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: 514   Enlarge and print image (50K)

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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: 514   Enlarge and print image (50K)

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ARRIVAL FROM SUiSSEX COUNTY, 1858. 439 JACOB was a stout and healthy-looking man, about twenty-seven years of age, with a countenance indicative of having no sympathy with Slavery. Being invited to tel| bis own story, describe his master, etc., he unhesitatingly relieved himself soinewhat after this manner; " I escaped from a man by the name of Jesse W. Paten; he was a man of uo business, except drinking whiskey, and farming. He was a light complected man, tall large, and full-faced, with a large uose. He was a widower. He belonged to no society of any kind. He lived uear Seaford, in Sussex county, Delaware." " I left because I didn't want to stay with him any longer. My master was about to be sold out this Fall, and I made up my mind that I did not want to be sold like a horse, the way they generally sold darkies then; so when I started I resolved to die sooner than I would be taken back; this was my intention all the while. " I left ray wife, and one child; the wife's name was Lear, and the child' was called Alexander. I want to get them on soon too. I made some arrangements for their coming if I got off safe to Canada." GEOROE was next called upon to give his statement concerning where he was from, etc. I "scaped" from Sussex too, from a man by the name 6f George M. Davis, a large man, dark-complected, and about fifty years of age; lie belonged to the old side Methodist Chnrch, was a man with a family, and followed farming, or had farming done by me and others. Besides he was a justice of the peace. I always believed that the Master above had no wish for me to be held in bondage all my days; but I thought if I made up my mind to stay in Slavery, and not to make a desperate trial for my freedom, I would never have any better times. I had heard that my old mistress had willed me to her children, and children's children. I thought at this rate there was no use of holding on any longer for the good time to come, so here I said, I am going, if I die a trying. I got me a dagger, and made up my mind if they attempted to take me on the road, I would have one man. As for my part, I have not had it so slavish as many, but I have never had any privileges to learn to read, or to go about anywhere. Xow and then they let me go to church. My master belonged to church, and so did I. For a young man, being only twenty-two years of age, who hod been kept from the light of freedom, as much as he had, his story was thought to be exceedingly well told throughout. JAMES, a brother of George, said: " I came from Horse's Cross-Roads, not far from where my brother George came from. William Gray, rail road ticket agent at Bridgewatea, professed to own me. He was a tolerable sized man, with very large whiskers, and dark hair; he was rather a steady kind of a man, he had a wife, but no child. The reason I left, I thought"! had nerved Slavery long enough, as I had been treated none the best. I did not believe in working my life out just to support some body else. My master