Harriet Shepherd (b. ? -
d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51333
Fled from Slavery, Kent County, Maryland 1855
Biography:
Harriet Shepherd escaped from slavery around November 1, 1855 from Chestertown, Maryland. A total of eleven slaves, including Harriet escaped from their master’s plantation with “four head of horses, and two carriages.” 1 Harriet was the mother of five children and she could not bear the thought of having her children subjected to the perils of slavery. Harriet was well aware of what her children’s fate would be as slaves. Her children were Anna Maria, Edwin, Eliza Jane, Mary Ann, and John Henry. According to her testimony, she stated that she never received “kind treatment.” 2 Her slave owner appears to be George W. Perkins. According to the Kent County Slave Statistics, the names of most of her children are listed under George W.T. Perkins. The names listed are: Mary Ann, John, Edwin, and Anna Maria. The names of some of her children are relatively uncommon, which makes this more likely. Instead of listing the names for two of his slaves, the term "infant" was listed, which one of them could have been Eliza Jane. There is also several slaves with the name "Harriett." The possibility of Perkins being the owner is further substantiated by the 1860 Slave Schedules. According to the slave schedules, George W. Perkins has 5 "fugitives from the state" listed. This information gives the possibility that George W. Perkins owned these slaves, but it should be noted that it cannot be fully verified at this moment.
Harriet's objective was to save her children from what she had endured as a slave.From her testimony, the children were young and unable to walk, while she had no means of purchasing help. 3 Little hope was being offered, until the horses and carriages belonging to her master presented an opportunity. Aside from her children, she knew of five other slaves who sought to travel to Canada. She presented the opportunity and they obliged her. Their route carried them to Wilmington, Delaware where they were located in the middle of the town around October 27. 4 Thomas Garrett, an Underground Railroad conductor, was immediately notified of what was described as an emergency, since they were using horse and carriages in the middle of the town. Garrett immediately separated them from their horse and carriages and left Wilmington as soon as possible. He soon led them to relative safety in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
While in Pennsylvania, they received aid and advice from abolitionists. After spending the night at Kennett Square, they moved to Downingtown and then to Kimberton where they stayed with a friend named Lewis at the "old headquarters of the fugitives." 5 According to a letter written by Miss. G.A. Lewis while in Kimberton on October 28, 1855, she stated they had "separated the company for the present, sending a mother and five children, two of them quite small, in one direction, and a husband and wife and three lads in another." 6 She was writing the letter to figure the best method of sending them to Canada. After receiving aid, they went to the Committee in Philadelphia where they were "completely divided and disquised" to be sent to Canada. 7 The mother and children she had "sent off of the usual route, and to a place where I do not think they can remain many days." 8 Miss Lewis also mentioned the woman and children "are a very helpless set," as she attempted to assist them as much as possible. 9 Of the eleven total slaves, there was a husband and wife who had no children, but were aunt and uncle to Harriet's five children. Since there was a family connection and the woman with five needed assistance, Lewis felt it was best to send one of the young children with their aunt and uncle as they split up.
Harriet Shepherd, who
orchestrated the escape from
their master's plantation, did so with the hope of liberating her
children.
She was willing to risk their lives in response to the harsh treatment
she received as a slave. She had not only rescued her five
children
from slavery, but also five others in a bold escape.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid., 39.
5. Ibid., 303.
6. Ibid., 39.
7. Ibid., 303.
8. Ibid., 39.
9. Ibid.,
40.
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