last the light of a new day begins to dawn
upon the world, when men begin to rise from their warm
comfortable beds after a night of refreshing sleep. In
rapid flight of early dawn, the king of day, the centre of
celestial light, rises in majestic splendor over the eastern
hills, indicating the cardinal point to which my journey lay.
With it came the cheer that one night had passed away,
shortening the distance between the starting point and that
of my destination. At eight o'clock to my surprise, I found
I had covered a distance of seventy-five miles that night. A
night's walk without a halt to rest or refresh. As the day
began to grow I determined to change my road of travel. I
After continuing in this condition for two or three days, the captain of a canal boat asked me how I would like to ride one of the horses at night, and remain on the boat during the day. The proposal had its charms for me. There would be a chance for sleep during the day, there was all opportunity for a good warm meal, and at night to sit on the horse's back. The offer was accepted and I went on board the boat.
The first night passed off without anything to cause
alarm or to hinder the work. In the morning I did
a little work on the boat, got my own breakfast and sought
to lie down and sleep. On the second night I resumed my
task, mounted the horse, who with slow, steady tread,
tramped out the time allotted him. Night wore on, all on
board the boat was stillness ; all had retired for the night to
enjoy Nature's refreshing invigorator, sleep. As the light
of early dawn lifted the curtain of night so that surrounding
objects could be distinctly
As we drew near a bridge under which we had to pass I cast my eyes upwards and to my utter surprise and astonishment what should I see but the form of a man looking down on me. How quickly I remembered those well known features. The man who five years ago was my master, who held me in the bonds of slavery, who had cut and slashed my back; from whom I had fled to enjoy the pure air of liberty.
He did not recognize me, but I did him, and that was enough for the hunted. I at once took in the whole situation of the present and future. I felt positive he was hunting for me. To remain long exposed to his gaze would cause me danger and trouble. I dropped my head to conceal my face from his longing, anxious eyes, and as soon as I had gone out of his sight, I dismounted the horse, went on board the boat, got my little bundle of goods and left the boat and horses in a great hurry. I did not see the captain or any of the hands as they were all asleep, and I had no time to call them. The horses were left to take care of themselves, and go on of their own accord, as far as I know. These moments with me were most precious for self preservation. The hunter was on my track, had seen but not scented out my course. The necessity of the hour compelled me to be as agile as a hare and as cunning as a fox.
I took to the main road intending to continue my journey
on foot the remainder of the way. Once more I found myself
Finding my efforts had been so satisfactory, my hopes
revived, and my courage enlivened at the thought of soon
ending this toilsome labor. Starting off again Sunday night,
I continued my travel until reaching Worcester, Mass.,
which was on the second day of July, 1851, just two weeks
Having again joined my family and friends, I concluded to remain in Worcester, Mass., or I may say to make it my home, as I had not found a place in preference. It was not long before I found plenty of good employment and benevolent sympathizers, and for forty-three years Worcester has been my residence.
Being at this age a man of an enterprising turn of mind and inclined to be somewhat of an adventurer, or, as some of my readers will say, only extending an acquired habit, I was ready to enter upon any new enterprise that might hold out inducements for benefiting my condition or the advancement of the human family. For the purpose of furthering those ambitious ideas I sought the fraternity of the best and most popular societies as a means to carry out that end.
Coming thus far in my history there is a portion of
my life that is connected with a foreign land, and I can
not refrain from adding it here. In the year 1859, Mr.
James Redpath went to Hayti, and while there made
arrangements to emigrate as many colored people from the
United States to that island as he could induce. He returned
to this country and through his influence a large
number of persons became interested in the emigration
scheme, that during that year he sent two or three vessel
loads of human freight to the foreign isle. Early in the
following year he sent more from New York, Providence and
Boston. He succeeded in making arrangements so that all
emigrants should be landed free of charge. He also further
arranged with the Haytian government that such emigrants
arriving in their country should receive sixteen days
provisions from the time of landing. I heard so much about
this country and the prospects it held out to such enterprisers,
and the possibility of soon becoming well-to-do there
That night we experienced a very severe gale lasting
the whole night. The next morning, Sunday, found us in
much sadness. It revealed the horrors of the previous
night. Not in the rented sails or strained ropes, but its
deadly effects upon a human creature. Among the number
that embarked with us the day previous was a young lady
full of bright anticipations and apparently hale and hearty,
going to seek a living in a foreign land, now lying before
us cold and lifeless. The howling winds, the raging billows
and the rolling vessel during the night proved a monster too
strong for her. Overpowered with exhaustion and fright of
being a castaway upon the ocean deep, she falls a victim to
death. Others became severely ill and were made speechless
for a time from the ordeal of that night. I considered myself
When the land of our destination was reached, and owing to the lateness of the day, the captain was prevented from having the vessel securely moored to the pier that night, consequently our anchorage had to be about half a mile from the shore. As we were not in a sheltering harbor, we became exposed to the gales. As the angry elements united to bid us farewell from Massachusetts shores, so apparently they had agreed to welcome us to Haytian lands; for that night the winds became exceedingly angry, tossing and forcing our craft before it with such pressure that our fears and anxieties of safety were greatly increased. At last the increasing power of the gale caused the chain to part; but fortunately the wind blew from the shore and we were driven to sea. If the wind had been blowing from a different direction, it is probable that the schooner and all on board would have been lost that night. It took us two days to return and cast a second anchor and prepare for landing.
When we went ashore the natives received us very hospitably,
which made us feel that we were not intruders, but
The women do or are made to do the work of men at
home and general laboring. They also had to do a part of
military duty, such as keeping guard in defence of the
country in times of peace as well as in war. The people are
very small or generally of medium size, and of a general
healthy appearance. I did not see any cripples among them
The women are not forced to do hard work because they are
bad looking; for on the contrary they are handsome.
The fertility of the island was of the highest order. It was so productive that cotton and all kinds of vegetables grew without any great degree of labor to cultivate. To encourage emigration, and to introduce foreign enterprises and customs into Hayti, the government had given to all emigrants the exclusive use of Artibinique River, and the lands surrounding it. This settlement was about five miles from St. Marks. Each emigrant was entitled to sixteen acres free. One day four others with myself hired horses, and rode out to see the situation and examine the land. As to the land everything seemed hopeful, but when we came to talk with some that had settled there, it was found that something more than good soil was needful to ensure safety and to produce grain. We were told that the winds at times were so terrific that houses were carried away before them, and it was almost impossible to keep oneself on the land during the gale.
After long and patient struggling of those hard determined
toilers of the soil, the whole project proved a failure
and had to be abandoned. Not only were the winds a barrier
to their prospects, but the burning, rays of the
sun, was more than strangers could live under. At
times (and that frequently) the thermometer would register
175 in the shade. During my stay there I was taken very
When recovering from this fit of sickness, one Sunday
morning I took a walk out, slowly measuring my feeble steps,
while my eyes roved from one object to another, and they
were attracted to the various flags floating in the air, representing
all, or nearly all the nations. The sight of them
enlivened me and as I paused to view them closely there
seemed to be one that surpassed them all for splendor; and
that was the stars and stripes of America. Its
After recovering from my sickness, I turned my thoughts
more towards this emigration scheme determined to find out
if it was good or evil, if there was anything in it or not for
the good of my race. There was a large number that had
The superstitious would have said that the waiting and
When I arrived at my home, I returned thanks to the Lord for his mercy to me, sparing my life through the perils of the storm, from the perils of the heat, through the perils of sickness, and from the perils of death. I then made up my mind that Worcester should be my future home, and here I should dwell until the end of my days.