 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
| FEOM VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, ETC. 233 his courage to the "sticking point." Nothing could induce him to remain. He had the name of having a wife and four children, but according tp the Laws of Delaware, he only had a nominal right in them. They were " legally the property of Capt. Martin." Therefore they were all left in the hands of Capt. Martin. The wife's name was. Harriet Delaney, alias Smart Stanley. James Henry Delaney came as a fellow-traveler with James Edward. He had experienced oppression under Capt. Martin, and as a witness, was prepared to testify, that Martin " ill-treated his Slaves, especially with regard to the diet, which was very poor." Nevertheless James was a stout, heavy-built youug man of twenty-six years of age, and looked as if he might have a great deal of valuable work in him. He was a single man. JAMES HENBY BLACKSOJJ. James Henry had only reached twenty-five, when he came to the " conclusion, that he had served long enough under bondage for the benefit of Charles Wright." This was about all of the ex-case he seemed to have for escaping. He was a fine specimen of a man, so far as physical strength and muscular power were concerned. Very little was recorded of him. GEORGE FREELAND. It was only by the most indomitable resolution and perseverance, that Freeland threw off the yoke. Capt. John Pollard of Petersburg, Va., held George to service. As a Slave-holder, Pollard belonged to that class, who did not believe in granting favors to Slaves. On the contrary, he was practically in favor of wringing every drop of blood from their bodies. George was a spare-built man, about twenty-five years of age, quite dark, but had considerable intelligence He could read and write very well, but how he acquired these arts is not known. In testifying against his master, George used very strong language. He declared that Pollard "thought no more of his servants than if they had been dogs. He was very mean. He gave nothing to his servants. He has given me only one pair of shoes the last ten years." After careful inquiry, George learned that he could get a private passage on the City of Richmond, if he could raise the passage money. This he could do cheerfully. He raised "sixty dollars" for the individual who was to "secrete him on the boat." In leaving the land of Slave auctions, whips and chains, he was obliged to leave his mother and father and two brothers in Petersburg. Pollard had been offered $1,500 for George. Doubtless he found, when he discovered George had gone, that he had "overstood the market." This was what produced action prompt and decisive on the part of George. So the old adage, iu this case, was verified—" It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good." On arriving in Canada, George did not forget to express gratitude to those who aided him on his road there, as the following note will show : |