Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 503   Enlarge and print image (42K)

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Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 503   Enlarge and print image (42K)

 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
478 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. had pined in bondage in Georgetown under Mrs. Margaret Dick, a lady of wealth and far advanced in life, a firm believer in slavery and the Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member. Rebecca had been her chief attendant, knew all her whims and ways to perfection. According to Rebecca's idea, "she was a peevish, fretful, ill-natured, but kind-hearted creature." Being very tired of her old mistress and heartily sick of bondage, and withal desiring to save her daughter, she ascertained the doings of the Underground Rail Road,—was told about Canada, &c. She therefore resolved to uaake a bold adventure. Mrs. Dick had resided a long time in Georgetown, but owned three large plantations in the country, over which she kept three overseers to look after the slaves. Rebecca had a free husband, but she was not free to serve him, as she had to be digging day and night for the "white people." Robert, a son of the mistress, lived with his mother. While Rebecca regarded him as " a man with a very evil disposition," she nevertheless believed that he had "sense enough to see that the present- generation of slaves would not bear so much as slaves had been made to bear the generation past." ARRIVAL FROM HOXEY BROOK TOWNSHIP, 1858. FRANK CAMPBELL. FRANK was a man of blunt features, rather stout, almost jet black, and about medium height and weight. He was not certain about his age, rather thought that he was between thirty and forty years. He had been deprived of learning to read or write, but with hard treatment he had been made fully acquainted under a man named Henry Campbell, who called himself Frank's master, and without his consent managed to profit by his daily sweat and toil. This Campbell was a farmer, and was said to be the owner of about one hundred head of slaves, besides having large investments in other directions. He did not hesitate to sell slaves if he could get his price. E\-ery now and then one and another would find it his turn to be sold. Frank resolved to try and get out of danger before timea were worse. So he struck out resolutely for freedom and succeeded. ARRIVAL FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA., 1858. RICHARD BATNE, CABTER IKNVLINO AND BENJAMIN TAYLOR. RICHARD stated that a man named " Rudolph Massey, a merchant tailor, hard rum-<1rinkor, card player, etc." claimed to own him, and bad held him, up to the time of his escape, as with bands of brass.